This competency assessment assesses the following Outcome(s):
SS290-2: Illustrate the processes of data collection.
PC-3.2: Interact with others in a professional manner using appropriate communication and presentation skills.
Data Collection
For this assignment, you will conduct a data collection questionnaire and prepare the collected data for analysis.
Step 1:
Creating a data survey instrument (questionnaire) with at least 10 questions: The first deliverable will be a questionnaire that you will give to 10 people. Begin by thinking of a research question or data theme to explore. Decide on whether you wish to gather quantitative data or qualitative data. Then create a 10-question survey.
Include a brief explanatory opening to the survey explaining the point of the survey (research question), an estimation of time for completion, and a thank you note for their participation.
Consider the best type of questions to ask when exploring your topic. Also, consider the types of responses you will want (numerical, descriptive, explanatory, etc.).
You may create this on paper (a list of questions and possible answers) and collect the data manually, or you may create the data on a Google Form and gather the data electronically.
Step 2:
Collecting data: Once you completed the questionnaire, collect responses from at least 10 people. The collection can be done in person, over the phone, via email, or through social media.
Step 3:
The second deliverable will be a spreadsheet organizing the responses to the survey. Create an Excel® spreadsheet that includes all of the collected data. If you use a Google Form, you can have the data collected automatically and exported to Excel. If you collect the data manually, you must manually create the data spreadsheet. (Data spreadsheet example)
Step 4:
Write a 300 -500 word essay to address the following:
Illustrate the data collection process. This must include the methodology (e.g., quantitative survey instrument), research subjects (who you gathered the data from), collection methods (live interviews, shared Google Form via email, etc.), how you created the data spreadsheet, and any issues that arose during the data collection process such as missing data, incomplete answers, or incomprehensible replies. Make sure to illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of the data collection instrument. How well did the questions work to collect usable data? Where would you make any improvements if you had to do this again?
Submit:
Deliverable 1: The survey instrument
Deliverable 2: The Excel spreadsheet
Deliverable 3: The 300 – 500 word essay.
Formatting requirements:
Title and reference pages are required.
The essay should be double-spaced with 12-pt. Times New Roman or another APA-acceptable font.
The assignment should follow the conventions of Standard English (correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling).
Learn: Reading and Research
The readings for this module delve into research methods as they pertain to the collection of data as well as evaluation research. The first reading deals with some of the principles of data collection that need to be considered during the research process, and the second reading explores the merits of existing data sources. Next, you will read about evaluation research. This type of research uses data collection not just to find out about something, but often to make a judgment about whether or not a program works as it should or if a policy change is warranted. This type of data collection has some particular ethical concerns.
Chapter 3 and Chapter 7: Gaultney, J., & Peach, H. (2016). How to do research. (Vols. 1-0). SAGE Publications, Inc, https://doi.org/10.4135/9781071909744
Chapter 1: Saville Kushner. (2017). Evaluative Research Methods: Managing the Complexities of Judgment in the Field. Information Age Publishing. https://libauth.purdueglobal.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=1455616&site=eds-live
Learn: Learning Resources
This learning activity contains resources from Google on creating and using Google Forms™. These Google Forms can be used for surveys, quick polls, information capture, and many other useful activities.
Minimum Submission Requirements
Proper notification of any resubmission, repurposing, or reworking of prior work per the Purdue Global Student Coursework Resubmission, Repurposing, and Reworking Policy Resource.
This assessment should be a Microsoft Word (minimum 350 words) document, in addition to the title and reference pages.
Respond to the questions in a thorough manner, providing specific examples of concepts, topics, definitions, and other elements asked for in the questions. Your submission should be highly organized, logical, and focused.
Your submission should provide a clearly established and sustained viewpoint and purpose.
Your writing should be well ordered, logical, and unified, as well as original and insightful.
Your submission must be written in Standard English and demonstrate exceptional content, organization, style, and grammar and mechanics.
A separate page at the end of your submission should contain a list of references in APA format. Use your textbook, the Library, and the internet for research.
Be sure to include references for all sources and to cite them using in-text citations where appropriate. Your sources and content should follow current APA citation style. Review the writing resources for APA formatting and citation found in Academic Tools. Additional writing resources can be found within the Academic Success Center.
Your submission should:
include a title page;
be double-spaced;
be typed in Times New Roman, 12-point font; and
be free of spelling or punctuation errors.
