Assignment Directions: Data collection and analysis are the two most important executional steps of a research study. The quality and quantity of the data collected and the appropriate rigor applied to their analysis determines the strength of the findings of a research study.
Based on your review of Modules 6 and 7, describe in detail the following for the research study that you have been building along the duration of this course. Each plan should not be more than about 100 words in length.
4a. Data collection:
- How will you determine how much (sample size etc.) data to collect?
- What data collection instruments (survey questionnaire etc.) will you use?
- What sources of relevant data will you explore?
- How will you recruit subjects and actually collect the data?
- Will you need to acquire informed consent?
- What human and financial resources will you need for the collection of the data?
- How long will it take to collect the required data?
- What measures will you take to ensure that the collected data is not spurious?
4b. Data analysis:
- How will you manage the collected data - organize, store, preserve, share, and archive with appropriate levels of security and privacy?
- What statistical analysis methods will you use? Why is this method appropriate for this type of data?
- What analysis software and/or technology will you use?
- What potential bias might there be in the data? How will you minimize such bias?