1) Design
a. Describe and explain your design. Why did you choose that design? Is it experimental, non-experimental, comparative, correlational? Give as many details as you can. Refer to your textbook for help with the benefits of each kind of design. Be sure to cite your book in text if you use it as a reference.
b. List all variables of interest to your study. Identify your independent variable (IV) and/or dependent variable(s) (DV). Give your variables clear, meaningful names so that your readers are not confused. Write out the operational definitions for each variable you are measuring.
2) Participants
a. Demographics:
Numbers to include (see the demographic data from our survey posted to canvas to find values) be sure to include:
Total Sample Size
Gender – counts and percentages for each group
Age range – lowest to highest number, mean/average age and SD for age
Ethnicity/Race – percentages & counts for each group
Other educational demographic variables: GPA, student type, etc. (anything else related to describing your sample)
b. Where were the participants recruited? How were they recruited?
c. What sampling method was used?
d. What demographic variables were measured?
3) Instrumentation
a. What survey did you use? What does it look like – give details such as the number of questions, response scale, instructions, etc.
b. How was it developed? Give details on how your questions were developed.
c. What steps did you follow to increase validity and reliability?
4) Procedure
a. Include a step-by-step listing in chronological order of what participants will do/did during the study. Be as detailed as possible so your readers will know exactly how you collected your data. (Note that this is the participant procedure section, do not write about what your group did as researchers).
