RS 6003 RESEARCH METHODS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Written Exam (30%) Read the following instructions carefully before preparing for your exam You are required to write an exam at the end of the course that will test your knowledge and understanding of quantitative and qualitative methodology as well as statistics. Once you have completed the course, you should be able to: a. Describe the various study designs and their pros and cons. b. Explain the principles involved in measurement and instrumentation. c. Describe the methodology and analytical procedures involved in qualitative research. d. Select appropriate statistical methods to analyze data and interpret research findings, including the use of software packages (SPSS). Please refer to the evaluation form on the next page for details. Written Exam – Rubrics (30%) Criteria Excellent (more than 80%) Good (60 – 79%) Satisfactory (40 – 50%) Unsatisfactory (20 – 39%) Very unsatisfactory (less than 20%) Score Knowledge and understanding of quantitative study designs and principles of measurements Describes the pros and cons of quantitative study designs, is able to apply them correctly and explain the choices, principles of measurements clearly identified and articulated; demonstrates a high level of applicability of all quantitative research concepts Describes the pros and cons of multiple quantitative study designs and is able to apply them correctly most of the time, principles of measurements are identified but not completely articulated; demonstrates a good level of applicability of quantitative research concepts most of the time Describes the pros and cons of multiple quantitative study designs, some measurements principles are not clearly articulated or are incomplete; demonstrates applicability of quantitative research concepts some of the time Demonstrates a fair understanding of quantitative study designs, and limited knowledge of principles of measurements, show limited level of applicability of quantitative research concepts most of the time Does not demonstrate sufficient knowledge of quantitative study designs, principles of measurements principles and related research concepts /10 Criteria Excellent (more than 80%) Good (60 – 79%) Satisfactory (40 – 50%) Unsatisfacto
ry (20 – 39%) Very unsatisfactory (less than 20%) Score Knowledge and understanding of paradigms, qualitative methodology, method and data analysis Ontology and epistemology are correctly identified, demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of qualitative methodology, uses a correct vocabulary for qualitative methods and data analysis procedures and is able to apply them critically Research concepts (e.g. ontology, epistemology..) are clearly articulated most of the time, demonstrates a good level of understanding of qualitative methodology by using appropriate vocabulary most of the time, is able to present methods and data analysis procedures clearly Some research concepts (e.g. ontology, epistemology..) are not sufficiently clear; demonstrates a certain level of understanding of most qualitative methodology by using appropriate vocabulary some of the time, methods and data analysis procedures are correctly identified most of the time There is some confusion regarding concepts of qualitative research methods (e.g. ontology, epistemology..), some of the vocabulary regarding qualitative methodology, methods and data analysis procedures is confusing Qualitative research methodology and its related concepts (e.g. ontology, epistemology, …) are not mastered and there are major errors in presenting qualitative methodology, methods and data analysis procedures /10 Knowledge and understanding of statistical concepts Choices of statistical methods to analyze data and interpret research findings are almost always correct; interpretation of data tables is mostly error-free Choices of statistical methods to analyze data and interpret research findings are largely correct with occasional errors; some minor errors in the interpretation of data tables Choices of statistical methods to analyze data and interpret research findings are correct most of the time; interpretation of data tables are correct most of the time Choices of statistical methods to analyze data and interpret research findings are correct occasionally; significant errors in the interpretation of data tables Choices of statistical methods to analyze data and interpret research findings are incorrect most of the time; major errors in the interpretation of data tables. /10