Statistics in Quantitative Methods
The purpose of the assignment is to develop skills associated with selecting and applying methods for data collection, stationary and time series data analysis and hypothesis testing.
Data collectionIdentify the sources that will offer the information that you need to answer the research question (journals, books, internet resources, government documents, people, etc).
1. What data do you plan to acquire to answer your research question? Why? What kinds of instruments, variables, materials, or sources will you use (i.e. will you use observations, surveys, interviews, case studies, focus groups, experiments, documents, media, data base searches, etc.)? If you plan to use mixed methods, will they be sequential, concurrent or transformative? Why?
2. List the kinds of data/information that you plan to collect (e.g. testimonials, statistics, business/government reports, other research data, audio/video recordings, etc.). Also, consider two or three alternative ways you could gather data/information for this research.
3. If you plan to use research participants, where will they come from? How will they be sampled? How many participants will you require? If you are not using research participants, who will you use as the target audience of your data? Who would most benefit from your research, and why?
4. Business research topics relate to events that develop in time.
· Explain how you would acquire a snapshot of data relevant to your research question. Within the snapshot, the data become effectively stationary.
· Consider the evolution of data with time. How would you acquire the time series data relevant to your research question?
5. What ethical issues will your research project present? What biases might you bring to the research and how will you address that bias?
Analysis of stationary data
1. What method will you choose to analyze the stationary data that you plan to collect?
2. Has this method of data analysis been applied in similar situations by other authors? Include references and illustrations from the literature to show the advantages and disadvantages of the method.
3. Attach a worked out example of application of the method using simulated or previously published data.
4. How will you validate your findings/conclusions?
Testing hypotheses
1. State your hypotheses.
2. Explain whether your hypotheses will be tested using frequentist or Bayesian approach, and justify the choice.
3. Have similar hypotheses been tested by other authors? Include references and illustrations from the literature.
4. Attach a worked out example of hypothesis testing using simulated or previously published data.
5. How will you validate your findings/conclusions?
Analysis and forecasting of time series
1. What method will you choose to analyze and forecast the time series data that you plan to collect?
2. Have these methods of data analysis and forecasting been applied in similar situations by other authors? Include references and illustrations from the literature to show their advantages and disadvantages.
3. Attach a worked out examples of analysis and forecasting using simulated or previously published data.
4. How will you validate your findings/conclusions?
Statistics in Quantitative Methods The purpose of the assignment is to develop skills associated with selecting and applying methods for data collection, stationary and time series data analysis and h
Research Paper Part 2- Checklists Quantitative Research- Surveys Checklist What is your research purpose and potential benefits? What is your hypothesis? What are your variables? What is the purpose of the survey design? What are the reasons for choosing the design? What is the nature of the survey design (e.g., cross sectional or longitudinal)? How will the survey be administered (e.g. mail, phone, internet)? Justify your selected method (i.e. strengths and weaknesses)? If using an experiment, describe how the experiment will be implemented. What is the size of the population? Will your population be stratified (e.g. single stage or multi stage)? If so, how will it be stratified? What type of sampling will be used (e.g. random sampling, convenience sampling)? What are the strengths and limitations of your type of sampling technique?) How many people will be included in the sample? How will this size be determined? Will you be using power analysis (association between variables)? What will be the procedure for sampling these individuals e.g. random or non-random? What instrument will be used in the survey? Will you develop your own survey or will you use an existing survey. If using an existing instrument, who developed it, how many items/questions does it contain, does it have acceptable reliability and validity? What procedure will be used to pilot or filed test the survey? What is the timeline for administering the survey? How will participants be recruited for the study? How will the measures be scored and converted into variables? How will the variables be used to test your research questions? What steps will be taken in data analysis? How will response bias be determined? How will you present a descriptive analysis of data for all variables used in the study? What statistics and statistical programs are best suited for your study? What kinds of tests will be carried out to test your hypothesis e.g. t-tests, ANOVA, Chi-square etc.)