ADOLESCENT PROBLEMS
Notes
Intro to Survey Design
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Intro to Social Research
Finding the relationship between social problems and causing variables encompasses the purpose of sociology research. Through explanation and exploration we are able to better understand the world around us and strive for social change.
Based on the topics we reviewed yesterday you are going to select a social problem from below and a variable to study for the next few days.
Social Problems:
Theft | Depression | Alcohol | Drugs
Variables:
Peer Group Influence | Religion | Family | Social Class
Based on the topics we reviewed yesterday you are going to select a social problem from below and a variable to study for the next few days.
Social Problems:
Theft | Depression | Alcohol | Drugs
Variables:
Peer Group Influence | Religion | Family | Social Class
Day 1
1. Pick a social problem and a variable from the list above.
2. Find 3 relevant articles online. [Example: If you chose Theft and Religion; find articles about the relationship between the two. How does religion and frequency of religious activity have an effect on theft.] AGE is a variable to consider because your social research will be conducted here at school. You can define AGE as adolescents ranging from 14-18 years old.
3. Print the articles and save the URLs in a Google Document.
4. Begin a Works Cited Page in MLA format
2. Find 3 relevant articles online. [Example: If you chose Theft and Religion; find articles about the relationship between the two. How does religion and frequency of religious activity have an effect on theft.] AGE is a variable to consider because your social research will be conducted here at school. You can define AGE as adolescents ranging from 14-18 years old.
3. Print the articles and save the URLs in a Google Document.
4. Begin a Works Cited Page in MLA format
Day 2
Review the research with your partner highlighting key information. You are looking to establish the relationship between your social problem and your causing variable. After you have sorted through the information you should be able to describe the simple relationship between your variables and why it is a problem in society.
1. Write a one paragraph summary of why your topic is a social problem. [DEFINE THE PROBLEM]
2. Outline the key points from your articles on a piece of paper. Organize your outline by the individual article. [rough draft of REVIEW OF LIT]
3. Write a hypothesis about your topic.
1. Write a one paragraph summary of why your topic is a social problem. [DEFINE THE PROBLEM]
2. Outline the key points from your articles on a piece of paper. Organize your outline by the individual article. [rough draft of REVIEW OF LIT]
3. Write a hypothesis about your topic.
Day 3
You are ready to begin writing your survey. Remember what we focused on yesterday. Below are a few of the finer points for consideration regarding your survey design.
State the purpose of the survey [not the hypothesis] | Give clear directions | The first two questions in your survey establish Age & Gender
Set up your survey into 3 sections - A - B - C.
Section A - questions that focus on your first variable
Section B - questions that focus on your second variable
Section C - relationship questions between both variables
Avoid bias in your questions | Avoid double barrelled questions | keep your formatting clean and simple
State the purpose of the survey [not the hypothesis] | Give clear directions | The first two questions in your survey establish Age & Gender
Set up your survey into 3 sections - A - B - C.
Section A - questions that focus on your first variable
Section B - questions that focus on your second variable
Section C - relationship questions between both variables
Avoid bias in your questions | Avoid double barrelled questions | keep your formatting clean and simple
Day 4 - 5
Distribute and collect surveys.
1. Now that you have begun the tallying process you need to have the following steps completed:
The more variables you isolate - the more trends you identify.
Day 6 - 7
The following sections need to be completed once your data has been collected and recorded:
Conducting the Survey, Measurement of Variables, Analysis of Data, Report of Findings. Definitions of these sections are found at the top of the page under INTRO TO SURVEY DESIGN.
1. Now that you have begun the tallying process you need to have the following steps completed:
- Tally all data responses and write 3 general statements about your results
- Isolate one key variable and sort surveys according to responses. [ex: Do you use drugs - Yes vs. No] Write 2 statements about this key variable. [ex. Out of the 57% of respondents who use drugs - 80% admitted they were pressured by their peer groups]
- Isolate another key variable such as Age, Gender, or another factor identified from your survey. Write 2 more statements about the results.
The more variables you isolate - the more trends you identify.
Day 6 - 7
The following sections need to be completed once your data has been collected and recorded:
Conducting the Survey, Measurement of Variables, Analysis of Data, Report of Findings. Definitions of these sections are found at the top of the page under INTRO TO SURVEY DESIGN.