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MethodsPaper2_SOCI3111.pdf

SOCI 3111 Social Research Methods Paper 2 Instructions: Due November 3rd 2019

The Purpose of this Methods Project Paper

You have learned in your Schutt textbook, PPTs, videos, and other materials about the

techniques for designing effective survey questions and ensuring validity and reliability. The

purpose of this assignment is to practice these techniques as well as writing high quality survey

questions. You will do this by designing an attractive, clear, and effective 10 question

questionnaire.

There are TWO parts to this assignment:

A. You will be presented with 10 poorly designed questions and you will describe why these

are poor question and then re-write them as better questions.

B. You will then design 10 good survey questions for an attractive, neat, and user-friendly

questionnaire about a ONE of the following topics:

a. Recent college graduates’ attitudes about their student loan debt

b. College student attitudes about study skills and study habits

c. Voter attitudes toward impeachment of President Donald Trump

Skills Practiced

• Applying survey design concepts learned thus far in research methods.

• Understanding how and why question quality differs and appreciate the nuanced manner

in which a good question is created.

• Developing survey design that is clear, makes sense, and is user-friendly.

SOCI 3111 Social Research Methods Paper 2 Instructions: Due November 3rd 2019

Part 1: Assessing Sample Survey Questions

For Part A consider the following 10 examples of survey questions:

Sample Question 1

Do you ever use the YMCA facilities to go swimming and diving?

___Never

___Rarely

___Frequently

- ___Sometimes

Sample Question 2

What do you think can be done about global warming?

1. Ignore it

2. Address it

Sample Question 3

Most medical professionals agree that smoking causes lung disease. Do you:

Strongly agree

Agree ○

Neither agree nor disagree ○

Disagree ○

Strongly disagree ○

Sample Question 4

Do you disagree that students should not have to take an exam at the end of their course?

Yes ____

No ____

Sample Question 5

How much food do you think the average family throws away in a week? Estimate a guess.

o Not much

o A small amount

o A medium amount

o A large amount

o More than other families

o I don’t know

SOCI 3111 Social Research Methods Paper 2 Instructions: Due November 3rd 2019

Sample Question 6

What is wrong with the young people of today and what can we do about it?

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Sample Question 7

What is your ethnicity?

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Question 8

Have you ever stolen anything? If so, what and when?

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Question 9

What do you think about the left-wing media’s attempt to blackmail the government?

A. I disagree with this statement a little amount

B. I disagree with this statement a medium amount

C. I neither agree nor disagree with this statement

D. I agree with this statement a little amount

E. I agree with this statement strongly

Question 10

How much do you earn?

___$0 – $20,000

___$21,000 - $29,000

___$30,000 - $50,000

___$51,000 - $65,000

___$66,000 - $75,000

SOCI 3111 Social Research Methods Paper 2 Instructions: Due November 3rd 2019

In Part A, in one paragraph per question, describe how you would improve the question and

why. Make sure you use methodology principles for writing questions (as described by Schutt,

and handouts in the module folder) to describe why the question is poor and re-write the

question so that it is improved according to your reasoning.

Format for Part A:

Student Name

SOCI 3111 Paper 2 Part A

Date

Prof Dao

Question 1:

To

Question 10:

References

Part B: Designing Your Survey

For Part B (a separate document), you will design a 10-question survey about one of the

following topics: select only one topic that most interests you:

a. Recent college graduates’ attitudes about their student loan debt

b. College student attitudes about study skills and study habits

c. Voter attitudes toward impeachment of President Donald Trump

You may design the survey in any way you wish but you must include the following:

➢ A clear introduction or instructions at the beginning of the survey describing the survey

and its purpose. Language must be user-friendly and clear.

➢ Contact information and instructions on where to submit or what to do with the survey

upon completion (examples: send to an email, return to an office etc.).

Your survey will be evaluated on quality of the questions for validity, accurate conceptualization,

neatness and clarity. See rubric in module folder as well as the handout: Best Practices for

Survey Design for tips on designing a high-quality survey.

Submit both Part A and Part B as separate documents or PDFs on CougarView by 8pm on

11/3/19. Late items will be reduced 10 points for each day late and not accepted after 3 days.

Both items must be submitted at the same time for credit on either one.