? What figures will be used to present your findings and why (e.g. tables, bar graphs, line graphs etc.)? Will you be using time series? If using a time series: What method will you choose to analyze and forecast the time series data that you plan to collect? Have these methods of data analysis and forecasting been applied in similar situations by other authors? Include references and illustrations from the literature to show their advantages and disadvantages. Attach a worked out examples of analysis and forecasting using simulated or previously published data. How will you validate your findings/conclusions? Quantitative Experimental Designs- Checklist What is your research purpose and potential benefits? What is you hypothesis? What are your variables? Who are the study participants? How were the participants selected? What was in the inclusion and exclusion criteria? How will the participants be randomly assigned? How many participants will be in the study? What experimental design will be used? What are the independent variables and how will they be operationalized? What are the dependent variables? How will they be measured? Will variables be included as manipulation checks in the experiment? How and when will they be measured? What instruments will be used to measure the dependent variables (outcomes) in the study? Why did you choose them? Who developed the measures? Do they have established validity and reliability? How will participants be recruited for the study What are the sequential step in the procedure for administering the experimental study to participants? What are the potential threats to internal and external validity for the experimental design and procedures? How will they be addressed? How will pilot testing of materials and procedures be conducted prior to formal data collection? What statistics will be used to analyses the data (e.g. descripting and inferential) Have similar hypotheses been tested by other authors? Include references and illustrations from the literature. Attach a worked out example of hypothesis testing using simulated or previously published data. How will the results be interpreted? Qualitative Studies- Checklist What is your research purpose and potential benefits? What is your research question? What type of qualitative design will be used for yours study? What is the design’s history, definitions, strengths and limitation? Is the researchers’ role in reflexivity clearly articulated? What is the purposeful sampling strategy for sites and individuals? What are its strengths and limitations? What is the recruitment strategy for enrolling participants in the study? What forms of data collection strategies will be used? What are the strengths and limitation of the strategies based on existing literature? What are the procedures for recoding your information during the data collection (e.g. audio recording, paper copies)? Are the data analysis? Which existing studies will inform your data analysis procedures and why? How will you organize your data for analysis? How will the research data be coded? How will your data be represented e.g. tables graphs and figures. How will your theses be interpreted? How will biases for interpreting the analysis be specified? Which strategies will be used to validate the findings?
Statistics in Quantitative Methods The purpose of the assignment is to develop skills associated with selecting and applying methods for data collection, stationary and time series data analysis and h
TERM PAPER PART 2: Statistics in Quantitative Methods and Qualitative Data Analysis Due at the end of week 9 (Sunday midnight) The purpose of the assignment is to develop skills associated with selecting and applying methods for data collection, data analysis and hypothesis testing and answering research questions. Data collection Identify the sources that will offer the information that you need to answer the research question (journals, books, internet resources, government documents, people, etc). What data do you plan to acquire to answer your research question? Why? What kinds of instruments, variables, materials, or sources will you use (i.e. will you use observations, surveys, interviews, case studies, focus groups, experiments, documents, media, data base searches, etc.)? If you plan to use mixed methods, will they be sequential, concurrent or transformative? Why? List the kinds of data/information that you plan to collect (e.g. testimonials, statistics, business/government reports, other research data, audio/video recordings, etc.). Also, consider two or three alternative ways you could gather data/information for this research. If you plan to use research participants, where will they come from? How will they be sampled? How many participants will you require? If you are not using research participants, who will you use as the target audience of your data? Who would most benefit from your research, and why? Business research topics relate to events that develop in time (If applicable to your study). Explain how you would acquire a snapshot of data relevant to your research question. Within the snapshot, the data become effectively stationary. Consider the evolution of data with time. How would you acquire the time series data relevant to your research question? What ethical issues will your