PART 1: Selecting a Dataset

Elements

Student Information

Instructor Feedback

1.    For the Final Project, I will use the following dataset:

Sworn Law Enforcement Officers at School

2.    The ID variable in my dataset is called:

C0610

3.    Two grouping variables in my dataset that I am currently interested in are:

(Note: One of the two variables must be dichotomous, as identified in the dataset)

Grouping Variable:

C0612

Grouping Variable – Dichotomous (as identified in the dataset):

Sworn Law Enforcement Officers

4.    2 continuous variables in my dataset that I am currently interested in are:

Continuous Variable:

C0610 – Sworn Law Enforcement Officers at School

Continuous Variable: 

C0612 – Sworn Law Enforcement Officers Present during School

1.    I have noted the following ethical implications of the dataset I intend to use:

This dataset incorporates information that is potentially classified as confidential since it exposes the number of sworn police officers that are assigned on school grounds at any given time.

PART 2: Research Questions and Design

Elements

Student Information

Instructor Feedback

Based on the dataset you selected:

1.    A descriptive research question I will explore with this dataset is:

2.    An appropriate research design for this descriptive research question would be:

3.    A comparative research question I will explore with this dataset is:

4.    An appropriate research design for this comparative research question would be:

5.    A relational research question I will explore with this dataset is:

6.    An appropriate research design for this relational research question would be:

Describing your dataset:

7.    The types of quantitative instruments (if any) that were used to measure the variables you selected in Part 1 are:

1.     

2.

3.

(list as many as necessary to indicate how different variables were measured)

8.    Population characteristics

(e.g., age range, gender, ethnicity, educational level, etc., where available):

9.    Descriptions of the score validity and score reliability of the instruments listed in #7 above (i.e., trustworthiness of the data), if available, are:

Score Validity:

Score Reliability:

Score Validity:

Score Reliability:

Score Validity:

Score Reliability:

(list as many as necessary for each of the instruments identified in #7 above)

10. Sample Size and the extent to which it can be generalized to the population:

11. Sampling scheme (if available)

Using the variables you selected in Part 1:

12. The scales of measurement for each of my variables (nominal, ordinal, interval, or ratio; from Chapter 7 of the Johnson & Christensen textbook) and how I determined them:

13. Identify which of the variables you selected can be used to answer each research question

Descriptive RQ variables:

Comparative RQ variables:

Relational RQ variables:

Submit Part 1 and Part 2 of this worksheet by Day 7 of Week 3. While the Week 3 submission will not be assessed for a grade, you will receive instructor feedback that will help you with your Final Project.

PART 3: Collecting and Managing Data

Elements

1.    My explanation of how to clean the data for the variables I have selected

2.    The comparative or relational research question from Part 2 that I will use for my Final Project:

3.    The statistical assumptions (normality, independence, homogeneity of variance) of each variable that I selected are:

Submit Parts 1, 2, and 3 by Day 7 of Week 5. This submission will be assessed.

Part 4: Descriptive Statistics

Elements

The computations and analysis you do in Part 4 will contribute to the analysis portion of your Final Project.

Based on the comparative or relational research question you chose in Part 2:

1.    The variables from my dataset I have identified to use for my Final Project:

2.    My explanation of how I computed measures of central tendency for the variables I selected:

3.    My explanation of how I computed measures of variability/dispersion for the continuous variables I selected:

4.    The visual displays (i.e., tables and figures) of the variables I selected:

Part 5: Inferential Statistics

Elements

Student Information

1.    The hypotheses I developed that stem from the research guiding my analyses are:

2.    My computation of the frequencies/percentages (discrete or non-continuous variables) from the original dataset

3.    My analysis of the data that were collected to address one my research question and hypotheses.