Research Project Handout

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12bf0f21egerdp.jpg"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="12c203c0.jpg" border=0 width="32" height="60" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#66334C" FACE="Arial" ><B>SOCIOLOGY 212: RESEARCH METHODS</B></FONT><B>      |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SOCIOLOGY 212: RESEARCH METHODS"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> back to<B>  </B><A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Research Project"><U><B>Research Project</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=125 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12af2f02egerdp.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grading Grid"><U>Grading Grid</U></A></div> <div> <B>Research Project Handout</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hypothesis Guidelines"><U>Hypothesis Guidelines</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reference/Citation Guidelines"><U>Reference/Citation Guidelines</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Literature Review (more examples)"><U>Literature Review (more examples)</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Methods (more examples)"><U>Methods (more examples)</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Results (more examples)"><U>Results (more examples)</U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12df0f03.jpg"> <div> <B>Research Project Handout</B></div> <div> <B>Content & Structure</B></div> <div> <B>Soc. 212:  Fall</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#contents" TITLE="Research Project Handout"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f04c336600.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Contents</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#information" TITLE="Research Project Handout"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f04c336600.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">General Information</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#title_page_" TITLE="Research Project Handout"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f04c336600.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Title Page</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#abstract___brief_summarization_of_the" TITLE="Research Project Handout"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f04c336600.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Abstract</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#introduction___sets_the_stage_for" TITLE="Research Project Handout"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f04c336600.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Introduction</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#review___provides_known_information" TITLE="Research Project Handout"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f04c336600.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Literature Review</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#methods" TITLE="Research Project Handout"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f04c336600.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Methods</B></U></A></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f04c336600.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Results</B></div> <div> <A HREF="#discussion" TITLE="Research Project Handout"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f04c336600.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Discussion</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#conclusion" TITLE="Research Project Handout"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f04c336600.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Conclusion</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#cited" TITLE="Research Project Handout"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f04c336600.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">References / Work Cited</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#appendix" TITLE="Research Project Handout"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f04c336600.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Appendix</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#notes" TITLE="Research Project Handout"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f04c336600.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Final "Notes"</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="842" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 809 WIDTH="830"><div> <B> Contents of Research Report</B><B> <A NAME="contents"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <bR> <div> The goal of this project is to take a specific social issue and develop it throughout the semester with the ultimate goal of creating a Research Paper.  </div> <bR> <div> At specific dates - see calendar, you will be <B>required</B> to turn in various sections of your research report.  <U>These will be considered drafts and will not be graded.  However, if these sections are not submitted, it will count against your final report grade</U>.  I will take the drafts and make suggestions and/or recommendations as needed.  </div> <bR> <div> 1.  Work individually <B>OR</B> in a two-person group on this project throughout the semester.</div> <bR> <div> 2.  Pick a topic - either a social issue or a social problem. </div> <bR> <div> September 15, 2008 -  Turn in:</div> <div> a.  Topic</div> <div> b.  Whether working alone or in a group (if group, list group members)</div> <bR> <div> 3.  The Research Report should be a Minimum of 10-12 pages including tables/charts <B>BUT NOT INCLUDING</B> a copy of the survey and codebook.  (See Placement of Tables and Graphs in the Notes section of this handout).  Most reports are between 12-15 pages, you will not be penalized if you go over that.</div> <bR> <div> 4.  You will need a <B>minimum</B> of 2 analysis (2 Independent Variables and 1 Dependent Variable or 1 Independent and 2 Dependent Variables).  