Survey Research Methods

Survey Research Methods

• Definition: Survey research is a type of descriptive research that aims to describe current phenomena without manipulating variables.
• Purpose: To understand and describe current phenomena, attitudes, beliefs, and opinions.

Types of Survey Research

• Correlational Studies: Describe relationships between variables without inferring causation.
• Interviews:
  • Types:
    • Structured Questions: Clear, closed-ended questions with explicit answers.
    • Unstructured Questions: Open-ended questions allowing for broad responses.
  • Advantages:
    • Flexibility
    • Observation of nonverbal behavior
    • Control over the tone and agenda
  • Disadvantages:
    • Time-consuming
    • Potential bias
    • Lack of standardization

Conducting Interviews

• Steps:
  1. Purpose and Goals: Define the interview's purpose and desired outcomes.
  2. Literature Review: Review existing literature and previous interviews in the field.
  3. Sample Selection: Choose a diverse and representative sample.
  4. Question Development: Create clear and concise questions, avoiding hidden agendas.
  5. Field Testing: Test the interview with a similar audience and adjust based on feedback.
  6. Interviewer Training: Train interviewers to be polite, attentive, and proactive.
  7. Conducting Interviews: Allocate sufficient time and be assertive but respectful during interviews.

Correlational Research

• Definition: A type of descriptive research that looks at the linear relationship between two or more variables without suggesting that one variable affects the other.
• Purpose: To understand relationships between variables.
• Examples:
  • Relationship between multiple intelligences and metacognitive strategies in MA students of TEFL.
  • Relationship among meta-memory, meta-cognitive vocabulary, and the role of theory of mind in Persian young children.

Correlation Coefficients

• Definition: A numerical index that shows the strength of the relationship between two variables.
• Types:
  • Positive Correlation: As one variable increases, the other also increases.
  • Negative Correlation: As one variable increases, the other decreases.
• Important Points:
  • Correlations are not causal.
  • The strength of a correlation is measured by its absolute value, not its sign.

Scattergrams

• Definition: A visual representation of the correlation coefficient between two variables, showing scores in pairs.
• Purpose: To visualize the relationship between two variables.

Interpreting Correlation Coefficients

• Methods:
  1. Eyeball Method: Associating certain correlation values with a degree of relationship.
  2. Coefficient of Determination: Squaring the correlation coefficient to show how much of the variance in one variable can be explained by the variance in another variable.

Survey Research Methods

• Definition: Survey research is a type of descriptive research that aims to describe current phenomena without manipulating variables.
• Purpose: To understand and describe current phenomena, attitudes, beliefs, and opinions.

Types of Survey Research

• Correlational Studies: Describe relationships between variables without inferring causation.
• Interviews:
  • Types:
    • Structured Questions: Clear, closed-ended questions with explicit answers.
    • Unstructured Questions: Open-ended questions allowing for broad responses.
  • Advantages:
    • Flexibility
    • Observation of nonverbal behavior
    • Control over the tone and agenda
  • Disadvantages:
    • Time-consuming
    • Potential bias
    • Lack of standardization

Conducting Interviews

• Steps:
  1. Purpose and Goals: Define the interview's purpose and desired outcomes.
  2. Literature Review: Review existing literature and previous interviews in the field.
  3. Sample Selection: Choose a diverse and representative sample.
  4. Question Development: Create clear and concise questions, avoiding hidden agendas.
  5. Field Testing: Test the interview with a similar audience and adjust based on feedback.
  6. Interviewer Training: Train interviewers to be polite, attentive, and proactive.
  7. Conducting Interviews: Allocate sufficient time and be assertive but respectful during interviews.

Correlational Research

• Definition: A type of descriptive research that looks at the linear relationship between two or more variables without suggesting that one variable affects the other.
• Purpose: To understand relationships between variables.
• Examples:
  • Relationship between multiple intelligences and metacognitive strategies in MA students of TEFL.
  • Relationship among meta-memory, meta-cognitive vocabulary, and the role of theory of mind in Persian young children.

Correlation Coefficients

• Definition: A numerical index that shows the strength of the relationship between two variables.
• Types:
  • Positive Correlation: As one variable increases, the other also increases.
  • Negative Correlation: As one variable increases, the other decreases.
• Important Points:
  • Correlations are not causal.
  • The strength of a correlation is measured by its absolute value, not its sign.

Scattergrams

• Definition: A visual representation of the correlation coefficient between two variables, showing scores in pairs.
• Purpose: To visualize the relationship between two variables.

Interpreting Correlation Coefficients

• Methods:
  1. Eyeball Method: Associating certain correlation values with a degree of relationship.
  2. Coefficient of Determination: Squaring the correlation coefficient to show how much of the variance in one variable can be explained by the variance in another variable.