research project present? What biases might you bring to the research and how will you address that bias? Analysis of qualitative data What method will you use to analyze your qualitative data Has this method of data analysis been applied in similar situations by other authors? Include references and illustrations from the literature to show the advantages and disadvantages of the method. Attach findings from a study that applied your proposed methods. How will you validate your findings/conclusions? Analysis of stationary data (Quantitative Data, if applicable to your study) What method will you choose to analyze the stationary data that you plan to collect? Has this method of data analysis been applied in similar situations by other authors? Include references and illustrations from the literature to show the advantages and disadvantages of the method. Attach a worked out example of application of the method using simulated or previously published data. How will you validate your findings/conclusions? Testing hypotheses (Quantitative Data) State your hypotheses. Explain whether your hypotheses will be tested using frequentist or Bayesian approach, and justify the choice. Have similar hypotheses been tested by other authors? Include references and illustrations from the literature. Attach a worked out example of hypothesis testing using simulated or previously published data. How will you validate your findings/conclusions? Analysis and forecasting of time series (Quantitative Data, if applicable to your study) What method will you choose to analyze and forecast the time series data that you plan to collect? Have these methods of data analysis and forecasting been applied in similar situations by other authors? Include references and illustrations from the literature to show their advantages and disadvantages. Attach a worked out examples of analysis and forecasting using simulated or previously published data. How will you validate your findings/conclusions?
Statistics in Quantitative Methods The purpose of the assignment is to develop skills associated with selecting and applying methods for data collection, stationary and time series data analysis and h
1 Assessment Rubric for Research Proposal Part 1 Criterion Developing 0-3 Satisfactory 4 Exemplary 5 Marks 1 Introductory Title and Abstract Title or abstract lacks relevance or fails to offer appropriate details about the proposed study or is too lengthy Title or abstract are missing or inappropriate given the problem, research questions, and method Title and abstract are relevant, offering details about the research project Title and abstract are of required size, offering details about the problem, research questions, and method Title and abstract are concise, informative, and clearly indicate the problem, research questions and method /5 2 Introduction: Problem, Significance, & Purpose of the Study Research issue is identified, but statement is too broad or fails to establish the importance of the problem The research purpose, questions, hypotheses, definitions or variables are poorly formed, ambiguous, or not logically connected to the description of the problem and conte xt. Unclear connections to the literature Identifies a relevant research issue. Research questions are succinctly stated, connected to the research issue, and supported by the literature Variables have been identified and described. Connections are established with the literature Presents a sig nificant research problem related to the topic Articulates clear, reasonable research questions /hypothesis given the purpose, design, and methods of the project All variables have been appropriately defined. Proposals are clearly supported from the resea rch and theoretical literature. All elements are mutually supportive /15 3 Literature Review Key components are not connected to the research literature. Selected literature is from unreliable sources Literary supports are vague or ambiguous Number of relevant business – related sources are less than the required number Key research components are connected to relevant, reliable theoretical and research literature Number of relevant business – related sources are less than the requ ired number Adequate critique and synthesis of the reviewed peer reviewed theoretical and research literature Each key research component is grounded to the literature. Attention is given to different perspectives, threats to validity, and opinion vs. ev idence Uses a minimum of 15 relevant business -related literature sources /15 2 5. Organization Lacks continuity between topics The length of the proposal exceeds the suggested limit indicated in the assignment’s description The ideas are presented in a random manner with no focus Little evidence of an organi zational pattern; unclear structure Includes continuity between topics The content and length of the proposal are inadequate ( i.e., there is some logic in the narrative part, but th e ideas lack of clear focus). Mostly clear organi zational pattern, adequate structure Includes continuity between topics; includes transitions from topic to topic . The proposal has the appropriate length, and the ideas are presented in a clear structural and logic manner identifying reasonably well the reasons and means to achieve the goal of the proposal. /5 6. Mechanics More than 10 errors in