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Quantitative Research Methods Lecture notes R88,33   Add to cart

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Quantitative Research Methods Lecture notes

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Lecture 1: Course Introduction, Lecture 2: How to distribute a reliable and valid survey, Lecture 3: Getting started with statistical analyses, Lecture 4: Bivariate analysis part 1, Lecture 5: Bivariate analysis part 2, Lecture 6: Introduction to multivariate analysis, Lecture 7: Multivariate analy...

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  • October 18, 2023
  • 43
  • 2021/2022
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Quantitative Research Methods
Lecture 1, 06-09-2021, Course Introduction
Course introduction
- Quantitative data collection
- Quantitative data analysis (using SPSS)
- How to write up your findings in an academic/professional way

Lectures
 Theoretical knowledge on quantitative methods and analysis
 Discussion of the course content
Course labs
 Learn how to use SPSS to analyze data
 Self study & online/on campus meetings
 Attendance mandatory!
Online modules
 Videos
 Readings
 Useful links

How to go from a research topic to survey questions
Using example:
Van Craen, M., & Skogan W. G. (2015). Differences and similarities in the explanation of
ethnic minority groups’ trust in the police. European Journal of Criminology, 12(3), 300-323.
Topic: Tension between police and ethnic minorities
RQ: To what extent does social capital, perceptions of police performance and perceptions
of discrimination play a role in Polish immigrants trust in the police in Belgium?

From theory…
1. Social capital theory
2. Performance theory
3. Procedural justice theory: discrimination effect how they trust their trust in the
police
… to hypotheses
1. Social capital theory does not play a role in their trust in the police
2. Performance theory does play a role in their trust in the police
3. Procedural justice theory does not play a role in their trust in the police
From hypotheses… to variables
1. Independent variable: discrimination
2. Dependent variable: trust
Dependent variable trust; Questions/Indicators (operationalizations):
1. How much or how little trust do you have in the police?

, 2. How much or how little do you trust the Belgian police to deal with the issues that are
important for you?
3. How much or how little do you trust the police to treat people with respect?
Independent variable discrimination; Questions/Indicators (operationalizations):
1. How often within the last 12 months have you felt discriminated against?
2. How strict are the police when dealing with people of Polish descent than when
dealing with people of Belgian descent?
3. The police treat all citizens in the neighbourhood equally
Control variables (demographics)
1. Gender (0= male/1= female)
2. Age (years)
3. Level of education (0= no qualification/10= university degree)
4. Length of respondents’ residence in the city of Antwerp (years)

Survey design: The art of asking questions
Keep question s short, simple and clear
NOT: when did you start you BcSS?
BUT: in what year did you start your BcSS?
Avoid vague and abstract terms
NOT: are you a proponent of legalization of drugs?
BUT: to what extent do you agree or disagree that marihuana should be legal?
Avoid double-barreled questions
NOT: does it happen that you cannot get your work done, so you take it home with
you?
BUT: how often does it happen that you cannot get your work done? If yes, do you
take the unfinished work home?
Using examples
NOT: what do you like about your work? Think of money, flexibility etc.?
BUT: how much do you enjoy your work? What do you enjoy about your work?
(open answer)
Authority effect
NOT: to what extent do you agree with the plan on the prime-minister to enforce face
masks in shops?
BUT: to what extent do you agree with the measure on wearing face masks in shops?
Other tips:
Avoid making assumptions
Avoid abbreviations and slang
Avoid negative phrased questions and double negative questions
Use a realistic time frame in your questions

Be aware of researcher effects
 Know how to ask questions
 The order of the questions

,  The type of responses
 Standardization of the survey and data collection
Final tips
 Check for existing indicators: if established measures exist, use them
 Behaviors, attitudes and opinions are complex and best measured with a number
(battery) of questions?
 Think about answer categories
o Avoid categorical answers of scales (e.g. age) as much as possible
o Behaviors, attitudes and opinions best answered with a Likert scale
o Avoid yes/no questions as much as possible
o Avoid multi-option responses
 Limit the number of questions if possible
 Make sure your survey has a coherent ‘story’
 Pilot your survey

What needs to be in a survey
Step 1: Introduction
 Introduce the topic and the reason this survey is done
 Explain the type of questions respondents will get
o But don’t give the exact questions
 Informed consent
o Make this mandatory
 Contact details of researcher
 Ethical issues
o Do not lie or deceive a respondent, but what if ‘innocent deception’ is needed?
See also the video on BS in the module ‘How to make a survey’
Step 2: Your questions
 Present your survey questions in a logical order
 That are unambiguous, clear, etc.
 Make sure all questions require an answer (forced response)
Step 3: Ending
 End your survey with a ‘thank you’
 Offer respondents the opportunity to see the end result
 Give your contract details one more time

Final information on the group paper
 Choose a topic with your peers, turn your topic into a RQ and turn your RQ into
operationalizable concepts
 Make your own (online group) survey
o Use Qualtrics: http://leidenuniv.eu.qualtrics.com
 Have 50 respondents per group member fill in your survey
o Can be a convenience sample
 Report your findings in a 1000 word paper

, o No 10% extra word limit
o Deadline: Tuesday October 5th at noon
o Hand in via Brightspace
Writing it down
Introduction:
 Introduce the topic
 How you went from your topic to a general RQ
 Discuss theory (if relevant)
Methodology
 If you selected pre-existing measures, describe why and reference them. If you made
your own questions, write down how you operationalized them (don’t forget to
reference)
 Describe sampling strategy
 Be as detailed as possible
Critically reflect on your survey and data collection strategies
 To what extent is the survey/data collection reliable and valid?


Lecture 2, 13-09-2021, How to distribute a reliable and
valid survey
A critical eye
Science vs pseudoscience
 Preconceived notions of what to believe
 Searching for evidence to support a preconceived belief
 Ignoring evidence that would falsify a claim or belief
 Disregarding alternative explanations for a phenomenon
 Accepting flimsy evidence to support an extraordinary claim
 Relying heavily on anecdotal evidence
 Employing very little skepticism

But is all science good?
Andrew Wakefield:
- In a study of 12 children Wakefield claimed that the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine
caused autism.
- This study still has its grips on society today
- BUT 12 years later his work has been retracted, because it was a sample size he only
looked at 12 children
o Very small sample size = 12
o Cause  Effect, control group; did not have that
o Falsified outcomes
Always remain critical, not all research is quite good.
- Drinking wine before bed could help you lose weight.

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