Now that you have decided what you will do for your field research, it
is time to write the methods section to your revised research plan (this
will also be the methods section for your final paper, so it is
important that you write in past tense). As we have gone over in class,
you will present your methods in as much detail as possible. The goal is
for your research to be replicable--this means that another researcher
can easily repeat the steps of your research (remember the details from
the methodology sections of student papers that we deemed as more
successful). You should be able to describe and justify every step of
your research methodology. Explain what you did, what you asked, and
why.
Remember, these steps are flexible. You will likely need to make
adjustments based on what is necessary for your research area and
methodology. With that said, these steps are a great jumping off point
for writing an effective and detailed methodology section that is
replicable and viable for your final project.
Here are some steps to follow:
1. What type of study (interview, survey, observation/focus group) did
you conduct, and what was its purpose? {notice that this question along
with the others is in past tense, and I want your response to be in past
tense too- this will save you a load of time in the end because you
will not have to go back and make everything past tense}
Start with: I conducted a _______________ in order to __________________.
2.Where/with whom was your study conducted? Why did you pick this group?
Start with: I studied/observed/surveyed ______ # of people (adults/students) in __________ because ____________.
3.How did you chose your participants?
Example: My participants were chosen based on their willingness to
participate in my study and under the criteria that they had taken the
FCAT Writes exam and Composition I at UCF. I chose this criteria because
_______________.
4.What were you looking for in your study, or what types of questions did you ask your participants?
Start with: In my ___________ I asked questions regarding ____________. These questions were important because___________.
OR: I conducted a study that required my participants to ___________ because _____________.
5. Provide examples of your questions, and explain why these examples are important.
Start with: For example, I asked the question ______________ because
____________. Also, I asked ___________ because ____________.
6. If you asked additional questions or elaborated on any part of your
study, insert the phrase in parenthesis: (See Appendix A for a list of
all survey/interview/study questions).
7. What did you want to find out by conducting this study?
Start with: By conducting this study, I wanted to find out ____________________.
Example:
I conducted a survey in order to trace the factors that cause
Composition students to experience writer's block when writing their
papers for Composition class. I surveyed 60 Composition II students at
UCF who experience writer's block because these students had written
papers in Composition class and had experienced factors preventing them
from writing. My participants were chosen based on the criteria that
they had written papers for Composition class, and they claimed to
experience writer's block on a frequent basis.
In my survey, I asked questions regarding the students' writing habits
and fears about writing, in order to trace any similarities that may
cause writer's block for these students in their composition classes.
These questions were important because they allowed me to study both the
circumstances from which these students were being blocked from
writing, as well as the assignments that may have caused this anxiety.
For example, I asked the question, "What are you worried about before
you start writing your composition papers?" because I wanted to see the
fears students had in relation to writing. I also asked, "what types of
writing assignments do you find most stressful for you?" because I
wanted to see if similar assignments caused students to experience
writer's block within their composition courses (See Appendix A for a
list of all survey questions). By conducting this survey, I wanted to
explore the factors contributing to the writer's block experienced by
composition students, in order to see if and how these stresses can be
potentially addressed.
Methods Section
ReplyDeleteTo support international students’ assimilation into the United States while also understanding the students’ needs in their universities, I conducted a 10 question Likert survey to gauge how international students attending the University of Central Florida either agree or disagree on the quality of facilities, programs, and social growth opportunities offered by the university. Following the Likert model, the survey then asks two open-ended questions to allow the international student to voice their experience with the university, providing a better understanding of what the university offers and what they lack in their international program. The survey consisted of 10 international students from the University of Central Florida who have recently transferred to the university or have been studying in the United States for a longer period. My participants were chosen based on the criteria that they had lived most of their lives in a foreign nation and came to the United States to pursue an education (for survey subjects’ responses, see Appendix B). An informed consent form was also signed by the 10 students to ensure their identities would stay anonymous and that their information would be used only for research on this topic (to see the informed consent form, see Appendix C).
