This assignment requires you to:

(a) create three hypotheses that can be tested in the context of a questionnaire

(b) develop a variable plan for creating that questionnaire

(c) create measures of the variables that will go on the questionnaire

(d) create the questionnaire on Qualtrics

A sample assignment is provided to you on the last page of these instructions.

Imagine the following scenario:

Wayne state administration has a special insurance policy for protecting students who use bikes on campus. It is not cheap, and the administration wants to ensure that the money is well-spent. For example, if fewer students use bicycles than in prior years, then the University should negotiate for a less expensive insurance policy. Your research firm has been approached by the University to do a study of bicycle use on campus. Your task is to determine how many students use bicycles on campus, and why.

The constraints:

1. There are no data from prior years on the number of bicycles on campus. It is impossible to go back in time and collect these data.

2. The administration needs to know the answers quickly. So, the study must be simple and easy to carry out.

For these reasons, your study must consist of a questionnaire that determines the relative importance of these factors in explaining current levels of biking among students.

Sampling plan and research questions:

1. Your plan is to distribute a questionnaire across campus, as widely as possible. Your target sample size is 1,000 students. The incentive to participate is the chance to win a $100 gift card (there are 10 chances to win).

2. Your first objective is to estimate how many students ride bikes regularly on campus.

3. Assuming that bicycle usage on campus is declining, your next objectives are to test three hypotheses about why bike-riding might be declining.

STEP 1 of the assignment (15%):

Develop three hypotheses about why bicycle usage might be declining. In other words, identify three variables that might correlate with decreased bicycle usage on campus. For question 1, state three realistic hypotheses.

(Here are two sample hypotheses that are nonsense, but that will help you see what is expected: #1 - As the cost of gas increases, bicycle riding decreases. #2 - As the number of witches riding broomsticks increases, bicycle riding decreases.)

STEP 2 of the assignment (25%):

Develop a variable plan. Your plan should clearly state the constructs you will be measuring, and, if necessary, operational definitions of those constructs. Be sure you are measuring the outcome variable (bicycle usage on campus). For question 2, state your variable plan.

(For example, using the sample hypotheses above, my first construct would be "the cost of gas" and I would define this as "the average price of gasoline in the greater Stony Brook area at the time of data collection. My second construct would be "prevalence of witches on campus" and I would define this as "self-reported witch status." See also the sample assignment.)

STEP 3 of the assignment (0%; there is nothing to report here):

Create your own measures of the variables from your variable plan. At this step, plan how you will measure your variables with the appropriate number of items (not too many, not too few). Your measures must adhere to the following constraints:

- at least one variable must be measured on a nominal scale.

- at least one variable must be measured on a 3-item interval scale.

- at least one variable must be measured on a ratio scale.

STEP 5 of the assignment (0%; there is nothing to report here):

Initialize your Qualtrics account (as a Wayne state student, you have one already waiting for you; it just needs to be initialized. See my video for more information about initializing your account, or go straight to stonybrook.edu/qualtrics to sign in with your NetID and NetID password).

STEP 6 of the assignment (45%):

Once your account is activated, create the questionnaire you planned in Step 3. Qualtrics is very user-friendy, but give yourself plenty of time to navigate and figure things out. Check out my video for some help.)

STEP 7 of the assignment (15%):

Customize the questionnaire using best practices:

- Include an introduction from you as the researcher.

- Include a thank you statement at the end.

- Include at least one transition statement at some point.

STEP 8 of the assignment:

Export the questionnaire as a Word .doc and submit the questionnaire to Blackboard.

Rubric:

STEP 1: I will be looking for 3 realistic, testable hypotheses.

STEP 2: I will be looking for a succinct variable plan (no unnecessary or purposeless variables), with constructs that match your hypotheses, and thoughtful operational definitions.

STEP 6: I will be looking for a clean, professional looking questionnaire, that clearly tests the hypotheses from STEP 1, that includes only the variables from your variable plan, and that adheres to the constraints stated above.

STEP 7: I will be looking for adherence to the constraints, and for customizations that are professional and reasonable.