You should create two hypotheses - You don't want to group into one.  Or if applicable, you can create a Research Question. </div> <div> Ex.  You feel that education level and gender have an affect on deviant behavior.</div> <div> Hyp 1:  As an individual's educational level increases the less likely s/he will engage in </div> <div>              deviant behavior.</div> <div>             Hyp 2:  Males are more likely to engage in deviant behavior than are females.</div> <bR> <div> 5.  Every Individual/Group will create his/her/their own Survey and Codebook.  The survey will contain a <B>minimum</B> of 10 questions <B>plus 3-4</B> demographic questions.  This Survey needs to be attached in the Appendix of your Report.</div> <bR> <div> 6.  You will need to distribute your Survey to a minimum of 20 people and then enter your data using SPSS.  You will then use SPSS to analyze the statistical information from your survey for the final report<B>.  </B></div> <bR> <div> 7.  Make sure full report is finalized using appropriate format, spacing (text should be double spaced), etc.</div> <bR> <div> <B>**NOTE for Groups</B>: If you have trouble with someone in your group, please see me immediately and we will try to work things out.  If the problem persists, the individual will be asked to leave the group and will be required to turn in an individual project.  A group may split-up or assign different sections of the project to various individuals within the group.  However, the final project must come together to form one report that is consistent in terms of grammar and spelling, font size and type, etc.</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 5029 WIDTH="830"><div> <B>Structure of Written Report</B><B> <A NAME="information"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> Describe a social problem that concerns you and write a research report using the guidelines described below.</div> <bR> <div> The structure of research reports varies, depending upon the research itself and the audience for which a report is intended.  Certain basic information needs to be included though, and the order of presentation generally should follow standard form.  It is much easier to extract information from a report that is organized according to a familiar pattern.</div> <bR> <div> Scientific writing works best when it is <B>precise</B>, <B>concise</B> and <B>impersonal</B> (<U>written in the 3</U><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><U>rd</U></FONT><U> person</U>).  State information clearly and maximize the amount of information delivered with each word.  Some degree of dryness is almost mandatory, but effort should be made to ease your reader's experience.  Journal articles tend to follow a “traditional” format similar to the one outlined for this project.  As experienced researchers must often do, you probably will have to make some adjustments appropriate to the specifics of your own individual study.  However, the overall structure of your report should be built around the following outline of necessary sections.</div> <bR> <div> Typically, a social science report consists of 9 or 10 basic sections.  Each section, except for Title Page and Introduction, should be preceded by a capitalized heading.  Also, all sections should begin on their own separate page with the section title centered at the top.  Elements of each section should be described in standard prose style and integrated into a standard paragraphed structure.  For more specific guidance and illustration, review the Appendix in Babbie or a sociology journal (or some type of social science journal). </div> <bR> <bR> <div> This handout is intended to give you guidelines / examples of items that would typically be found in each of the sections.  Examples of varies items (i.e. format for literature reviews, hypotheses/research questions, citations, etc.) may also be found on the website {www.uccs.edu/~smarshal}.  </div> <bR> <div> <B>NOTE:</B>  As you read through each section, you may notice the notation: </div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Wing0a73007600f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">(<B>For this Report</B>)</div> <bR> <div> This indicates that “something” needs to be added for your Research Project.  It may not be a standard item in most reports, but its purpose will be to integrate material from the text into your report in various places.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Websites that contain data and research on various topics - Good sources for Literature Reviews</div> <div>      1. U.S. Bureau of the Census - http://ftp.census.gov" <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.census.gov " TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.census.gov "><U><U>http://www.census.gov</U></U></A></FONT><A HREF="http://www.census.gov " TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.census.gov "><U> </U></A>  Contains tables and graphs detailing</div> <div>          census data.</div> <div>      2. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics - http://stats.bls.gov" <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://stats.bls.gov " TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://stats.bls.gov "><U><U>http://stats.bls.gov</U></U></A></FONT><A HREF="http://stats.bls.gov " TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://stats.bls.gov "><U> </U></A>  Contains statistical reports, </div> <div>          bibliographies, and descriptions of surveys.</div> <div>      3. Gallup Poll  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.gallup.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gallup.com"><U><U>http://www.gallup.com</U></U></A></FONT>  Contains poll results and current events information</div> <div>      4. National Coalition for the Homeless - <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.nationalhomeless.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.nationalhomeless.org"><U>http://www.nationalhomeless.org</U></A></FONT> Contains facts, </div> <div>          figures, and legislation about the homeless.