Descriptive Methods Part2

Summary

This video lecture focuses on descriptive research methods, particularly survey techniques. It explains how to design effective survey instruments, emphasizing clear, unbiased questions and proper arrangement to avoid participant fatigue. Various survey question types—open-ended, closed-ended, partially open-ended, and Likert scales—are discussed, along with common survey methods such as mail, telephone, personal, and online interviews. The lecture also covers sampling strategies, including probability (random, stratified, cluster) and non-probability (convenience, quota, purposive) techniques, and highlights key considerations for valid, reliable, and representative data. The session concludes with guidance on preparing a small descriptive research project for practical application.

Takeaways

• 😀 The survey method is a research technique used to gather specific data about a group of people, including their thoughts, opinions, and feelings.
• 😀 When constructing a survey, questions must be clear, simple, relevant to the research problem, and based on the study's conceptual framework.
• 😀 Avoid poorly designed questions such as loaded, leading, or double-barreled questions to minimize bias and confusion.
• 😀 Response bias occurs when participants consistently give the same answer without carefully reading each item; varying question formats helps reduce this.
• 😀 Questions should be arranged in subsets of related topics, with sensitive questions placed at the end to maintain participant engagement.
• 😀 Common survey question types include open-ended, closed-ended, partially open-ended, and rating scales like the Likert scale.
• 😀 Survey methods can include mail, telephone, personal interviews, or online platforms such as group chats and video conferencing.
• 😀 Sampling allows researchers to study a smaller, representative portion of the population to make generalizations, saving time and cost.
• 😀 Probability sampling ensures equal chance for participants to be selected, including techniques like random, stratified, and cluster sampling.
• 😀 Non-probability sampling includes convenience, quota, and purposive sampling, often used when specific criteria or availability is prioritized.
• 😀 Avoid defective sampling by ensuring proportional representation, adequate sample size, common population characteristics, and proper researcher skills.
• 😀 Additional survey considerations include minimizing interviewer bias, socially desirable responses, accounting for return rates, and managing costs.
• 😀 Sloven’s formula is commonly used in educational research to calculate ideal sample size, ensuring reliability and validity.
• 😀 Homework involves designing a small descriptive research study, identifying variables, developing a survey instrument, and including demographics and scales.

Q & A

What is the purpose of using the survey method in research?

The survey method is used to gather specific data about a group of people, including their thoughts, opinions, and feelings. It allows researchers to collect information that is relevant to the study's conceptual framework.

What are some types of questions that should be avoided in survey construction?

Researchers should avoid loaded questions (emotionally biased), leading questions (influence respondent's answers), and double-barreled questions (asking more than one thing in a single question). Additionally, they should prevent response bias, where participants consistently give the same answer without reading all items.

How should survey questions be arranged to maintain participant engagement?

Questions should be grouped in subsets of related topics, sensitive questions should be placed at the end, and the survey format or scales should be varied to prevent participants from losing interest or providing repetitive responses.

What are the main types of survey questions?

The main types of survey questions are open-ended questions (participants formulate their own responses), closed-ended questions (limited predefined options), partially open-ended questions (closed-ended with an 'other' option), and rating scale questions (such as the Likert scale measuring agreement).

What are the common methods of administering surveys?

Common survey methods include mail/email surveys, telephone surveys, face-to-face interviews, and online/video conferencing methods such as Zoom, Google Meet, or Skype.

What is sampling, and why is it important in surveys?

Sampling involves selecting a small, representative portion of the population to draw conclusions about the entire population. It is important because it saves time, reduces costs, ensures timeliness, and maintains the validity and reliability of research results.

What is the difference between probability and non-probability sampling?

Probability sampling ensures every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected (e.g., random sampling, stratified random sampling, cluster sampling). Non-probability sampling does not provide equal selection chances and includes methods like convenience sampling, quota sampling, and purposive sampling.

What are some common pitfalls to avoid in sampling?

Researchers should avoid samples that do not proportionally represent the population, are too small to generalize, lack common population characteristics, or result from researchers lacking technical sampling skills. Defective sampling undermines the validity and reliability of research findings.

How can researchers calculate an ideal sample size?

Researchers can use formulas such as Slovin’s formula: n = N / (1 + N * e²), where n is the sample size, N is the population size, and e is the margin of error. This helps ensure the sample is sufficiently representative for valid generalizations.

What considerations should be made to minimize bias in surveys?

To minimize bias, researchers should avoid interviewer bias, limit socially desirable responses in questions, account for expected survey return rates, and ensure that the survey is valid and reliable. Planning and proper instrument design are essential.

What is the homework assignment related to the survey method?

Students are tasked to design a small descriptive research study individually or in groups of 2-3, identify variables and measures, and develop a survey instrument. The instrument must include demographics and at least 10 statements in a scale, which can be self-developed or adapted from validated existing studies. Optionally, an achievement test can be included depending on the study type.