Assignment 1: Discussion

Discussion Question

Think about a topic that interests you. Find three sources to help with the development of your survey, with at least one article including a report of survey research. You can conduct your background research on the Internet or cite research in the online resource center database located in the Library link, found in the Course Home page Academic Resources on the left.

Now choose one article that includes a report of survey research. For your assignment, you need to dissect the research article containing the survey.

1. Please list the hypotheses or research questions. Sometimes these are not stated formally; you will have to hunt. Be sure to label whether they are hypotheses (H) or research questions (RQ). Remember that a hypothesis makes a prediction.

2. How do the researchers in the article answer the "So what?" question? (Sometimes this information is in the introduction, other times it is found in the conclusions.) How would you answer this question about the reported research?

3. Is the research question descriptive or relational?

4. Is the research question causal or noncausal? How so?

5. Is the research question directional or nondirectional? How so? If it is directional, in which direction is it?

6. What is the nature of the relationship between the main variables of the study? Be sure to put an IV next to the independent variable and a DV next to the dependent variable. What did the researchers conclude? Were the hypotheses confirmed?

Please include a copy of or cite the research article.

Post responses to the discussion questions in the appropriate Discussion Area. Be sure to use vocabulary that is relevant to the topic.

All written assignments and responses should follow APA rules for attributing sources

Assignment 2: Course Project

Note: At the end of Module 8, you will have a final project of putting together a survey report. This paper will include a supportive rationale for your survey, survey instrument, data file, and analysis plan. Each module you will have an assignment that helps you work toward the goal of completing your final project.

In this module you will work on developing a topic for your survey and identifying your research hypotheses.

An important part of this course is the development of a survey project. There are many steps to successfully completing it, and each module will be arranged to guide you to finishing the project in portions.

To start your project off, you will need to identify your survey topic.

Every survey starts with a purpose, hypothesis, and statement/topic. Before you begin your survey, it is essential that you develop a basic understanding ofdescriptive and predictive surveys, exploratory research, and how to develop a hypothesis.

Identify a survey topic. Make sure it is narrow.

Identify the main variables of the study you wish to propose. List them below. Put an IV next to the independent variable and a DV next to the dependent variable.

Discuss the purpose of your survey.

Briefly discuss the type of research you are doing as to whether it is causal or correlational. Be sure to refer to Appendix B in your book (Alreck & Settle) to insure you address key issues about external validity.

Develop the hypothesis or hypotheses for your survey. In order to keep your survey focused, you should have no more than 3 sets of hypotheses

Briefly explain how you plan to design your course project. Briefly justify how it is that you think using a survey best serves your research question.

Technology Check-up

Please make sure that you have the SPSS software available to you as stated in the technical requirements for this course as you will need this software to successfully complete the course project.

Format

Your project paper should be in Microsoft Word 2000 or higher. Follow the current edition of APA style guidelines. Your paper should be double-spaced and in 12 pt. font.

All written assignments and responses should follow APA rules for attributing sources.