SOAN 2120 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Social Desirability Bias, Random Assignment, Design Issues

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology and Anthropology
• Course: SOAN 2120
• Professor: David Walters

Document Summary

Plan how to record data test survey instrument. Perform statistical analysis on data recheck all data. Describe methods and findings in research report. Present findings to others for critique and evaluation. Keep it clear, keep it simple, keep the respondent"s perspective in mind. 12 things to avoid when writing survey questions jargon, slang, abbreviations: vagueness, emotional language, prestige bias, double-barreled questions, beliefs as real, distant future intentions, double negatives, unbalanced responses leading questions issues beyond respondent capabilities false premises. Threatening questions researchers must ask with extreme care these questions are part of self-presentation and ego protection respondents may underreport or self-censor reports or behaviour that they believe are a violation of social norms. Masturbation is considered very uneasy" while sports activity is the least uneasy". Socially desirable questions social desirability bias occurs when respondents distort answers to make their reports conform to social norms.