ASSIGNMENT:  Read Chapters 6 & 7 (pps. 108-148) and be able to do the following in class and on the Unit 3 exam. Material presented in lecture will also be included on the Unit 3 exam.

Chapter 6

1. Be able to identify and give examples that distinguish qualitative approaches from quantitative approaches.  (109)

2. Describe the “naturalistic observation” method of research and the issues related to it. Say why this is a qualitative approach rather than a quantitative approach. Include in your description the problems with participant observation, the pros and cons of concealed vs. open observation, the scope of observations and the limits of naturalistic observation.  What is a “negative case analysis”? (110-114)

3. Describe how one goes about doing a "systematic observation" and the use of coding systems (why use a coding system?)  (114-116)

4. Be able to briefly discuss the methodological issues related to systematic observations such as equipment, reactivity, reliability and sampling (115-116).

5. What is a case study and why conduct one? (117-118)

6.  What do we mean when we say we are conducting “archival research”.  Be able to give some examples.  (118-120)  Know what a “content analysis” involves. (120)

7. Do question #3 on page 122 and be able to justify each of your choices based on the content of this chapter.

Chapter 7

8. Be able to state the value of survey research and give examples of questions this research might try to answer? (124-125)
9. Note the underlying assumption in 125,2.  What is a response set?  What does it mean to say, “it was a social desirability response set”? How can the researcher gain the trust of his/her research participants?
10. What are some factors to take into consideration when constructing a questionnaire? (Be able to explain the main headings of the section “Defining the Research Objectives (126) as well as the main headings under “Question Wording” (127) and then say what you should do to “Finalize the Questionnaire” (133.)
11. Be able to give an example of each type of “Responses to Questions” described on 129-133
12. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using questionnaires versus interviews in a survey? (134-137)
13. Describe how you might use surveys to study changes over time. (137)
14. Be able to give the distinction (with examples) between a sample and a population. (138) Explain what is meant by “sampling error” and how “confidence interval” is related to it. (138-139) Why are larger sample sizes better (up to a point)? (139-140)
15. Be able to give the difference between nonprobability and probability sampling (140,1) and generally discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these general methods (see table on 143).
16. Be able to describe with an example, how to conduct each of the following (and distinguish one from the other); simple random sampling, stratified random sampling (how is the “stratum” determined?), cluster sampling (what is the main advantage of this?), haphazard sampling, purposive and quota sampling.  (140-143, see table on 143)
17. How do you get an “unbiased” sample? (144,1) Be able to explain the terms “sampling frame” and “response rate” with examples. Note the important point about sampling frames in the second to last sentence of 144,2. (143-144)
18. Be able to answer the question poised in the first sentence of 145,4. ("Why aren't researchers more worried about.......")
19. Be able to answer a question similar to question 3 on page 148.