Week 10 Sampling and Data Collection Methods Briana

Week 10: Sampling and Data Collection Methods Briana Hinga EDUC 532 1

Agenda • • Discussion: Sampling Discussion: Methods of Data Collection Poll: Designing Research Activity/Homework: Sampling and Data Collection Methods 2

Learning Objectives • Explain the characteristics of the different sampling techniques and when to use them. • Explain the characteristics of each of the six methods of data collection. • Align sampling and data collection methods with research questions (and study purpose). 3

Applied Review 1. What the argument/claim the woman in labor makes in this ad? 2. What methodological approach was used in this study? • Quantitative: Descriptive, Comparative, Correlational, Causal • Qualitative • Mixed Methods 3. Based on your limited report of the study, discuss the credibility of the study. 4

QUANTITATIVE QUALITATIVE Purpose To study cause and effect & relationships – descriptive & inferential To understand social phenomena – meaning, context and process Design Is developed prior to the study Can evolve during the study Approach Is deductive, tests theory Tools/Meth ods Uses face-to-face interactions Uses standardized instruments or artifacts left behind (documents etc. ) Sample Uses large, ideally random samples Uses small, often purposeful samples Analysis Statistical analysis of numerical data Thematic coding and interpretation of narrative data 5 Is inductive, generates theory

Sampling Source: ccelearn. csus. edu

Discussion: Sampling 1. What is the difference between random and non-random sampling? 2. What makes for a “good” sample in a quantitative study? Why? 3. What makes for a “good” sample in a qualitative study? Why? 4. Name and provide an example of each of the sampling strategies discussed in J & C, Ch. 10. 8

Random/Probability Sampling • • Simple random sampling Systematic sampling Stratified sampling Cluster sampling Source: teachbytes. com 9

Non-Random/Non-Probability Sampling • • Convenience sampling Snowball sampling Quota sampling Purposive/Purposeful sampling Source: www. wired. com 10

How big should my sample be?

Understanding Confidence Intervals: Statistics Help In quantitative sampling: 1. What does “inference” mean? 2. What does a “confidence interval” mean? What impacts the width of a confidence interval?

www. raosoft. com/samplesize. html 14

Discussion: Methods of Data Collection 1. Of the six methods of data collection, how do researchers choose which methods of data collection to use? How are these choices connected to their research questions and research method? 2. Think about the Leventhal & Brooks-Gunn and Duncan- Andrade articles. Discuss their data collection method choices. Were they appropriate? What other methods could have been used, if any? 15

Types of Interviews QUANTITATIVE QUALITATIVE Unstructured Semi-structured Informal conversational Interview guide Structured Standardized open-ended Closed quan 16

Poll: Designing Research Decide whether a qualitative interview, a questionnaire, direct observation, a paper-and-pencil test/assessment, or existing or secondary documents would be the most appropriate method of data collection for each of the following research problems, and explain why. a. b. c. d. e. The study explores what activities parents in a specific high school engage in to support their children in completing college applications. The researcher wants to determine whether employee conversations are different when there is a manager nearby. The researchers are investigating the relationship between high school teachers’ religion and their attitudes toward science education. An investigator wants to classify first year students as high, medium, or low reading skills. A researcher wants to know how the curricula for English Language Learners vary across 5 school districts. 17

Activity/Homework: Sampling and Data Collection Methods Given your research questions, begin to brainstorm the sampling and data collection methods you will propose in the research proposal assignment. 1. What sampling approach is the most appropriate for each RQ? Why? A. Decide who/what you want to study B. Determine sampling approach 2. What data collection methods are necessary/appropriate to answer each RQ? A. How do these decisions align with your purpose statement? 18