OCR Nationals level 3 Unit 3 Problem Solving

OCR Nationals level 3 Unit 3 Problem Solving A 02 Design and carry out a data collection activity Spring 2010 D. GAREY

Data Collection Methods • • • Questionnaires (online or paper based) Observations Empirical/scientific tests Discourse analysis Transcripts Data loggers/sensory outputs Spring 2010 D. GAREY

Open Vs Closed Questioning • Closed questions –directive i. e. YES/NO, TRUE/FALSE or PRE DEFINED ANSWERS such as multiple choice. Quick, easy, quantifiable, measurable, objective, restrictive • Open Questions –include HOW, WHY, WHAT do you think etc, no defined answers, analysis in done after scrutiny of replies , rich answers, time consuming, hard to measure, can be biased Spring 2010 D. GAREY

Standard Distribution Graph Spring 2010 D. GAREY

The Sample • Population distribution curve “Bell Jar” with high and low extremes at either end of scale • Distribution is reflective of general population, working for IQ tests, personality tests etc • “Norm” is the middle part of the graph where majority of population lie (+ or – one standard deviation either side) Spring 2010 D. GAREY

Your Sample • Is it representative of all people from around the country/same age/same social background etc • Or are you focusing on a homogenic sample? • How will you select your sample? • Volunteers? Random selection? Target specific groups/clusters? • Is it balanced in terms of gender, ethnic backgrounds, age etc –does it matter? Spring 2010 D. GAREY

QUESTIONNAIRES • Must have an accompanying set of instructions/script to make it a fair test – everyone gets the same instructions • Must be anonymising • Must account for gender and age Spring 2010 D. GAREY

Extraneous Variables • List potential errors that could affect results • How can you minimise these? Spring 2010 D. GAREY

Hardware/Software • What will you create questionnaires on (Access? Word? ) • What will you produce data results with? (Excel? ) • How will you produce your findings? • What IT equipment will you need to complete the investigation? • Remember to list alternatives and evaluate them! Spring 2010 D. GAREY

• GO AND GET THE DATA!!!! Spring 2010 D. GAREY