Using this survey method, information is gathered with the sole purpose of pinpointing certain reoccurring issues that the international students face on a regular basis while also further outlining what the university has been doing to benefit these students. The questions held importance in the research because it was used to develop a better understanding of what these students find beneficial and what they find lacking in their program. For example, when proposing the statement in the Likert model, “Outlets for international student assimilation are available for me here at UCF.” then having the student rate between strongly disagreeing to strongly agreeing with the statement, the answers can help identify where the university may be lacking or thriving when supporting the international student body. One of the open-ended questions asked, "How could UCF better support me as an international student?" was used to allow international students to point out what they personally felt the university needed to work on to establish a better supportive environment (For a further breakdown of the survey itself, see Appendix A). By conducting this survey, I wanted a better comprehension on international student assimilation along with program satisfaction, to highlight international student issues that can be potentially addressed and corrected.
Appendix A (Survey):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzySLpdY5yuhZHlNYnBpY2JDZEE/view?usp=sharing (Links to an external site.)
Appendix B (Survey Results):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzySLpdY5yuhbDVtM1pNWThIVDA/view?usp=sharing (Links to an external site.)
Appendix C (Informed Consent Form):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzySLpdY5yuhTGFmQ1FMWGl3cUE/view?usp=sharing
Methods Section
ReplyDeleteIn order to find a correlation between watching televised commercials growing up and societal views portrayed today, I developed a survey. My sample used 100 college students aged 18-22. I assumed all of my participants watched TV ads as a child, so my survey was open to any student between the age range. The survey was completely anonymous and was performed online using Reddit and through the top 3 most used social media websites: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. I posted the link for the survey via my personal profile for all 4 platforms. The survey link using the sites Twitter, Instagram and Facebook was only viewable to my current followers who fit the criteria. However, Reddit allowed me to post the link on a number of pages (mainly using Reddit/SampleSize) to gain responses. The survey was 8 questions long. (Reference Appendix A for a list of all survey questions). Questions in the survey asked the frequented networks participants would most view as a child and their current view on gender roles. Stances on gender roles were examined by using the Likert scale to agree or disagree to two quotes showed.
Once all the data was collected, I analyzed responses by looking for similarities and consistent answers between the answers chosen. Mainly focusing on the correlation between the network chosen and their current stance on gender roles today. Although many factors effect one’s belief on gender roles today, there certainly is a correlation between commercials frequently watched as a child and its effects.
With most research, there comes limits and weak points of my conclusion and my research methods. I made the survey as unbiased as I could, however there is the possibility of participants changing answers to not have an unpopular opinion. As well as the network they watched not connecting to their current beliefs in gender roles because of other factors. (Assuming that most of my followers and participants are in my class, results were slightly skewed in that nearly all participants were 18-19.) However, I see my survey as furthering the bond of the bridges between the societal view on gender roles and commercialized advertisements seen as a child.
I conducted an observation in order to discover why consumers fall for scams. I observed 30 people which were 10 16-20 year olds, 10 30-50 year olds, and 10 60 years and older at Kohls because they are consumers who purchase items and services which would allow them to be exposed by scams. Participants were chosen based off their willingness to participate and I conducted a survey to discover my participants’ age, sex, and race to see how that contributes to consumer vulnerability. I asked the question “How old are you?” to see the relationship of age and vulnerability. I also asked “What is your gender?” to see the connection between gender and vulnerability.
ReplyDeleteThe next step is to attempt to scam the participant by using a sleight of hand card trick. The purpose of this trick is to observe the participants cognitive awareness towards scams. A deck of cards will be used and the first step needed is to shuffle the cards in any method the researcher desires in front of the participant. Next the researcher will flip all of the shuffled cards over to let the participant see. While the researcher shows the participant all the cards remember the fourth card from the top. Shuffle the deck again while attempting to leave that fourth card in the fourth position from the top. Then split the deck into two stacks anywhere one desires leaving the fourth card on the fourth position from the top. One stack will have the memorized card(Card A) while the other stack will have a card you will memorize (Card B). Now the researcher will pick from the stack that one is going to memorize from and select the fourth card (Card B) from the top. The researcher will see that card (Card B) while not showing the participant and memorize it. Then tell the participant that card (Card B) will help one discover what the fourth card (Card A) from the top will be from the other stack one hasn’t touched. The researcher will go to that stack and tell them what the card (Card A) is then reveal it. The researcher is going to tell the participant the first card (Card A) you memorized when you first shuffled the deck and showed them. Next you will repeat this pattern with the participant in order to achieve new memorized cards like Card C, Card D , and etc. The key is to remember the fourth card from the top in each stack while revealing them one at a time. Repeat these steps four or five times.
