Problem
Your first job in public relations is working for a non-governmental organization called LIVING SEAS, which is interested in solving the serious problem of plastic pollution's impact on marine life. Unfortunately, the organization has had little success in bringing this issue to the attention of either the American public or the important decision-makers in Congress they need to reach. your boss calls you in and asks you to help her design some research to gauge the public's knowledge of the issue and their support for some proposed solutions. Proposed solutions your organization is considering endorsing include everything from taxing plastic water bottles to an outright ban on plastic bags in grocery stores nationwide.
A. First, tell me about a possible study design. Specifically, I want to know:
a) What do you think the best research method to achieve your organization's goals would be?
b) What are the advantages and disadvantages of the method you chose?
c) Who or what would you study?
d) Offer at least two examples of research questions or hypotheses that your research would address.
B. Next, I want to know more about how you would select your sample.
a) How would you recruit participants (what kind of sampling would you use) or select content for your study?
b) How would you decide how many people or objects to include in your study?
C. Finally, tell me about anticipated study findings.
a) What types of information would you have to share with your organization at the end of your project?
b) How would you ensure quality in the information you provide?
c) What types of information would not be available, based on your methodology?