</div> <div>      5. Wadsworth Companion Site - <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://sociology.wadsworth.com/babbie/basics3e/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://sociology.wadsworth.com/babbie/ba"><U><U>http://sociology.wadsworth.com/babbie/basics3e/</U></U></A></FONT>  Click on 2000 Census </div> <div>           and then click on “Internet References”.  Scan through these - the AmeriStat has some interesting </div> <div>           research on various topics.</div> <div>       6. NORC  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.norc.uchicago.edu/projects/gensoc.asp" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.norc.uchicago.edu/projects/ge"><U><U>www.norc.uchicago.edu/projects/gensoc.asp</U></U></A></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#666666" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>REPORT FORMAT</B></div> <div> <B>(Also see Appendix D, p. 427-432)</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>I     TITLE PAGE</B><B> <A NAME="title_page_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> Title of research report</div> <div> Name of author/researcher</div> <div> Institutional affiliation of author/researcher</div> <bR> <div> <B>II     ABSTRACT</B><B> <A NAME="abstract___brief_summarization_of_the"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B> - Brief summarization of the study and its findings (100 words or less)  </div> <div>             <B>** This is not necessary for this project</B></div> <div> 1.  Statement of problem or hypothesis          </div> <div> 2.  Key variables studied                                              [<U>Summary</U> section occasionally is </div> <div> 3.  Sample(s) studied                                                    used in place of <U>Abstract</U>.  Does the</div> <div> 4.  General research method utilized                           same thing but usually is placed after</div> <div> 5.  Basic results and conclusions                                 the <U>Conclusion</U> section.]</div> <bR> <div> <B>III     INTRODUCTION</B> <A NAME="introduction___sets_the_stage_for"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A> <U>(</U><B>No Heading on final Project for this Section)</B>- Sets the stage for report by presenting the </div> <div>         research problem, indicating its background, and describing its importance. (<B>For Report</B> - approximately 1 ½ </div> <div>         pages)</div> <div>             1.   Purpose of study</div> <div> 2.  General nature of problem that was examined.</div> <div> 3.   Rationale - brief theoretical background or paradigm derived from literature review</div> <div>    a.  General introduction to topic </div> <div>    b.  Several specific findings pertinent to your study</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   c.  (<B><U>For this Report</U></B>)  Type of study that would best be utilized  (qualitative or quantitative, </div> <div>   idiographic or nomothetic)</div> <div> 4.  Thesis statement / Research purpose or question</div> <bR> <div> <B>IV     LITERATURE REVIEW</B><B> <A NAME="review___provides_known_information"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B> - Provides known information about your topic area.  Places your research </div> <div> into theoretical context so that we can see how it fits in with other studies and why it was needed.</div> <div> (<B>For Report</B> - approximately 2 ½ pages)</div> <div> 1.   Brief introduction of the key points of your research - Name and describe your Broad problem area.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">2.   Find all major studies that have significant findings on each or all of the key points.</div> <div>       (<B><U>For this Report</U></B><B>:</B> you need a minimum of <B>three </B>- you may use as many as you wish).  <U>Make sure they are </U></div> <div> <U>full articles and not just abstracts</U>.  Also, it is nice to find at least one study that supports your </div> <div> hypothesis and at least one study that rejects/refutes your hypothesis <U>if possible</U>.</div> <div> 3.   Needs to be comprehensive but concise.</div> <div> 4.   Use proper citations.</div> <div> 5.   Group “like” findings together into a one or two paragraph summary per key point. (you may use </div> <div> subheadings for each of the key points).  Don't discuss as “this article says this” - discuss by topic.</div> <div> Start with “general idea/point/concept” then you can use specifics as back-up arguments/examples.</div> <bR> <div> One Example of Synthesis:</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >         </FONT> Research has demonstrated that conformity to peers is typically stronger during adolescence than during childhood (Berndt, 1979; Coleman, 1961; Steinberg & Silverberg, 1986).  Coleman argued that conformity to peers is stronger than conformity to parents during adolescence, but that claim has been qualified (Berndt, 1979; Epstein, 1983) and disputed (Berndt & Park, 1989) by others.  For example, Epstein (1983) found that ….. (p.277).</div> <bR> <div> <B>V     METHODS</B><B> <A NAME="methods"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B> - Generally consists of several subunits -If those subunits are complex enough to be </div> <div> described in separate paragraphs, you should head each section with its appropriate name.</div> <bR> <div> Often there is a brief introduction reintroducing your general research question(s)/purpose.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Theoretical Model</B>:  Present your theoretical model (<B>if applicable</B>)</div> <bR> <div> One Example:</div> <div>                            Educational Aspirations  ---------->      Delinquency</div> <bR> <div> <B>Concepts and Variables:</B>  <B>Conceptualize (how you are defining for this project) and Operationalize (how you are measuring for this project) </B>your variables/concepts. Discuss how your relevant variables were coded.  If you are combining several variables into one larger index, you need to state components and coding. You need to identify your independent and dependent variables.