The participants objective is to discover the trick used in the experiment.They will be given fake money to gamble with in order to produce a real life scam scenario. By conducting this survey and observation, I wanted to discover the factors that contribute to consumer vulnerability in order to reduce and prevent fraud.
I conducted a questionnaire in order to discover the relationship that male body satisfaction has with its both physical and non-physical factors. I studied 18 males, ages 18 to 22, in the University of Central Florida because many young males have issues with body satisfaction. My participants were chosen based on their gender and their willingness to participate in the experiment. I chose the criteria because it narrows the experiment strictly to males.
ReplyDeleteIn my questionnaire, I proposed questions regarding the level of satisfaction males have towards their bodies and questions regarding physical and non-physical influences on them. These questions were important because they give a personal reflection on the participants’ self-thoughts, and may present a relationship that these factors may have with levels of satisfaction. For example, I asked the question “On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the most satisfied, how satisfied are you with your body?” because it gives an overall view of how content the participants are with their physical appearance. I also asked, “Do you go to the gym? If so how many times a week?” because I can find out whether there is a relationship between the amount of hours spent at a gym and the level of body satisfaction (See Appendix A for a full list of all study questions). By conducting this questionnaire, I wanted to analyze the physical and non-physical factors contributing to male body satisfaction in order to see how satisfied males really are based on the given criteria.
I conducted a short, 5-question interview in order to gauge what actual biologists, whom have contributed to their field in one way or another, consider as successful communication and the methods that have worked best for them in their experiences. I interviewed six biology professors enrolled in the staff directory at the University of Central Florida. These six were chosen due to their background in the field of biology, whether that be purely marine biology or evolutionary biology, for example.
ReplyDeleteIn my interview, I asked questions regarding common methods of communication (both old and new) to find which is most used by each of the six professors and which is least used. The importance of asking these questions was huge, since communication is not only vital in science but in life as well. This small sample size cannot determine the overall best method used around the world in the scientific community, but it helped get a better grasp of the communication situation than the articles I chose ever could. For example, I asked the question, “As there become more advancements in public technology (i.e. smartphones, the Internet, etc.), which method do you think will have the greatest impact out of the “new” communication techniques?” because I wanted to get a feel as to where established biologists feel the field is heading in terms of communication. Also, I asked the question, “What method(s) works best for you?” to see how their field correlates to the method(s) each biologist feels were best (See Appendix A for a list of all interview questions). By conducting this interview, I wanted to gain a better understanding of the status of communication within different fields of biology (but mainly marine and aquatic), and gain more knowledge about the journey that each of the six professors interviewed went on to get to where they are today.
Appendix A (interview questions):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wQZrYeK81tOZbyg9COEH99K0uE2uW5njNLymI0dFQUs/edit?usp=sharing_eil&invite=CLHZ2oYD&ts=58f647d0
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ReplyDeleteMethods Section
ReplyDeleteI conducted an interview to gain wisdom about which factors contribute to law school success. I interviewed a current law school student, an attorney, and a law professor, each gives a different perspective on the same legal education system. My interviewees were chosen based on their willingness to participate and whether they we’re a part of the legal community. I chose this criteria because each interviewee must’ve experienced law school to an extent to answer my questions. In my interview I asked questions focused on pre-law education, the law school transition process, and life adjustments needed to succeed in law school.
This interview was important because it presented legal scholars questions centered on their pre-law and law school experience in order to give insight. For example I asked the question “What advice would you give to someone preparing for law school?” Because a legal scholar may be the best source for law school advice, they experienced it firsthand. Also I asked “What was the biggest life adjustment you had to make because of law school?” I’m curious about any challenges faced before or while in law school, how they overcame them, as well as ways to possibly prevent them. Each participant was asked 13 questions (See Appendix A for all Interview questions). By conducting this interview I wish to shed light on the common challenges law school students face and how to overcome them.