Research Project Assignment: iPad Surveys, Interviews, and Focus Groups
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This document outlines the requirements for Project #3, an original research project, in a Communication Research course. Students will design and conduct small-scale primary research on a topic of their choice using surveys, interviews, or focus groups. The project involves submitting a proposal, obtaining approval, collecting and analyzing data, and writing a final report. Key deliverables include a research proposal, measurement tools, data collection and analysis, and a written report of the results and discussion sections adhering to APA format. The goal is for students to learn about the research process from developing questions to interpreting findings.
![Dr.
Kushin
Shepherd
University,
Department
of
Communication
You
are
free
to
modify
and
adapt
this
content
for
your
own
use
so
long
as
attribution
is
given.
Fix
any
feedback
in
the
proposal,
and
attach
the
following
to
it:
• Write
Methods
–
clearly
explain
your
sampling
procedure,
measurements,
data
collection
and
analysis,
as
discussed
in
class.
(~1
page)
(See
Handout
for
structure
&
requirements)
• Administer
&
Collect
data
–
both
via
survey
and
1
of
the
options:
interviews
or
focus
groups
(use
informed
consent
–
on
Sakai)
• Analyze
data
-‐
Survey
data
analyzed
via
SPSS
(We
will
do
basic
correlations
–
beyond
what
we
did
with
SPSS
last
time.
I
will
demonstrate
in
class
[see
syllabus]
and
I
will
help
anyone
wanting
my
help)
• Write
Results
and
Discussion
(length
as
needed)
(See
Handout
for
how
to
structure
&
requirements)
Formatting:
We’ll
use
APA
formatting
in
this
class.
Rely
on
the
“APA
Research
Paper
Template”
on
Sakai
when
writing
your
paper.
You
can
type
directly
into
it.
Overview
For
your
final
project,
your
team
will
pick
a
topic
of
interest
related
to
1
of
the
5
key
PR
variables
discussed
by
(Stacks,
2011):
Confidence,
credibility,
relationship,
reputation
(which
may
include
awareness),
trust.
If
there
are
related
attitudes
or
if
there
are
behaviors
you
are
interested
in
studying,
please
talk
to
me.
I
am
flexible.
Choose
an
event
such
as
a
speaker,
issue,
subject,
organization,
etc.,
to
do
your
project
on.
It
must
be
real
and
timely
–
so
that
the
people
participating
in
your
study
will
be
familiar
with
the
topic.
Examples:
§ Trust
in
XYZ
company
following
news
that
their
CEO
embezzled
$500,000
§ Reputation
of
Shepherdstown,
WV
in
the
county
§ Confidence
in
the
reliability
of
university
Internet
Because
this
study
will
not
undergo
IRB
(unless
you’d
like
to
apply
for
IRB):
It
must
not
be
related
to
illegal,
immoral,
sex,
alcohol,
or
other
such
subjects.
May
not
involve
vulnerable
populations
–
under
18,
pregnant,
elderly,
prison,
etc.
The
project
results
CANNOT
be
shared
outside
of
class
Measurements
We
will
discuss
measurements
in
class.
Though
you
don’t
have
to
use
these,
some
measurements
for
studying
relationships
include:
trust
(integrity,
competence,
dependability),
commitment,
satisfaction,
control
mutuality,
communal
relationships,
exchange
relationships
Measures
available
here:
§ Qualitative
–
Appendix
1
of
“Measuring
what
Matters”
or
http://bit.ly/435_measurerelationship
(p.
4-‐5)
§ Quantitative
–-‐
http://bit.ly/435_meas-‐relationships
(pp.
28-‐30).
Other
measurements:
http://bit.ly/435_othermeasures
Data
Collection
and
Analysis
Requirements
What?
• Conduct:
1
of
the
following
–
your
choice:
Interview
(4
interviewees),
Focus
Group
(1
focus
group,
with
3-‐6
people)
• AND:
A
survey
(15
questions
minimum
including
5
max
demographic
questions.
18
respondents
minimum)
• Your
survey
and
interviews/focus
groups
can
be
on
same
subject,
but
you
may
focus
those
questions
a
little
differently
based
on
advantages
of
qualitative
and
quantitative
methods.
Collection:
(use
informed
consent
–
on
Sakai)
Again:
Do
not
begin
any
data
collection
until
you
have
my
approval
on
“Proposal
Feedback”
day
(see
syllabus);
However,
I
strongly
encourage
you
to
begin
recruiting
subjects
for
interviews/focus
groups
as
soon
as
possible.
