This assignment will cover questions #7 and #8 from the research proposal. Please refer to Chapter 6 in the textbook for guidance on the research design and Chapters 7 and 8 in the textbook for data collection options. The first task is to determine the type of research design you will be utilizing in your study. Remember there are two overall types (experimental and quasi-experimental) and then subcategories of quasi-experimental. The research design is not about selecting your participants, but rather how you will be structuring the study itself. For instance, will you be randomly assigning certain areas to have an increased police presence or are the areas for increased police presence already determined and you will be comparing crime rates from before and after the intervention? Select an appropriate design, explain/define it, and then apply it in detail to your study.
Secondly, determine how you will be collecting your data for the study. Interviews, focus groups, surveys, or previously collected data like crime rate reports. Explain in detail why you selected this method and how you are going to apply it to your study.
Here are the two questions from the research proposal assignment for guidance.
Identify the research design that you would use to conduct your study (e.g., experimental, quasi-experimental, nonequivalent group, time-series etc.). Justify why you selected this strategy. In other words, why is it appropriate for your study (see Chapter 6).
How are you going to collect the data for your study? Are you using official data, are you doing a field observation, are you doing surveys, interviews? If you are only collecting data from official records make sure and specify which records and how you are recording them. (Chapters 7 and 8)
