Identification and operationalization of variables

Research Design is due at the end of this week: describe how you will test the hypothesis and carry out your analysis. This section describes the data to be used to test the hypothesis, how the student will operationalize and collect data on his/her variables, and the analytic methods that to be used, noting potential biases and limitations to the research approach. It should include:

• Identification and operationalization (measurement) of variables.
• A sampling plan (i.e., study population and sampling procedures, if appropriate).
• Justification of case studies used.
• Data collection/sources (secondary literature, archives, interviews, surveys, etc.).
• a summary of analysis procedures (pattern-matching, etc.); and
• Limitations of study and bias discussion.

3 PAGES

APA FORMAT

DUE Saturday

SOURCES MUST BE USED IN PAPER AND MUST HAVE A URL

BELOW IS PART OF THE GRADING RUBRIC

Hypothesis/Research Questions:

These are your research questions (what you plan to measure/examine). This section may also be in paragraph form. Research questions must be individual questions that each measures only one item (one question = one measurement). A couple of questions are expected in this section (typically 2 to 5). You MUST put these questions in traditional null hypotheses format.

If you are conducting a qualitative study, you may use your research questions.

For example: There is no statistical significant difference between someone who grows up in a poor neighborhood and someone from a middle or upper class neighborhood likely involvement in crime (quantitative design would use this example).
For example: If someone grows up in a poor neighborhood, they will be more likely to be involved with crime than someone in a middle or upper class neighborhood.

The Research Design Section:

•Identification and operationalization (measurement) of variables.
•A sampling plan (i.e., study population and sampling procedures, if appropriate).
•Justification of case studies used.
•Data collection/sources (secondary literature, archives, interviews, surveys, etc.).
•a summary of analysis procedures (pattern-matching, etc.); and
•Limitations of study and bias discussion.

In short, your research design should be the “step by step” directions that would enable a researcher to carry out and execute your research should you be unable to conduct the study yourself. (Think of this as directions from how to get to point A to point B. This detail is necessary as it demonstrates that you understand how to best do your research for your topic.)