Module 3 Assignment- Ch 7-Variables Online S24 (1)

docx

School

University of South Florida *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

3701

Subject

Sociology

Date

Feb 20, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by ElderMetal13397

University of South Florida Department of Criminology CCJ 3701/Spring 2024/ Dr. Cass Module 3: Assignment: Variables Prior Assignment Review Reviewing the feedback I provide on each assignment is critical to improving your understanding from week to week. Directions on how to see my feedback are here: https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-10542-4212352349 Each week, read the feedback on the prior week’s assignment and then select feedback from ONE question to report on. Do not select feedback that begins with a Yes (unless all feedback starts with a Yes), as those comments are given to clarify your correct or mostly correct answers further. Focus on a question where your answer was incorrect. If you received no feedback at all, you must indicate that as your answer to Q1 and continue to the rest of the assignment. 1 . Copy and paste a question you got feedback on AND your answer into the area below . D escribe the sample of people selected for the study. Be very specific . Make sure to include a number in your answer. Hint: You should be able to write the answer in about 6 words . Average age of 20 years, mostly male, and equal representation of grade levels and the sample included 3,796 students. 2 . Next, copy and paste my feedback. Make clear it was college students and it is also important to mention that the sample came from one Midwestern U as it helps the reader assess the generalizability of the study. 3. Finally, finish this sentence . I now understand that my answer was incorrect because I needed to make it clear that the sample included college students and that it came from a Midwestern University. Some examples of what you might write are I confused sampling with the data collection method or I didn’t understand why the time period of data collection was important, but now I understand that society may have changed since the data was collected. This is a chance for you to “discuss” with me any concepts you do not fully understand. If you ask for clarification, I will respond with a follow-up comment on your next assignment. Assignment Reminder: Remember to type your answers in the red text boxes as indicated below. PLEASE LEAVE THE FORMATTING AS IS. The red text makes it easier for me to grade. This document must be saved as a *.doc or .docx file. 1

Every research study is trying to explain why a variable varies. We call that the dependent variable. There will also be at least one independent variable (that the researcher hypothesizes will help explain the variations in the DV. Learning how to identify which variable is the dependent variable (DV) and which is/are the independent variable(s) (IV) is often more difficult than one would expect. Do not try to complete this assignment without listening to the lecture or reading the pdf file (in Canvas). Directions: A hypothesis is an idea a researcher has about how two variables are related. In other words, a hypothesis is a statement describing the relationship between two or more variables. Data will be collected to test whether the hypothesis is supported or not. For each hypothesis below, identify which variable is the DV and which variable is the IV . Remember that variation in the DV is what a research study is designed to explain. The IV is the variable that the researchers are hypothesizing explains at least some of the variation in the DV. Hypothesis - The use of technology by children is associated with lower reading levels. 4. For the hypothesis above, the population you are interested in is Children using technology 5. The dependent variable is: Lower reading levels 6. The independent variable is: Use of technology IMPORTANT: Do you understand why you would have to collect data on children who use technology AND children who do not so that you could COMPARE the two groups on their reading levels? The attributes of reading levels would be something like “reads above grade level,” “reads at grade level,” and “reads under grade level.” Notice how the attributes are a way of “dividing” up the variable. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hypothesis - Employees with visible tattoos will be less likely to be promoted. 7. For the hypothesis above, the dependent variable is less likely to be promoted 8. The independent variable is: Visible tattoos -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the criminal justice system, whether or not to seek a death sentence is for State Attorneys (prosecutors) to decide. Hypothesis - The gender of the murder victim is related to whether or not the State Attorney (prosecutor) decides to seek the death penalty. 9. For the hypothesis above, the dependent variable decision to seek the dealth penalty 10. The independent variable is gender of the murder vicitm 11. What source of data could be used to collect data to determine if this hypothesis is supported or not? Case files regarding death row criminals or potential dealth row criminals. 2

Note: In the study above, the population of interest is murder cases. In the context of research, population refers to a complete set of people or objects with a specialized set of characteristics that are the focus of the research study. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hypothesis- Tinder profiles featuring individuals who appear to be wealthy receive more right swipes than those where the person does not. 12. For the hypothesis above, the dependent variable is the likelihood to receive more right swipes. 13. The independent variable is: Appearing wealthy on tinder profiles. 14. How do you think a researcher could collect data to determine whether that data supports the hypothesis above? Possibly surveys that collect data and ask questions about how likely are you to swipe right based on the amount of money they seem to have. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Next, we are going to work on identifying attributes. Remember that the variations of a variable are called variable attributes. Put another way, attributes are the different characteristics or values of a variable. Every variable must have at least two attributes. For example, the attributes for gender are typically male and female. But could we measure gender differently? Depending on what the research question is, it might be necessary to capture whether someone is transgendered. In that case, the attributes of gender would be male, female, transgender. Hint: Do not overthink attributes. Just think of a way you could “divide” the variable. The variable color could be “divided” into two categories (primary colors- not primary colors). Another way that variables can be divided is by color (red, blue, green, yellow, gold, rose, etc.). The researcher decides what makes the most sense for the research question they are trying to answer. Hypothesis- Inmates who earn college degrees while in prison are less likely to be rearrested. Did you read my discussion above? If not, go back and do so. 15. For the hypothesis above, the two variables (DV and IV) a researcher would collect data on are : inmates with college degrees and reoffending. 16. In your head, identify the DV and then list two possible attributes of the DV. Helpful hint from a past student: Sometimes, it helps to think of attributes as opposites. Gender and crime/prior. 17. In your head, identify the IV. Let’s suppose your method of data collection will be to survey the inmates. What survey question could you ask each inmate to collect data about the IV? Yes, the answer is straightforward. Would you persue a college degree if it would decrease your chances of reoffending? Hint: Does your survey question match what you identified as the IV in Q15? If not, one of your answers is wrong. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

