In the following questions, identify the terms that need to be defined and some possible measures, including both English and operational definitions. Be sure to indicate whether the proposed measures are nominal, ordinal, interval, or ratio.
How satisfied or dissatisfied are students in the MPA program?
How likely is age a factor in whether someone supports redistributive economic policies?
The local MPA program has a goal of graduating students who make a positive difference in their communities. The accrediting agency has asked the program to demonstrate that it is achieving its goal. If you were asked to advise the director, how might you define and operationalize the phrase “make a positive difference”?
The measure used to construct poverty rates in America was adopted in 1965. It was based on the cost of a “basket of food” for various family sizes. Since that time, this measure has been adjusted to keep up with inflation. Some critics have argued that the current measure is not valid; others say that the measure is reliable.
Explain what people mean by the terms valid and reliable when describing measures. How is it possible for a measure to be reliable but not valid?
If you had the power to change the poverty measure, would you? Why or why not? If you would, what would you change and why?
Data Collection – Chapter 7
The cost of higher education has emerged as front-page news. How would you go about trying to determine the costs of higher education in your state? The data should be available on their websites. How would you determine whether the costs are too high, too low, or just right?
Sampling – Chapter 10
For the following situation, identify the likely data collection approach and then identify your sample: the population of interest, the type of sample, and the sampling procedures you would use. Explain your rationale and any known limitations given the situation.
There has been increasing concern about the ability of the federal government to attract college graduates as employees. Your team has been asked to determine what image college students have about working for the federal civil service. However, there is no listing of all college students, and privacy laws prohibit the colleges from giving out their addresses.
BONUS Question: What sampling strategy would you use to determine the number of potholes in your city or town? Be sure to consider the limitations of the sampling strategy
Resources:
Research design : qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches , Creswell, John W.,
Creswell, J. David,, Fifth edition., Thousand Oaks, California :, SAGE Publications Inc, [2018], Total pages xxv, 275 pages :
Research methods for public administrators , Johnson, Gail,
3rd ed., London ; New York :; London ; New York :, Routledge, 2015., Total pages 1 online resource (350 p.)
Research design : qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches , Creswell, John W.
Fourth edition., Thousand Oaks, California :, SAGE Publications, [2014], Total pages xxix, 273 pages :
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