</div> <bR> <div>                     One Example:</div> <div> For “grades”, the number of times they made honor roll and the average grades they made at school where combined together.  Parental involvement was measured on a scale of 1 to 5, with one being parents are “not at all involved,” two being “a little involved,” three being “somewhat involved,” four measured as “partially involved,” and five as “greatly involved.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Hypothesis:  </B>Provide specific Hypothesis(es) or Research Question/Purpose.</div> <div> <U>Basic Guidelines for Hypothesis</U>:</div> <div> 1. A simple research hypothesis should name two variables and indicated the type/direction of the relationship expected between them.</div> <div> 2. When a relationship is expected only in a particular population, that population should be referenced in the hypothesis.</div> <div> 3. Should be as specific as possible, yet expressed in a single sentence.</div> <div> 4. If a comparison is to be made, the elements to be compared should be stated.</div> <div> 5. A hypothesis usually should name variables in the order in which they occur or will be measured.</div> <bR> <div> <U>Hypothesis Examples</U>:</div> <div>                         1.  There is a direct relationship between level of education and educational aspirations.</div> <div> 2.  Among juveniles, level of education is inversely associated with juvenile delinquency.</div> <div> 3.  Male youths will be more likely than female youths to have lower educational aspirations and </div> <div>      higher deviant involvement.  <B>OR</B></div> <div> 4.  Male youths tend to have lower educational aspirations and higher deviant involvement than </div> <div>      female youths.</div> <bR> <div> <U>Basic Guidelines for Research Question/Purpose</U>:</div> <div> 1.  When the goal or research is to describe group(s) without describing relationships among variables, write a research purpose or question instead of a hypothesis.</div> <div>                         2.  When there is insufficient evidence to permit formulation of a hypothesis regarding a </div> <div>                               relationship between variables, write a research purpose or question.</div> <div>                         3.  The question or purpose should be as specific as possible, yet stated concisely.</div> <bR> <div> <U>Research Question/Purpose Examples</U>:</div> <div> 1.  The purpose was to determine the level of public support for the bond issue for funding the </div> <div>       construction of additional public libraries.</div> <div> 2.   Research Question:  Do women who adopt their husband's surnames differ in their level of </div> <div> self-esteem from those who retain their surnames or combine their surnames with their husbands' surnames?</div> <bR> <div> <B>Respondents:</B></div> <div> 1.   Population/Sampling frame description</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">2.   Description of sample (race, sex, age, etc.)  (<B><U>For this Report </U></B><B>-  “Demographics Table”)</B></div> <div> 3.   How many subgroups were selected (if applicable)</div> <bR> <div> <B>Demographics Table:</B><B>  </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>For all frequencies, please use the Valid Percentages given by SPSS.  This eliminates missing data.  You would then use phrases such as “Of those who responded…”</B></FONT></div> <div>                   1.  Create a Demographics Table (<B>place in appropriate section of report</B>).  (See website under Excel </div> <div>      Graphs/Charts tutorial for example - can be done in Word).  Give it a Table/Chart Number.</div> <div> 2.  Use at least 3 demographic variables to include in this table.  DO NOT make this table a bivariate analysis -   </div> <div>      bivariate tables should be placed in the “results” section.</div> <bR> <div> <I>Questionnaire</I> (or method utilized)</div> <div> a.  Brief description of questionnaire, if a survey; <U>or</U> of setting and experimental apparatus, if an experiment; <U>or</U> of data source, if used existing records/content analysis.</div> <div> b.  Sampling technique - (<B><U>For this Report </U></B><B>-  </B><B>discuss what technique you actually used to collect your data as well as what technique you would have used if doing it for “real”)</B></div> <div> c.  Size of sample</div> <div> d.  How data was collected / questionnaire administered.</div> <div> e.  Who conducted the research</div> <div> f.   Actual questionnaire should be attached in Appendix</div> <bR> <div> <I>Statistical Procedures</I> - Includes enough detail to make replication possible.</div> <div> a.  Chronological description of research procedure</div> <div> b.  Mention of any occurrence or circumstance that might have affected the outcome</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">c.  (<B><U>For this Report</U></B>) Describe the statistical procedures you used to obtain demographic </div> <div> information.  Describe the statistical procedures you used to test your hypothesis(es).</div> <bR> <div>                </div> <div> <B>VI     RESULTS</B> <B> <A NAME="results_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B>- Report of data analysis and its findings.  (<B>See Statistical Requirements Below</B>)</div> <div> 1.  Clearly labeled tables or graphs that display statistically important results. (Tables can be created using a program such as Word, and Graphs or Charts are easily created in Excel - see website for help).  This includes adding a <B>Table Number</B> as well as a <B>Table Heading</B> for each table created.</div> <div> 2.<B>  Brief</B> verbal description of key results for each finding/table - located immediately above or below to table/graph being presented.  </div> <div>             3.  (<B><U>For this report</U></B>)  This is where you will place and interpret your bivariate tables and frequencies.</div> <bR> <div> <B>(For this Report) Statistical Analysis:</B> </div> <div> <I><B>            NOTE:</B></I><I>  </I><I>For all frequencies, please use the Valid Percentages given by SPSS. </I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#996666" FACE="Arial" ><I> </I></FONT></div> <div>            <B>                1.  