Next, you hypothesize that police officers with more education are less likely to be involved in shootings. Your population of interest is police officers, and you would need to select a sample of police officers to collect data on. 18. The DV is involvement in shootings 19. If the DV had only two attributes (that have to be mutually exclusive and exhaustive), they would be Click here to enter text. 20. Think about what the IV is and then list three or more possible attributes for the IV. Associates degree, bachelors degree, and masters degree Hint : Don’t confuse your sample (i.e., who you will be collecting data from or about) with the variables you are collecting data on. If you included police officers as part of your answers for Q15-17 try again. Something to think about regarding the above hypothesis: what does “involved in shootings” mean? Shot someone? Tried to shoot someone? Fired their weapon (at a person, at a dog)? Could it mean the officer was shot at? Those questions are what researchers think about. That critical thought process is also important for LEOs, lawyers, and judges. Now consider the variable delinquency. Two attributes of the variable delinquency could be “has been arrested for a delinquent offense” and “has never been arrested for a delinquent offense.” Below is what a table of information depicting the relationship between gender and delinquency might look like for a sample of 250 people. Please take a minute to think about what the data tells us about delinquent behavior and gender. To determine whether males or females are arrested more often, you must calculate the percentage arrested for each gender. Delinquency (Variable-DV) Gender (Variable-IV) Male Female Arrested for a delinquent offense 75 15 Never arrested for a delinquent offense 175 235 Total Sample 250 250 21. Hypothesis: Using illegal drugs while in college reduces the likelihood of graduation. Identify the variable that is the DV and then list two possible attributes of the DV. Likelihood of graduation 22. In your head, identify the IV . Suppose your data collection method will be to survey college students. What question could you ask college students to collect data about the IV? How tempted are you to use illegal drugs. Hint: If you are having trouble, try to create a table like the one above for the gender/delinquency example, substituting the two variables from this study for gender and delinquency. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4

Our last hypothesis is that during traffic stops, younger motorists are more likely to be searched by the police than older motorists. To test this hypothesis, you must: 1. define your variables, 2. decide how to measure each variable, 3. collect data on traffic stops and, 4. analyze that data to see if the data supports the hypothesis. 23. Identify the DV and IV. Click here to enter text. 24. If the DV has only two attributes, they would be Click here to enter text. 25. Do you see how identifying attributes is, in effect, deciding how to operationalize (measure) the variable? If the IV had only two attributes, they could be Click here to enter text. Hint: The answer is NOT young and old. A reader does not know what you mean by that. Be specific. Remember that how a variable is defined is up to the researcher; different researchers could decide on different ways to measure the IV and thus will have different answers to Q25. 26. The terms mutually exclusive and exhaustive are defined and explained in your textbook starting on page 142 and in my PowerPoint and lecture. Are the two attributes you listed in Q25 above both mutually exclusive and exhaustive? Yes or No. Click here to enter text. If you answered no, go back and fix your answer to Q25. 27. You will need to collect data on both your DV and your IV in order to determine if your hypothesis is supported. Suggest a way a researcher could collect data about whether the age of motorists helps us understand why some motorists are searched while others are not. Click here to enter text. The assignment continues on the next page, but you are almost done!! 5

28. Below is the data collected from 23 traffic stops on the age of each motorist and whether they were searched after being stopped. Using your answer above, where you (hopefully) defined the terms “young” and “old,” sketch out a table in which you divide the motorists below into young and old based on your answer to Q25 and calculate the percentage who were searched in each group and compare the two groups. I f you cannot do this (most likely because you said the attributes were young and old, which are not measurable), you need to redo your answer to Q25. Does the data support the hypothesis? Show your math and explain why or why not the hypothesis is supported. Click here to enter text. Searched or Not Searched Age of Motorist Traffic Stop 1 Searched 18 Traffic Stop 2 Not searched 45 Traffic Stop 3 Searched 21 Traffic Stop 4 Searched 56 Traffic Stop 5 Not searched 34 Traffic Stop 6 Not searched 23 Traffic Stop 7 Not searched 43 Traffic Stop 8 Not searched 18 Traffic Stop 9 Not searched 22 Traffic Stop 10 Not searched 66 Traffic Stop 11 Searched 28 Traffic Stop 12 Not searched 35 Traffic Stop 13 Searched 26 Traffic Stop 14 Searched 66 Traffic Stop 15 Not searched 38 Traffic Stop 16 Not searched 26 Traffic Stop 17 Not searched 45 Traffic Stop 18 Not searched 35 Traffic Stop 19 Searched 33 Traffic Stop 20 Searched 36 Traffic Stop 21 Not searched 38 Traffic Stop 22 Not searched 48 Traffic Stop 23 Not searched 45 Something to ponder: Can you see how the answer to Q28 (about whether the data supports the hypothesis) will vary depending on how each of you defined young and old? 29. Compared to the other assignments in this class so far, I rate this assignment on a Likert Scale of 0 (very easy) to 5 (very hard) as a 5 Concepts you should be beginning to understand Dependent variables Independent variables Attributes Hypothesis 6

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

Mutually exclusive attributes Exhaustive attributes 7

Module 3 Assignment- Ch 7-Variables Online S24 (1)

Related Documents