Researching your Researching your contemporary issuecontemporary issue

From How to Write an Effective From How to Write an Effective Special StudySpecial Study

Dodson, Jarvis & MelhuishDodson, Jarvis & Melhuish

SSABSA’s ethical research SSABSA’s ethical research policypolicy

Be respectful and sensitive towards Be respectful and sensitive towards othersothers

Obtaining permission from the Obtaining permission from the person you are interviewing or person you are interviewing or surveyingsurveying

Respecting a person’s choice to Respecting a person’s choice to remain anonymous, or that his or her remain anonymous, or that his or her opinions remain confidentialopinions remain confidential

Make sure you are safeMake sure you are safe

Sources of informationSources of information

Identify a range of sources of Identify a range of sources of information for your researchinformation for your research

Should enable you to examine Should enable you to examine from a range of perspectivesfrom a range of perspectives

Consider whom the issue affectsConsider whom the issue affects Newspapers, magazines, Newspapers, magazines,

journals, webwatch are good journals, webwatch are good starting points for contemporary starting points for contemporary issuesissues

Primary sourcesPrimary sources

Information you get directly from Information you get directly from observations, interviews, emails, observations, interviews, emails, letters or surveys.letters or surveys.

Primary data should form the Primary data should form the basis of your special study with basis of your special study with secondary data to complement secondary data to complement your work.your work.

Eg to compare ideas and to give Eg to compare ideas and to give evidence for your assertions.evidence for your assertions.

Using Primary DataUsing Primary Data

Quantitative data for graphs, Quantitative data for graphs, tables or chartstables or charts

Qualitative data for quotesQualitative data for quotes Interviews can provide quotes Interviews can provide quotes

for main body of studyfor main body of study Surveys may provide tables or Surveys may provide tables or

graphs to be referred to in the graphs to be referred to in the discussiondiscussion

Collecting DataCollecting Data

Keep records of visits, Keep records of visits, observations, interviews and observations, interviews and primary and secondary sourcesprimary and secondary sources

Use contacts and yellow pages Use contacts and yellow pages to find primary sourcesto find primary sources

Plan the first contact well, be Plan the first contact well, be specific in your request.specific in your request.

No guarantees people will No guarantees people will respondrespond

First contactFirst contact

Introduce yourself – Introduce yourself – first & family namefirst & family name Where you are from - Where you are from - clearly stateclearly state Reason for contact – Reason for contact – yr 12 Home yr 12 Home

Economics student seeking to collect Economics student seeking to collect information for your special studyinformation for your special study

Purpose of the special study & the Purpose of the special study & the audience – audience – it is part of your assessment it is part of your assessment & is not a public document& is not a public document

The areas you wish to seek information The areas you wish to seek information about.about.

It is also important thatIt is also important that

You know who you are speaking to You know who you are speaking to and contact details for follow up – and contact details for follow up – check details at the end – needed for check details at the end – needed for reference list if interviewreference list if interview

If they are unable to assist, ask if If they are unable to assist, ask if they might know anyone or they might know anyone or organisation who could helporganisation who could help

You are prepared with your own You are prepared with your own contact details & the school detailscontact details & the school details

Refer anyone who wishes to me.Refer anyone who wishes to me. Ph: 89991282Ph: 89991282

Be PreparedBe Prepared

Have all of your questions Have all of your questions preparedprepared

Consider the purpose of your Consider the purpose of your questions and how they will questions and how they will connect to your research connect to your research question or hypothesisquestion or hypothesis

Show questions to me before Show questions to me before conducting researchconducting research

Interview tipsInterview tips

Know the exact time and location. Know the exact time and location. Ensure an adult knows (duty of Ensure an adult knows (duty of care)care)

May negotiate to send questions May negotiate to send questions prior to interviewprior to interview

A key starting point could be A key starting point could be “What are the issues that are “What are the issues that are having an impact on…”having an impact on…”

Followed by “why are they issues?Followed by “why are they issues?

Interview etiquetteInterview etiquette

Dress appropriately – you are Dress appropriately – you are representing your schoolrepresenting your school

Turn off your mobile phoneTurn off your mobile phone Establish a rapport – talk to the Establish a rapport – talk to the

person – be friendlyperson – be friendly Thank them for their time and Thank them for their time and

effort.effort. Keep a complete and accurate Keep a complete and accurate

record of what was said.record of what was said.

Surveys & questionnairesSurveys & questionnaires

Key words – who; what; when; where; why; Key words – who; what; when; where; why; how; how often; what effect.how; how often; what effect.

Questions that :-Questions that :- Ask for reasonsAsk for reasons Why? What?Why? What? Ask for evaluation of reasonsAsk for evaluation of reasons – – agree / agree /

disagree? Why?disagree? Why? Probe AssumptionsProbe Assumptions – – How do you gauge How do you gauge

customer resistance…customer resistance… Ask for consequences and implicationsAsk for consequences and implications – –

what would be the consequences of….what would be the consequences of…. Ask for connectionsAsk for connections – how does that fit with – how does that fit with

Surveys & questionnaires cont’dSurveys & questionnaires cont’d

Ask for definitionsAsk for definitions – – What do What do understand by…understand by…

Ask for examplesAsk for examples – – What is an What is an example ofexample of

Ask for alternativesAsk for alternatives – – How? How? What would be a different view What would be a different view on?on?

Use a range of question typesUse a range of question types Open; closedOpen; closed

Survey TipsSurvey Tips

Don’t put your opinion on the surveyDon’t put your opinion on the survey Don’t ask biased questionsDon’t ask biased questions Don’t ask leading questionsDon’t ask leading questions Keep it short – maximum 2 A4 pagesKeep it short – maximum 2 A4 pages Start with a closed questionStart with a closed question Don’t have too many open ended Don’t have too many open ended

questionsquestions Do a test sample to check it worksDo a test sample to check it works

Survey MonkeySurvey Monkey http://http://www.surveymonkey.comwww.surveymonkey.com Using survey monkey you can create Using survey monkey you can create

on line surveys and send the link out on line surveys and send the link out in an email.in an email.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/MySuhttp://www.surveymonkey.com/MySurveys.aspxrveys.aspx sample surveys you can edit sample surveys you can edit

When people respond, survey When people respond, survey monkey will collate the responses monkey will collate the responses and calculate percentages.and calculate percentages.

You can use this data to display You can use this data to display analytical skills in the body of the analytical skills in the body of the research task.research task.