Quantitative research is the process of collecting and analyzing numerical data. It can be used to find patterns and averages, make predictions, test causal relationships, and generalize results to wider populations.
The third step of the research process is designing the study and collecting data. The most common method for collecting quantitative data is the survey or questionnaire. In this module, you will learn about using a validated scale to collect accurate information. Then you will draft a survey instrument for your Scholar Practitioner Project.
Complex concepts like stress, discrimination, and quality of life can be difficult to measure. For these issues, you cannot ask just one question. You must ask multiple questions, in different ways. A validated scale is a series of questions about a concept that has been proven to work in the field because it has been tested for reliability and validity and retested in a variety of settings and populations. Examination of a validated scale can assist you in wording questions for a survey instrument, determining the appropriate order of questions, and understanding levels of measurement (ordinal, categorical, and/or continuous) that are used to measure a complex concept.
The Assignment
Using the scale handout provided, address the following:
Describe the primary concepts being explored.
Identify levels of measurement for each item (categorical, ordinal, continuous).
Evaluate reliability and validity of the scale. You will need to do research in scientific literature to evaluate findings from studies that have used this scale.
Evaluate strengths and limitations of the scale.
Explain changes that might be needed to use the scale in a developing versus a developed country.
