There are two primary methods of collection research data: qualitative or quantitative methods.
Qualitative is primarily
observing
and interpreting the data while quantitative is
measuring
and interpreting data.
(Answer: observing , measuring )
Task 1. Fill in blanks with two possible words measuring or observing
Quantitative research uses surveys or questionnaires as well as other data collection methods. Questionnaires and surveys can be done via phone calls, self- administered questionnaires (when the client fills in the answers themselves) or when a survey taken fills in the questionnaires while asking the questions in a face-to face interview).
Interviews can be structured with the same questions for all the respondents. Or interviews may be free-flowing using a variety of questions.
Questions collecting data may be open-ended or closed, in which the choices the respondents have are limited.
Task 2. Research Vocabulary matching.Instructions:
Match the items in the boxes on the left with the items on the right:
Click in the table cell containing the
item
you want to move.
Click in the table cell where you want the item to go. The words will swap position.
If an item is in the right position, it will have a green background and a tick.
When all the table cells are green and have ticks, you have finished.
.
Task 3
Before developing a set of questions the researcher or research group should define the parameters of the information they plan to collect. This pre-planning of the survey questions should define the studies’ objective. When defining the objective it is helpful to write our specific purpose of the study. This can be stated by filling in the following sentence:
The main objective of this research is _______________________________ – its practice and its value.
Which statement best fits as an objective statement of a study? Choose one.
The main value of this information would be to add to the state of human knowledge.
The main reason for this study is to discover the type of food participants typically eat for breakfast.
The main objective of this research is to determine the underlying assumptions people react to while they are choosing to eat fast food.
(Correct answers are bolded.)
Explanation:
Statement A is too non-specific to the topic. The topic of the research should be clearly stated.
Statement B is quite specific and knowing this specific objective would guide the development of the survey questions.
Statement C seems too philosophical and complicated. Objective should be clear and easily understood.
If the objective has a number of different dimensions or aspects, those should all be list in the objective statement as core values and expected data possibilities.
Core issues include understanding for the food topic mentioned above:
What Hong Kong think breakfast is?
When it should be eaten?
What they think about the food content of breakfast eating?
How Hong Kong people learn about breakfast eating?
How they think about others who do not eat breakfast?
Their opinions about the importance and value of breakfast to different members of society and to their own personal lives.
The topic, narrow topic can have a number of different dimensions. If you are working with others, your research team should also agree upon the following: 1. What information are you going to collect? 2. What will you do with the survey results? 3. How will the information help you understand people’s attitudes and actions towards the selected issue?
Task 4 Staying on topic
When developing a list of questions, the projected answers should be considered as well as the amount of time the questionnaire will take. Care should be taken to not overload the clients with unnecessary or irrelevant questions.
Care should also be taken to make sure your question stay on point and keep to the objective topic.
In the questions below the survey team is attempting to collect information on the Dietary Health of the clients. Check the appropriate questions and leave the irrelevant questions unchecked.
1.
How frequently in a week would you eat breakfast? (Circle one)
Days 1-2-3-4-5-6-7
2.
Approximately how many calories do you consume daily? (within a 24 hour period) Circle one-- ● Under 2000 ● 2000-2500 ● 2500-3000 ● Over 3000 ● Don’t know
3.
Do you get appropriate sleep most nights? (Circle one)
● Yes ● No ● Unsure
4.
When you go to a restaurant what is the highest priority? Rank these as 1-3 (one is most important to you.)
______cost ______taste _______healthy choice.
5.
Do you normally eat three meals a day?
Circle one: ● yes ● no ● don’t know
6.
How often do you visit the doctor?
Choose one: ●one every 6 months, ● once per year, ●only when sick, ●never, ●don’t know
7.
Who taught you about your health habits?
● Parents, ● School, ● Internet, ● Government
8.
What time is the best choice that people’s breakfast should be eaten? Circle one
1) before 6:00 am 2) 6:00-8:00 3) 8:00-10:00 4) 10:00-1200 5) others
9.
When do you have dental check-ups? Choose one
1) Preventive—At least once every year 2) Only when feeling pain in teeth
10.
To what extent do you agree with the following statement? Circle only one number. 1 2 3 4 5 (1 is mostly agree, 2 is agree, 3 is neutral or don’t know, 4 is disagree, 5 is mostly disagree)
