Social science research methods project

Project - Assessment

The assessment is designed to be an individual project covering the following activities:

Sections Activities Grade Steps

Project report

(60%)

Data cleaning for a provided excel sheet

10 ▪ Send them a data file that requires preparation.

Analysis: - Analysis - Tests used - Delivery: sequence of analysis - Creativity

30 divided as follows: (10) (10) (5) (5)

▪ Conduct the descriptive analysis ▪ Conduct the appropriate inferential statistics ▪ Answering the research questions / hypothesis

Report drafting / organization of the report

20 ▪ The students should deliver a short report satisfying the TOC, identified in section B of this document

Presentation

(40%)

Draft presentation - Organization - Delivery: sequence of analysis

15 divided as follows: (10) (5)

▪ Draft the presentation satisfying the predefined outline, identified in section C of this document.

Video of the student doing the presentation

15 ▪ The student should record a small video showing himself doing the presentation

Discussion 10 ▪ Discussing results over zoom sessions

A. Project Brief

The data is the result of a survey on customer experience and customer satisfaction in the healthcare sector. The data present on a 5-

likert scale covering two dimensions: customer experience and customer satisfaction, each one is measured by 3 questions.

The questions are:

Name of the variable on the excel sheet

Dimensions Question

CE1 Customer Experience

Showing professionally appropriate behavior

CE2 Maintaining patient privacy

CE3 Right treatment of illness

CE4 Reliability of the health care services

CE5 Cleanliness of the health care organization

CS1 Customer Satisfaction

Right diagnosis of illness

CS2 Effective verbal communication

CS3 Respecting my wishes

CS4 Aroma of the health care organization

CS5 Non-verbal communication

The researchers want to test the following:

▪ Is there a difference among customer experience reflecting the sample characteristics?

▪ The key factor that might influence the customer experience

▪ The key factor that might influence the customer satisfaction

▪ Does customer experience affect customer satisfaction?

B. Research Report TOC

Section Content

Cover page Student name and assignment details

Table of contents List of main sections and sub-sections, with page numbers, including tables, illustrations, reference list, and appendices.

Introduction Research aims and objectives, including any hypothesis. Rationale for the study, i.e., why the issues for investigation were important or significant. Might define technical or specialist terms. Outlines scope of the report. Briefly states how report is organized.

Methods How the study was carried out; how data was analyzed

Gives precise details of methods and procedures: ▪ study's participants, and how they were chosen; ▪ data collection methods (e.g. surveys, interviews, questionnaires, personal observation, case study); ▪ process of ethical consent if applicable ▪ data analysis methods.

Results Presents results objectively, without discussion. Can include explanatory or supporting data (e.g., extracts from interviews). Include illustrations, figures or tables.

Discussion Evaluation and discussion of results. Comments on significant findings, and implications. Might also include: ▪ whether any initial hypothesis was supported; ▪ whether or not the findings met the aims of the study; ▪ a comparison of your findings with another research; ▪ limitations, flaws or problems in study design or methods.

Conclusion Clearly and concise conclusion to study. Briefly re-states how well the study design met the study's aims. Emphasizes major findings and implications of findings as addressed in discussion section. Briefly re-caps any faults or limitations covered in full in the discussion section. If applicable, suggests future research directions.

Recommendations Summarizes and lists in order of importance. Might also be numbered

References Alphabetical list of references. Start on new page, attach to end of report, before appendices.

Appendices Relevant and necessary material not included elsewhere: ▪ raw data in the form of excel ▪ any other information

C. Research PowerPoint outline

Slides # of slides

Content

Title slide 1 Title of the talk (probably the same as your paper), the names of all group members, the class and university names, and the date the talk is given

Introduction 3-4 Explain why your work is interesting. Place the study in context – how does it relate to / follow from the scientific literature on this subject. If it relates to any applied issues (e.g., environmental problems), mention this here. Use some pretty visuals (photographs, drawings, etc.) to get the audience excited about the issue and questions you are addressing. Clearly state your hypotheses

Materials and Methods

2-3 Mention what parameters you measured but do not go into detail on exact procedures used. Do state what statistical tests you used to analyze your data.

Results 2-4 Use simple, clean, clearly labeled graphs with proper axis labels. Indicate the results of the statistical tests on the slides by including p-values on the same slides with the graphs.

Implications and Conclusions

2-3 Correctly interpret your results. Constructively address sources of error and methodological difficulties. Place your results in context and draw implications from them

D. Video rubric

Total mark is from 15 grades (divide the total score / 2)

Dimensions 5 4 3 2 1

Comfort Relaxed, easy presentation with minimal hesitation

Generally comfortable appearance occasional hesitation

Somewhat comfortable appearance some hesitation

Generally uncomfortable difficulty with flow of presentation

Generally uncomfortable lack of flow to presentation, frequent hesitation

Confidence Ease of movement, minimal tension

Occasional mistakes but recovers quickly

Some tension noted, stiff body language

Tense body language, frequent mistakes

Tension and nervousness are obvious, multiple mistakes

Connection Frequent eye contact, readily engages audience

Consistent eye contact, uses notes infrequently

Some eye contact, dependent on notes

Minimal eye contact, frequently using notes

Generally reading from notes without eye contact or connection with audiences

Clarity Clear, easy to understand

Occasionally difficult to understand

Audience must put forth effort to listen, poor pronunciation

Unclear difficult understand

Loses audience’s attention due to lack of clarity

Volume Easy to hear Overall appropriate, some sentences trail off

Generally audible Difficult to hear Inaudible