Instructions

Quantitative Exam Part 1 (5%)

Quantitative Exam Part 2 (5%)

Quantitative Exam Part 3 (5%)

Instructions

• This exam is worth 15% of your overall grade for "Analysis of Professional Literature".

• Email a document titled "KIN901 Quantitative Exam Your Name.doc" to james.neill@unh.edu by midnight April 9.

• There are three sections, each worth equal amounts (5% each of your overall grade).

• You may collaborate and discuss with others in developing your answers.  You may also consult with the instructor to seek advice.

• Consider using references, where appropriate, in your answers.  This can often help to demonstrate your depth of reading and depth of knowledge.

• You should aim to demonstrate a high level of knowledge in your answers.  By this, I mean, the knowledge necessary for conducting good quality scientific research in the social sciences and human movement sciences.  Thus, you should try to point out, in most cases, not only what you think is a good answer, but also the strengths and weaknesses of the research design in question, as well as possibly suggesting other options and practical or ethical implications of the research designs.

• Answers should be written in sentence and paragraph format, but you are also encouraged to make effective use of diagrams and bullet-points, where this makes sense.

• Please do not use direct quotations - all answers must be written in your own words.

Quantitative Exam Part 1 (5%):
3 Quantitative Research Design for your Research Question

State a research question and define relevant key terms.

Propose three quantitative research designs for investigating this research question:

a) experimental,

b) quasi-experimental, and

c) non-experimental.

For each design:

i) Describe the design clearly and unambiguously (you may choose to use Cook and Campbell's conventions - X 0 and R)

ii) Describe the strengths and weaknesses of the design

iii) Make recommendations on how each design could be implemented in order to maximize the validity of the results

The marking criteria will be based on:

• clarity of presentation of the research design

• the strength of the research design

• the practicality of the research design

• awareness of the designs strengths and weaknesses

• demonstrated knowledge in how maximize validity of a research design in a practical manner

• use of references where appropriate

Quantitative Exam Part 2 (5%):
Sampling & Measurement

a) State a research question and describe a quantitative research design (including the Xs and Os; also please make clear (if it isn't in the research question) what kind of relationship you are interested in  between the IV(s) and the DV(s)).  This can be same, similar, or different to the Research Question you used in Part 1. (1%)

b) Discuss three possible sampling methods which could be used with this research design.  Include comments on the main strengths and weaknesses of each sampling method.  Ultimately, what method would you recommend and why? (2%)

c) Identify three possible ways of measuring the independent variables or the dependent variables in your study.  This will take some systematic searching on your part.  Start by selecting one variable (or one set of variables), e.g., blood pressure or self-concept.  Then select three different measures for that variable (or set of variables).  Comment on the proven structure, reliability, and validity of each measures, assessing the strengths and weaknesses of each of the three measurements.  Finally, decide which of the three measures you would recommend for your study and justify your selection. (2%)

Quantitative Exam Part 3 (5%):
Article Analysis

Select a quantitative research article which collects data at only one point in time.  Provide the full citation of the article, then:

a) Summarize the research question, the research design used, the results, and the interpretation of the results by the authors (approx. 1 page). (1%) 

b) Provide your own critical commentary about the strengths and weaknesses of the research study, particularly with regard to its design,  and comment on whether you agree with the author’s interpretation of the results and your reasons why you agree/disagree. (approx. 1 page) (2%)

c) Describe a longitudinal study (measurements at more than one point in time) which could have been carried out with the same target population (i.e., you could add one or more points of measurement before and/or after the original data collection).  Explain the strengths, weaknesses, and practical and/or ethical implications of your longitudinal design (approx. 1 page) (2%)