Run frequencies: </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>      1.  Run Frequencies on All variables - Clean Data</B></div> <div> <B>      2.  Univariate Analysis - </B>Choose 5 variables to summarize within the results section.  Run these </div> <div>            frequencies with the most appropriate measure of central tendency - SPSS will print </div> <div>            mean/median/mode on any variable, you need to determine the most appropriate measure to </div> <div>            report & briefly discuss in Results section.</div> <bR> <div> <B>2.  Create a </B><I><B>minimum</B></I><B> of </B><I><B>two bivariate or multivariate</B></I><B> percentage table(s) and interpret meaning</B>.  One of the variables in each table must be an indicator (dependent variable) of the attitudes toward <I><B>YOUR TOPIC</B></I>, and the other variable(s) (independent variables) must represent a cause of such attitudes. </div> <bR> <div> <B>  * Please do NOT cut/paste SPSS tables into a word document or print directly from SPSS to use in    </B></div> <div> <B>     report.  </B>These tables are often hard to read & interpret especially to “general” public.  Only report “valid </div> <div>      percentage” column not “percentage” or “cumulative percentage” columns.  I would like you to<B> take the </B></div> <div> <B>     SPSS table information and create a “reader friendly” </B>table in something like Word to use in your </div> <div>      report.  </div> <div>  * You may also use SPSS, Excel or some variation to create Charts or Graphs.<B>  </B>(See website under Excel </div> <div>      Graphs/Charts Tutorial for examples).  You may cut/paste SPSS charts/graphs into your report.</div> <bR> <div>         3.  Place all Tables and/or Charts <B>WITHIN</B> the context of your paper.  Provide brief summary either before </div> <div>              or after each Table/Chart. Give each table, graph or chart a <B>numbered designation (e.g. Table 1)</B>, as </div> <div>              well as the usual required title.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>VII     DISCUSSION:</B><B> <A NAME="discussion"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B> (for this project, should be about 1 1/2 pages)</B></div> <div> 1.   Overall / General interpretation of research results as they relate <U>to your research topic </U>and <U>literature review</U>.          Include an explanation of whether or not the data supported or rejected your research hypothesis.</div> <div> 2.   Explanation of any flaws that could negate or limit the reliability or validity of your research results.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>VIII     CONCLUSION</B><B> <A NAME="conclusion"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B>  </div> <div> 1.   Conclusions drawn from analysis of study results.</div> <div> 2.   Practical implications of the results.</div> <div> 3.   Suggested changes if anyone were to attempt replication of your study.</div> <div> 4.   Discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the study.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">      5.   (<B><U>For this Report</U></B>) Discussion of Relevant Ethical Issues.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>IX     REFERENCES / WORK CITED</B><B> <A NAME="cited"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> 1.   Alphabetical listing by authors' surnames of all literary resources cited directly or indirectly in body of the report.  Follow sociological format shown in any sociological journal or article.</div> <div> 2.   State specific source, date, and pages of each referenced item.</div> <div> 3.   If you are using a citation from one author found in an article from a different author, <B>BOTH</B> citations must be provided.  Within the body of the paper, the <B>ORIGINAL</B> citation is used.</div> <bR> <div> <B>X     APPENDIX</B><B> <A NAME="appendix"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B> - Any materials important to a general understanding of the study and its analysis, but too </div> <div> lengthy or complicated to be included in actual text of report.</div> <div> 1.  Actual questionnaire or test or exercise.</div> <div> 2.  Description, illustration, example of any research apparatus.</div> <div> 3.   Codebook for Survey - This can be produced using SPSS</div> <div> a.  If using SPSS, you may cut/paste your SPSS codebook into Word file, make modifications, then print.</div> <div> b.  You may create your own codebook in, for example, a Word file and then print.</div> <div> See website under SPSS Tutorial for examples of Codebook formatting</div> <div> Please do <B>NOT </B>print straight from SPSS, clean it up before you print</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>NOTES:</B><B> <A NAME="notes"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The Content</B></div> <div> Do not be concerned if content seems repetitive.  If structured correctly, a report will be repetitive.  The abstract summarizes the content, the report repeats the same materiel in more detail.  The results are discussed in both the Results and the Discussion sections.  In addition, your projects focus on only one or two basic research questions, so there is little to cover up the repetitive nature of the report's content.  The trick is to present the same material in an interesting variety of wordings.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Grading</B></div> <div> The research project is graded on an overall evaluation of the research design, awareness of research issues, planning, content and format of report, statistical understanding, and adequacy of coverage.  <B><U>The LENGTH of the Report should be a minimum of 10 pages</U></B><B> </B>(this would include graphs/tables)<B> </B>up to 12-15 depending on how many table/graphs are utilized.  See Grading Grade for the Research Report.</div> <bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>