Quantitative Research Non-Experimental ---SURVEY Experimental CAUSE AND EFFECT PRE-TEST/POST-TEST LABORATORY

Quantitative Research Survey- quantitative or numeric description of some part of a population A “sample” via questionnaire (if people are involved) Results enables researcher to generalize the findings from a sample of responses. Experimental- TESTS cause and effect relationships between groups. Researcher manipulates one or more independent variables Determines if manipulations cause an outcome

Social Science (Sample) Surveys When we “survey” something, we inspect it in detail A “social survey”, therefore, is an inspection of a particular society or part of society and a collection of facts about that society, institution or group

Social Surveys: History Two developments in the early 20th century paved the way for modern social science surveys: Ideas underlying random sampling, used first in agriculture, were applied to the collection of social facts Techniques of structured interviewing, standardized question wording

Social Surveys: 1930s-1940s The 1930s: advent of modern survey research in the U.S.(Gallup and Roper polls) The Depression: Federal government sponsored research into unemployment. World War II: surveys were widely used to study war bond purchases, troop morale, attitudes toward integration.

Social Surveys: 1960s-1970s Several developments contributed to widespread use of survey data: development of high-speed computers for processing data widespread ownership of phones made interviewing easier Results: business and government decisions increasingly based on surveys

Survey Design Provides a quantitative or numeric description of some fraction of the population - the sample- through the data collection process of asking questions of people. …..always “people”?

Typical Components of a Survey Method Plan Design Population and Sample Instrumentation Variables in the Study Data Analysis

Survey Design Begin by reviewing the purpose of a survey and the rationale for its selection What is the purpose of survey research? Indicate why a survey is the preferred type of data collection. Indicate whether the survey is cross-sectional (collected at one point in time) or longitudinal( collected over a period of time) Specify the form of data collection - mail, interview, and provide a rationale for the procedure (cost, availablility, convenience)

Population and Sample Specify the characteristics of the population and sampling procedure. Describe the population in the study Identify whether the sampling design for this population is single stage or multistage. Single - research has access to names in the population and can sample directly Multistage - researcher first samples groups (clusters) obtains names of individuals within each group (cluster) and then samples within the cluster.

Populuation and Sample (cont) Identify how indiviuals will be selected Random, judgemental, snowball Discuss whether this sample was stratified….procedures for selecting the sample……number of people in the sample and how this number was determined…etc…etc…etc….

Instrumentation Identify the survey instrument used Self designed??? Modified??? Intact??? Validity and Reliability - Include sample items so readers can see actual items used (appendix) Pilot testing or field testing procedures Steps used in administering

Surveys and Questionnaires l The design of surveys and questionnaires l How to frame questions l Kinds of scales: Likert, Semantic Differential etc. l Analyzing survey data: which items are useful, Item Response Theory l Forming a scale to measure an attribute, e.g., satisfaction. Reliability, validity of scale

Variables Identify the INDEPENDENT variables Also called treatment conditions or factors These are under the control of the researcher and typically are manipulated in an experiment Independent variables lead to changes in the dependent variable.

Dependent Variables Identify the dependent variable or variables to be used in the study The dependent variable is the response or the criterion variable presumed to be CAUSED or influenced by the independent treatment conditions.

Data Analysis Present data analysis in a series of steps Step 1; step 2; step 3, etc.