Modules

Module Six    Survey Research

  Based on the text, describe the purpose(s) of survey research.

  List the major steps involved in designing and conducting a survey research study.

  Based on the text and given a topic, design a simple survey, highlighting the steps involved.

  Given the data collection choices of: telephone, mailings, and face-to-face; compare and contrast these three choices.

  Using the survey you have designed, identify its targeted areas as one of the following: demographic, non-threatening behavioral, threatening behavioral, knowledge, and/or attitude. 

  State the major difference between self-report and observational research.

  Identify and briefly describe four major differences between an interview study and a questionnaire study. 

  Given an empirical survey research article; identify the participant(s), independent variable(s), dependent variable(s), extraneous variable(s), research question, research hypothesis, null hypothesis, data collection, data reduction technique(s), and conclusions reached.   

  Given an empirical survey research article, evaluate the strength of the research design. 

Survey Research 
Types of Survey Research 
Survey Methods 
Types of Survey Questions Asked 

Click here to access additional Module 6 Notes. On the "Notes" page is the link for Levels of Measurement.

On-line Activities 

 
   How do you measure up? 

Given the levels of measurement (ordinal, interval, ratio), create a table comparing and contrasting these levels. 
 

   Email your group work to Dr. McConney or to Dr. Abalos See course syllabus for due date.
 

  Study "Break" 

Scenario: You want to study how middle school students spend their time after school on weekdays. 

1. As a group, you need to do the following: 
 

a. Identify an area of interest.

b. Create a survey capable of gathering the data of interest.

c. Outline the steps taken in creating the survey.

d. Identify its targeted areas as one of the following: demographic, non-threatening behavioral, threatening behavioral, knowledge, and/or attitude.

e. Identify the method for collecting the data (telephone, mailings, and face-to-face). Justify your choice. 

f. Identify the approach: simple, descriptive, cross-sectional, or longitudinal. Justify your choice. 

g. Identify the level of measurement (nominal, ordinal, interval, ration) and explain what characteristics make it that level. 

h. Compare and contrast the process for designing an instrument and designing a survey 

  Email your group work to Dr. McConney or to Dr. Abalos with the heading, "Study Break."
See course syllabus for date assignment is due. 
 

   Evaluating Survey Research

Given the empirical survey research article, "Stress, Coping Strategies, and Psychological Distress Among Secondary School Teachers in Hong Kong" (see course packet) and with your assigned group, answer the following questions:  
 
a. What are the variables or constructs of interest? 

b. Identify or create a reasonable research question 

c. Identify or create a reasonable research hypothesis 

d. Identify or create a reasonable null hypothesis 

e. Identify extraneous variables, if any (limit 3) 

f. Identify the procedures for data collection 

g. Identify the sampling procedure 

h. Identify the participants 

i. Identify the method of data reduction (e.g., statistical or descriptive procedures)

j. Identify the conclusions reached. Are the conclusions based on the information presented? 

k. Did this research emerge primarily from a post-positivist or post-modern philosophical base? Justify your choice. 

l. Evaluate the strength of the research design and identify methods that would strengthen the design if appropriate. 

  Email your group work to Dr. McConney or to Dr. Abalos under the heading, "Evaluating Survey Research."

See course syllabus for date assignment is due. 

 
   Intrude or Invade 

Rank these types of questions according to degree of intrusion

1. Demographic -- describes your sample 

2. Non-threatening Behavioral -- scale of frequency and/or intensity 

3. Threatening Behavioral -- scale of frequency and/or intensity 

4. Knowledge -- scale of true / false 

5. Attitude -- scale of level of agreement 

  Post your group work on the  WebBoard under the heading, "Intrusion,"
See course syllabus for date assignment is due.

Please note: this WebBoard link is for Dr. McConney's section only.

Dr. Abalos' students please open another window in your browser, and log on to http://onyx.fgcu.edu/~134

Group 8: Outline Chapter 12 (Causal Comparative Research)

Post outlines to appropriate conferences on WebBoard

Please note: this WebBoard link is for Dr. McConney's section only.

Dr. Abalos' students please open another window in your browser, and log on to http://onyx.fgcu.edu/~134