Quantitative Methods and Analysis

3-4 pgs

Gallup poll results are prevalent in the media especially leading up to elections as are reports on surveys done by universities and research groups like the Pew Research Center.

The survey results of small groups of people are used to portray a general consensus about a population. Ever wonder how many people should be included in a survey to make it a meaningful reflection of a population? Now you will be able to answer your own question. Be warned; you will never feel the same about these polls and surveys again.

Using the following specific resources, create a lecture (with citations) which includes the following:

Part 1: Survey Analysis

Entertainment SurveyUsing a newspaper article from AIU library’s full-text database: National Newspapers (Proquest), create a lecture (with citations) which includes the following:

• Describe an entertainment poll or survey. Analyze the number of people who participated in the sample compared to the number in the population. Most news articles will not provide information on the number of people surveyed. In this case critique the validity of the results. (Be sure to cite the article which must be from National Newspapers -ProQuest) Here is a Research Guide.
• Discuss how the results of the survey can be used to tell a story or support an idea of the sponsoring company or media group.

Political SurveyUsing polls from one of the following sources:

Source 1

Source 2

• Describe a political poll or survey. Analyze the number of people who participated in the sample compared to the number in the population.

Discuss how the results of the survey can be used to tell a story or support an idea of the sponsoring company or media group.

General Survey Using polls from one of the following sources:

Source 1Source 2

• Describe a general opinion poll or survey. Analyze the number of people who participated in the sample compared to the number in the population.

Discuss how the results of the survey can be used to tell a story or support an idea of the sponsoring company or media group.

Overview

Consider the three surveys presented.

• Using the knowledge you learned from the textbook, compare and contrast the sample sizes in each of the three surveys mentioned in the post and determine if the samples sizes are appropriate.
• In your opinion, which appears to be the most valid? (Cite and reference the textbook)

This section of the paper will be 2-3 pages in length and each survey or poll described MUST come from AIU Library’s National Newspapers- ProQuest Database and Pew Research Center or Gallup.

Please do not use quotes or copy definitions. You will not receive credit for understanding the materials if you use the words of others. Keep in mind that since you did research and you have citations in the body of the post, you must also place a reference list at the end containing the textbook and the articles cited.

Part 2: ApplicationCreate your own 3 question Entertainment or using this General Opinion Survey or another free survey program or this link. Secure a minimum of 20 responses. Your survey respondents may be friends, family or classmates. (NOTE: The small sample size was chosen for convenience and as you know is not a valid sample. The goal is for you to create, deploy and analyze a simple survey.)Create Excel charts of your results and describe those charts in words. (You will receive no credit for charts that are copied from the survey software.)

• Include a copy of your survey
• Provide charts of your results and describe those charts in words
• Explain how the results of your survey can be used by a media group or company

This section of the paper will contain 1 page of text and 3 charts.

 

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SAMPLE SIZE DETERMINATION  5 paragraphs

Determining sample-size is important step when planning a statistical study. It is also quite a difficult task since many variables must be considered.

MAIN DISCUSSION POST: Due by SundayIn Yahoo! use the search term “Sample Size Determination.” Select a University or Government webpage that discusses the topic. Do not use Wikipedia, eHow or about.com or other resource that is not written or published by a University or the US Government.

• Paragraph 1: In simple terms explain what researchers must go through to select the right sample size for a study. (Be sure to cite and reference the website)

In Yahoo! use the search term “Sample Size Calculator.” Select two calculators you like best.

• Paragraph 2: Explain how the calculators work. Test the two calculators using a population, confidence level and confidence interval you select. Discuss the results. (Be sure to cite and reference the website)

Please do not use quotes or copy definitions. You will not receive credit for understanding the materials if you use the words of others. Keep in mind that since you did research and you have citations in the body of the post, you must also place a reference list at the end containing the textbook and the articles cited.