• Interviews
–
in
person
or
phone/skype
(no
email
or
other
text-‐based)](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/project3-surveyinterviewsfocusgrouops-150413123306-conversion-gate01/85/Research-Project-Assignment-iPad-Surveys-Interviews-and-Focus-Groups-2-320.jpg)
Research Project Assignment: iPad Surveys, Interviews, and Focus Groups
- 1. Dr. Kushin Shepherd University, Department of Communication You are free to modify and adapt this content for your own use so long as attribution is given. Project #3: Original Research – Interviews, Focus Groups, Surveys Comm 435: Communication Research Summary: Two related projects Proposal % of total grade: 7% Due: see syllabus Finished Study % of total grade: 20% Due: by end of final exam time, on day of exam (no papers will be accepted late beyond 24 hours for any reason) Purpose: Design and execute a small-‐scale study on a subject of interest, using surveys and focus groups/or interviews. This study focuses more on the methods of study (your methods section, execution of research, interpretation of results), and less on the “problem overview” and “secondary research”) Notes: Group Assignment; There is a Group Report Card after to evaluate your participation in the group. Things You Will Learn: • Research report writing • Using a problem statement, campaign objectives to create research objective and RQs/hypotheses • How to conduct surveys, interviews, focus groups. • Creating Surveys in XLS using FormHub • Introductory level analysis of data using SPSS software • Interpreting Data • Deliverables: Attend Prepared for Group Meeting (sign up in class. Dates marked on syllabus “required group meetings”) Failure to attend w/o university absence will result in a reduction in final project grade for individuals who miss. Part 1; Proposal – upload to dropbox • Pick subject • About ½ page a. Write your Problem Overview & Research Objective (I understand there might not be a “problem” in the literal sense, it may be a subject of interest, event, etc. You are not running a campaign – so leave out campaign objectives. Tell me your research objective) • About 1-‐1.5 pages: (see Handout for structure) relying on external research. a. Secondary research – Answer: Why is the problem a problem?: Provide brief background on subject of study (organization, issue, etc.), and any needed history/context. Who is being studied and how do they relate to the “problem?” What are you planning to research to address this problem? End with RQs/hypotheses • References a. 3-‐4 sources needed – used in secondary research. i. In alphabetical order. We will complete measurements in class on an assigned date (see syllabus). Then, upload to Dropbox b. Design Measurement – Use or modify existing measures, or design new measures for both your survey and interview/focus group. i. List of measures you can use is under “Measurement” below (though you may develop new measures, or pull from other measures) 1. Do not use Rank Order Questions in your survey; the software we use isn’t compatible. ii. Refer to your measures handouts for guidelines. See “Data collection and analysis requirements” below for # of questions, and respondents. Do not begin any data collection until you have my approval on “Proposal Feedback” day (see syllabus); However, I strongly encourage you to begin recruiting subjects for interviews/focus groups as soon as possible. Part 2: Conduct study and complete data analysis and write up (In depth)
- 2. Dr. Kushin Shepherd University, Department of Communication You are free to modify and adapt this content for your own use so long as attribution is given. Fix any feedback in the proposal, and attach the following to it: • Write Methods – clearly explain your sampling procedure, measurements, data collection and analysis, as discussed in class. (~1 page) (See Handout for structure & requirements) • Administer & Collect data – both via survey and 1 of the options: interviews or focus groups (use informed consent – on Sakai) • Analyze data -‐ Survey data analyzed via SPSS (We will do basic correlations – beyond what we did with SPSS last time. I will demonstrate in class [see syllabus] and I will help anyone wanting my help) • Write Results and Discussion (length as needed) (See Handout for how to structure & requirements) Formatting: We’ll use APA formatting in this class. Rely on the “APA Research Paper Template” on Sakai when writing your paper. You can type directly into it. Overview For your final project, your team will pick a topic of interest related to 1 of the 5 key PR variables discussed by (Stacks, 2011): Confidence, credibility, relationship, reputation (which may include awareness), trust. If there are related attitudes or if there are behaviors you are interested in studying, please talk to me. I am flexible. Choose an event such as a speaker, issue, subject, organization, etc., to do your project on. It must be real and timely – so that the people participating in your study will be familiar with the topic. Examples: § Trust in XYZ company following news that their CEO embezzled $500,000 § Reputation of Shepherdstown, WV in the county § Confidence in the reliability of university Internet Because this study will not undergo IRB (unless you’d like to apply for IRB): It must not be related to illegal, immoral, sex, alcohol, or other such subjects. May not involve vulnerable populations – under 18, pregnant, elderly, prison, etc. The project results CANNOT be shared outside of class Measurements We will discuss measurements in class. Though you don’t have to use these, some measurements for studying relationships include: trust (integrity, competence, dependability), commitment, satisfaction, control mutuality, communal relationships, exchange relationships Measures available here: § Qualitative – Appendix 1 of “Measuring what Matters” or http://bit.ly/435_measurerelationship (p. 4-‐5) § Quantitative –-‐ http://bit.ly/435_meas-‐relationships (pp. 28-‐30). Other measurements: http://bit.ly/435_othermeasures Data Collection and Analysis Requirements What? • Conduct: 1 of the following – your choice: Interview (4 interviewees), Focus Group (1 focus group, with 3-‐6 people) • AND: A survey (15 questions minimum including 5 max demographic questions. 18 respondents minimum) • Your survey and interviews/focus groups can be on same subject, but you may focus those questions a little differently based on advantages of qualitative and quantitative methods. Collection: (use informed consent – on Sakai) Again: Do not begin any data collection until you have my approval on “Proposal Feedback” day (see syllabus); However, I strongly encourage you to begin recruiting subjects for interviews/focus groups as soon as possible. • Interviews – in person or phone/skype (no email or other text-‐based)
- 3. Dr. Kushin Shepherd University, Department of Communication You are free to modify and adapt this content for your own use so long as attribution is given. • Focus Groups – In person or via a G+ Hangout where all are present. • Surveys – Digital Surveys using the Web and/or Field Collection via Tablet Device Analysis: • Interviews and focus groups analyzed using qualitative approach discussed in class. • Survey data entered into Excel, imported into SPSS, and basic correlation analysis and frequencies will be conducted in class.