Key statements and conceptualization
I need support with this Political Science question so I can learn better.
You are now going to work on the second blog. This gives you a chance to practice writing key statements, identifying and defining variables (conceptualization)
The assignment relates to the following learning objectives:
- Distinguish between different types of research and the outcome of each type
- Describe the research design process and its components
And, it relates to building the competency of the Ability to analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make decisions; and the NACE competency of critical thinking/problem solving.
Background information:
Variables and their categories
In week one we began to consider variables and the categories that make up the variable. Categories are the answers a variable can take. So, as an example, blue, red, green are attributes of a variable we will name “color”.Makes sense, right?
So, let’s organize it visually:
Color (variable)
- Blue (attribute 1)
- Red (attribute 2)
- Green (attribute 3)
Now, attributes need to have two characteristics:
- Attributes must be mutually exclusive. This means any given answer to the question of color must fit into only one of the attributes. We have that here, right? If something is green is fits in green and not in red or blue. Good!(If you want to think of another example, think of flipping a coin – the outcomes can only be heads or tails, it cannot be both)
- They must be exhaustive. Now this means that any given answer to the question of color must be able to fit into one of the attributes. Do we have that here? No! If we have an answer of “brown” it does not fit into the categories of blue, red or green. So, what do we do? In this case it is difficult to list every color, so we might add a fourth attribute of “Other”. And, any color other than red, blue or green would fit into other.So, our four attributes are exhaustive. (again, with the coin example, heads and tails are exhaustive – there are no other outcomes of flipping a coin)
So, if we had a survey question, for example, that dealt with the variable hair color, we might phrase it this way:
What color is your hair?
- Brown
- Blonde
- Red
- Other
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Now, here is the blog assignment. Five questions, please develop your answers and post them to this assignment space via a text post.
Please place all variable names in (parentheses) so we get used to identifying our variable name.
Q1. Identify a variable name for the following attributes: Ford, Chevy, Honda. Then develop a set of attributes that are mutually exclusive and exhaustive. Write a simple definition for your variable.
Q2. Identify a set of categories for the variable named “Relationship status”. Remember the idea of mutually exclusive and exhaustive.
Q3. Review the example below. Does this variable and attributes meet the two conditions identified above?
The variable name is “religiosity”.Religiosity is defined as the frequency of church attendance.
Categories are:
- Never
- Once a month
- Twice a month
- Three times a month
- Four times a month
- More than four times a month
Q4. Let’s practice writing key statements. As a reminder, key statements include:
- the variable name and definition for each variable
- A research question (remember it ends with a ?)
- A hypothesis (It is hypothesized…)
- A purpose statement – it follows this format: The purpose of this (insert the type of research) research is (either ‘to describe’, ‘determine a relationship’ or ‘determine a difference’) (insert your variable(s) for the population of (name your population – those you will study).
- Here is an example: The purpose of this descriptive research is describe what student attitudes are toward the COVID virus at UCF.
Give this example some thought.
A researcher is interested in whether people in Orange County Florida feel they are satisfied with their life. Create the following:
- a (variable name)
- a variable definition
- a research question
- a hypothesis
- a purpose statement
If you know your topic and would like to take a crack at your key statements here, go ahead! (not required)
This assignment will be graded based on the following:
Grading
- All elements addressed
- How thoughtful is your product? Thoughtful is defined as:
- solid rationale in your statements
- class concepts are used and defined, “Activity x is a public good. A public good is….)”
- accuracy and explicitness of statements
- where appropriate, examples are used – from your life, the newspaper, other valid sources.
- Answers well organized