Sunday, March 20, 2011

LO – Topic One – Introduction To Survey Research


LO1 – understand basic steps involved in developing survey project

LO2 – be able to formulate and clarify research questions

LO3 – describe difference between quant / qualitative

LO4 – understand what is meant by ethical research

understand what distinguishing features of surveys are

outline difference between explanatory and descriptive research

Explain characteristics, benefits & concerns of various research designs

Explain differences between different research designs

Explain ethical principles that should guide survey research design

Describe main components of informed consent

 


-          what is survey research : form of data (data grid) and method of analysis ( describe / compare / causal relationship)   à data collection technique does not define survey

-          causal relationship à co variation – variation in one variable matched by variation in other variable.

-          steps

o   specific measurable objective

o   select research design

o   choose pop / sample

o   develop reliable / valid survey instruments

o   analyse survey data

o   interpret / report

-          research designs

o   Classic experimental design

o   panel design à before and after treatment, without control group

o   quasi panel design à similar to panel, but different groups studied before & after

o   retrospective panel designà info obtained at one point about before and after

o   retrospective experimental design

§  similar to retro panel à but split sample by treatment

o   cross sectional or correlational design

§  split sample by treatment variable

-          units of analysis  à case

-          independent  à intervening  à dependent

-           quantitative vs qualitative

o   qualitative : participant observation / unstructured interviewing / case studies / focus groups

o   best to distinguish between structured and unstructured data sets

-          informed consent : purpose / outline of reasonably forseen issues (ie sensitive questions) / likely benefits / how respondent was selected / offer to answer questions / voluntary & free to withdraw / identity of researcher & sponsor

 

 

GW Question

-          what is difference between cross sectional & retro experimental

-          essential characteristic of researchable question

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