spelling , grammar, and punctuation 5 to 10 errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation Less than 5 errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation /5 7 Referencing Cites irrelevant literature; includes too few citations; uses inconsistent or non – APA format Inconsistently references according to the APA style Cites relevant literature; uses consistent, standard format Mostly references according to the APA style Cites relevant literature; includes citation for every fact not part of general knowledge; uses consistent, standard format /5 Total: _____/ 50 3 Part 2 Criterion Developing 0-3 Satisfactory 4 Exemplary 5 Marks 1. Methods: Design The research design is confusing or incomplete given the research questions and strategy Important limitations and assumptions have not been identified Unfeasible; topic too vast or too vague Identifies inappropriate research methods; vaguely describes their use and application to your topic Ignores ethical considerations presented by the research design The research design has been identified and described in sufficiently detailed terms. Some limitations and assumptions have been identified Feasible in terms of time and resources Identifies appropriate research methods; describes their use and application to your topic Considers some ethical aspects of presented by the research design The purpose, questions, and design are mutually supportive and coherent Discusses appropriate research methods; fully describes their use and application to your topic Appropriate and important limitations and assumptions have been clearly stated. Fe asible and efficient in terms of time and resources Considers all ethical aspects presented by the research design /15 2. Methods: Instruments Description of the instruments and techniques are confusing, incomplete, or lacked relevance to the research questions and variables. Identifies appropriate research tools; fully describes their use and application to your topic Instruments and observation protocols are identified by name and described. Identifies appropriate research tools; describes their use and application to your topic Descriptions of instruments and techniques included protocols and replications. Evidenc e of the validity and reliability was presented Identifies appropriate research tools; fully describe their use and application to your topic /10 3. Methods: Procedures Procedures are confusing, incomplete, or lacked relevance to purpose, research questions, or sampling strategy. Completely describes procedures for obtaining data/evidence; completely describes appropriate analysis procedures Procedures for project are identified and described in an appropriate fashion Clearly describes procedures for obtaining data/evidence; describes appropriate analysis procedures Procedures are thorough, coherent, and powerful for generating valid and reli able data Procedures are replicable Completely describes procedures for obtaining data/evidence; completely describes appropriate analysis procedures /15 4. Methods: Data Analysis Descriptive or statistical methods are confusing, incomplete or lacked relevance to the research questions, data, or research design Both descriptive and statistical methods were identified. Level of significance was stated. Uses well -defined qualitative or quantitative methods /5 4 Analytical methods are sufficiently specific, clear, and appropriate for the research questions 5.Organization Lacks continuity between topics The length of the proposal exceeds the suggested limit highlighted in the assignment’s description The ideas are presented in a random manner with no focus Little evidence of an organi zational pattern; unclear structure Includes continuity between topics The content and length of the proposal are inadequate (i.e., there is some logic in the narrative part, but the ideas lack of clear focus ) Mostly clear organisational pattern, adequate structure Includes continuity between topics; includes transitions from topic to topic The proposal has the appropriate length, and the ideas are presented in a clear structural and logic manner identifying reasonably well the reasons a nd means to achieve the goal of the proposal /5 6. M echanics More than 10 errors in spelling , grammar, and punctuation 5 to 10 errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation Less than 5 errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation /5 7. Referencing Cites irrelevant literature; includes too few citations; uses inconsistent or non -APA format Inconsistently references according to the APA style Cites relevant literature; uses consistent, standard format Mostly references according to the APA style Cites relevant literature; includes citation for every fact not part of general knowledge; uses consistent, standard format /5 8. Power Point Presentation Poorly organized. Not appealing to the eye (e.g., unclear text, too much information on single slides) . Too many extras (e.g., transitions) Message is not the most important characteristic. Organization apparent and appealing. Clear transitions Too many extras A high degree of originalit y, organization, and eye appeal. Simple and clear slides Uses graphics for illustrations Message is the most important characteristics All key aspects of the proposal are included in the slides /5 Total: _____/ 65
