2 PART - High School Social Sciences Homework Part A - create 6-10 questions for a survey Part B - the completed survey

In this activity, you will create a research question and a tool to gather information (questionnaire or interview) in order to help you to answer that question. You will then interpret the results of your research and provide an analysis and reflection of them. This is not a small task. However, when it is broken down into smaller pieces, it is manageable. The steps to accomplish this task are explained below. Step 1 - Crafting a Research Question When you are surveying individuals for the purposes of research, it is initially very important to have a research question. This will represent your overall goal and will serve to tie together all of the questions that you ask the participants. First, you need to determine the topic you wish to research and create a research question. As we discussed technology in the previous activity, your research should involve some aspect of technology and change. This might include: Something very concrete dealing with people's experiences such as: how the way that people have used technology has changed; how individual access to technology has changed; and/or how people's comfort with technology has changed. Or, something more opinion-based such as: what problems can be solved with technology in the future; the digital divide and ethical access to technology; and/or emerging technologies and moral or ethical concerns. Or many other options! Then, you need to turn that topic idea into a good research question. Long Description Resources This helpful page from the OWL at Purdue University also describes the process of creating Research Questions To determine if a question is ‘researchable', check out this example. This is the discussion icon. Research Question When you have created your research question, share it with your classmates. Using the criteria below, provide feedback on the research questions of two different classmates. Is the question so broad that I can't possibly find an answer? Is the question so narrow that the answers are finite or limited? An overall research question needs several supporting questions in order to come to a conclusion. Can it be researched? Is it a topic that you can research without people feeling that it is too personal, too sensitive, or too complicated to answer? After reading your classmates' suggestions for your own research question, along with your teacher's ideas, refine your question as you wish. If you would like more feedback or assistance, ask your teacher. Step 2 - Interview or a Questionnaire? This is a personal choice. Some people feel more comfortable having a one-to-one conversation (interview), and others feel that privacy (i.e. as in a questionnaire) provides more truthful answers. Review the chart above to decide which method you will utilize. There are a few additional considerations to keep in mind: To whom will you deliver this survey - classmates, family and friends, or others? In what setting? How long will it take? Can you find a quiet space without distractions to complete the task? Step 3 - Creating the Survey Now that you have your research question, the next step is determining how to find the answer from a group of participants. The key is crafting questions that will help you to come to a conclusion. Writing the questions for a survey can take considerable time. Here are some tips to remember while brainstorming. Review the different types of questions that you might use below. Also consider whether demographic information is important. Should you be asking people to identify their age by providing a list of ranges? Their gender? Are these important to the research question? They may be if you are looking at how teenagers perceive the use of technology in their classrooms, but not so much if you are surveying brand preferences and reasons. For this task, your survey should be comprised of 6-10 questions. Use the checklist below to ensure that you have completed the expectations for writing a survey: Check Criteria I have included 6-10 questions I have included a variety of open-ended, true/false, and numeric questions. I have ensured that the way I am asking the questions is free of bias. I have considered the order of the questions so as not to lead the participants. All of my questions are directly connected to answering the research question. My questions do not ask the participants to reveal any information that can be used to identify them, or any information that may make them feel uncomfortable. This is the dropbox icon. Participant Questions Record your research question and the 6-10 questions that you will ask participants. Be sure to use the checklist above before you submit your work. Also indicate whether you have selected a questionnaire or interview format for your research. After submitting your work, wait for teacher feedback on your work before continuing. Step 4 – Administering the Survey Now that you have a questionnaire or interview that has been approved by your teacher, it is time to put it into action. You will use your survey to gather information from 5-7 participants. For either method, you will need one paper copy of your survey for each person to respond to (on a questionnaire they will be recording their answers, and in an interview you will be recording them). Remember to: Let participants know that participation is voluntary. Give them instructions on how long this will take or how to complete a paper survey. Ensure participants meet any criteria that you have set (i.e. age, owning a cell phone, etc.). Be polite when asking them to complete the survey and when finishing the survey. Ask participants if they have any questions for you regarding the process. Assure your participants that this is survey is for a class assignment and that their responses will not be shared beyond that context. Step 5 - Analysing the Data Data analysis is complicated and, initially, it can be daunting. The goal is to take the information gathered and come to some sort of supported conclusion about the question that you have asked. Ultimately, you want to be able to make a statement and support it with evidence. While all researcher hope to find clear conclusions from their work, sometimes the first round of research doesn't exactly answer the question. Rather, it may help you to refine the question or discover an area of interest that you hadn't previously considered. Don't be discouraged if your first attempt falls into this category. This is the dropbox icon. Final Survey Submission Your final survey submission should contain: The 5-7 completed surveys with which you gathered your research. Your findings including: Your original research question. Four findings were supported in your research. Remember to state the idea and then how you know that it is true. For example, your findings might allow you to make statements such as the following: People are very concerned with having the most current cell phone technology. This was demonstrated in that 63% of people obtained their current cell phone when their previous one was still fully functional and under contract. Your conclusion about the original research question. Were you able to answer it? What conclusions were you able to make? A reflection on the research process: Would you change your original research question? How and why or why not? Describe the experience of delivering the survey to the participants. Were you nervous? Were they willing participants? Comment on how you felt about the research process as a whole.