Survey assignment
First, propose a topic that could be studied using an original survey. Write a brief paragraph about the topic, and offer a hypothesis about the relationship between two variables concerning your topic. Let at least one of your variables be an attitude, perception, knowledge, or behavior that an individual might have. Suggest at least a third variable that might affect the hypothesized relationship -- as an intervening variable, a causal variable in a multi-variate model, or possibly an antecedent variable that would reveal the hypothesized relationship to be spurious.
You should now have at least three variables. Draw a model of the hypothesized relationship between these variables.
Next, write a set of closed-ended survey questions that, when answered, could provide data to test your hypotheses. Write at least three questions for the variable that is an attitude, perception, knowledge, or behavior. You should have a total of at least five survey questions.
Turn these in without your name in class on Monday, October 3.
Find another student's Part 1 and evaluate their questions and responses with these issues in mind:
| Validity: Are these questions the best indicators for the hypothesis they proposed to study? |
| Reliability: Are these questions clear enough that they would elicit the same response by respondents with the same set of characteristics? |
| Operationalization: Are the closed-ended responses mutually exclusive and exhaustive? If there is an order to the underlying variable, do the responses clearly indicate that? |
| Word choice: Could these questions raise problems associated sensitive topics? Do they use of jargon or other unintelligible vocabulary? |
If you detect problems with the questions or responses, make changes or propose revisions that would improve them.
Next, analyze how the variables are constructed. Based on the original topic in Part 1, what kind should each of the five or more variables be: nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio? What kind should the five or more variables be after they are operationalized into survey questions: nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio? (Remember, variables need not be the same kind after they are operationalized into survey questions.)
Staple the other student's Part 1 behind your Part 2 answers. Put your name on Part 2 and turn it in at the beginning of class on Wednesday, October 5.
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