Proposed Research Study

This final assignment represents an exercise in application - allowing you synthesize what you have learned in this course. There is no SPSS component to this assignment, but rather a written outline - proposing a research study that you have created on social behavior.

In preparing for this assignment, I strongly advise that you first work out a draft on paper prior to creating your final submission. Please create your study carefully and thoughtfully - making certain that your research question, hypotheses and statistical tests are in allignment, cohesive and appropriate to the study you have proposed.

This final assignment has been designed to provide you with a creative, synthesized exercise - allowing you to apply what you have learned in order to address a question you have always had about human behavior. Have fun, and as always, contact me with any questions prior to submitting to the drop box. I'm here to help!

Summary of Objectives:

• Crafta proposed research study involving a social behavior of your choice
• Formulateyour null and alternate hypotheses
• Predictyour expected results

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Over the course of the semester, we have covered a variety of inferential statistics. Each inferential test is meant to analyze data collected from specific research designs. In completing this assignment,your proposed research study must adhere to one of the inferential designs listed below.

Please review the following summary prior to creating your research question - as every required component of this exercise (your variables, your hypotheses, etc.), will be dictated by which inferential design you have chosen.

Independent Groups T-Test:This inferential statistic is used to analyze data from studies comparingtwo separate groups of peoplealong some dimension. In this case, your 2 groups must constitute nominal variables (different categories) as your independent variable. For this design, it is appropriate to state your research question in terms of cause and effect relationships.

Paired-Samples T-Test: This statistic is used to analyze data from studies comparing thesame group of peoplebefore and after a given treatment of some kind in order to measure a change in your dependent variable.

One-Way Anova: This statistic is used to analyze data from studies comparing3 or more separate groups of people.In this case, your groups must constitute nominal variables (different categories) as your independent variable.For this design, it is appropriate to state your research question in terms of cause and effect relationships.

Correlations: This statistic is used to analyze the degree of relationship that exists between 2 scaled (continuous) variables. For this design, it isnotappropriate to state your research question in terms of cause and effect relationships. You may only ask if your two variables are related - you may not ask if one variable "affects" another.

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Instructions: Please composed a word document addressing each of the following 8 components and submit it to the drop box. Your proposalmustnumber each response in the order presented, be typed in a size 12 font, double-spaced and no more than 3 pages in length.

1. State your research question inone, complete sentence.

2. In one paragraph or less, identify the behavior you are measuring (your dependent variable) and explain how you plan to go about it. Since this study is hypothetical, feel free to create anything you can imagine, within realistic boundaries.

3. Identify and describe the subjects in your study. Please be specific, in terms of factors relevant to your research question (school children, elderly, alcoholics, different racial groups, etc.).

4. In one paragraph or less, predict the outcome you expect to find (what is your predicted result).

5. Formulate (state) your null hypothesis.

6. Formulate (state) your alternate hypothesis (making certain that your directionality matches your prediction in item #4 above).

7. Identify the complete name of the correct inferential statistic you would use to analyze the data from this study.

8. Explain why you feel this study is an important one to conduct, in one paragraph or less.

Due Date:This assignment will be due in the drop box marked Proposed Research Study by 11:30 pm. on Sunday, 12/6.

Grading Policy and Criteria:This assignment is worth 15 points toward your final grade in this course and will be graded within 1 week of the stated due date.

In order to earn full credit for this assignment, your proposal must successfully meet the following criteria:

• address each component in the order presented - numbering each response (1 point)
• clearly state your research question in one, complete sentence (1 point)
• identify the behavior you are measuring (your dependent variable) and explain how you plan to go about it (2 points)
• identify and describe the subjects in your study - being specific, in terms of factors relevant to your research question (1 points)
• in one paragraph or less, predict the outcome you expect to find (your predicted result) (1 points)
• correctly state your null hypothesis (1 point)
• correctly state your alternate hypothesis (1 point)
• identify the complete name of the correct inferential statistic you would use to analyze the data from this study (2 points)
• explain why you feel this study is an important one to conduct, in one paragraph or less (1 point)
• be free of spelling and grammatical errors (1 point)
• adhere to the required format (typed, double-spaced, and no more than 3 pages in length) ) (1 point)
• show thoughtful and creative effort and attention to detail (i.e., are your ideas expressed in terms that are specific, clear and well developed?) (2 points)
• be submitted to the appropriate drop box by the stated deadline (late assignments will not be accepted for credit)