Method Element Outline - phase ii

Use Leedy’s Practical Research and Design (Chapter 4 and 5) to guide your answers to these questions…
Method Description Justification
Subtopic
On the rubric, a 3 “Describes a replicable research method, with On the rubric, a 4 and 5 “Logically defends the alignment of a detailed,
questionable alignment to the purpose of the inquiry.” replicable research method to the purpose of the inquiry.”

How do your approach and design fit into your Body of Knowledge?
Approach
I propose a study, via an online administered survey, into public interest and My hypothesis is that a lack of public support and/or knowledge is a
knowledge about biofuels. cause for the absence of 3rd generation biofuels in the circulating
market. My study proposes to directly measure public support, and
knowledge therefore providing, specific and relevant data to support my
Design hypothesis. This survey will be administered via the internet, and as such
This survey will collect demographic data, opinions, and other numerically will be easily replicable.
represented data pertaining to my topic.

Primary/ Secondary How do the variables you plan to study connect to your research
Type of Data question?
Primary
They directly address the hypothesis, and answer the research question
via generating primary data specifically related to the topic.
Independent/ Dependent
Variables
Independent variable: What questions I ask in my survey that will best reflect
my purpose.

Dependent Variable: The results of my survey: What is the level of public

opinion, in support of 3rd gen biofuels, and how much does the public know
about the topic.

Quantitative How does your method fit your research design?

Since I'm measuring people's opinions and levels of knowledge I think a

Slightly mixed with a touch of quantitative demographic data, and the rest mainly qualitative study is justified, as that would most effectively
Method
being qualitative data. gather the data I'm searching for.

Qualitative

There is no limit as to whom may participate in my study, this is in order to not How do your subjects connect to your research question?
exclude anyone that is part of the "public" that I'm surveying. However I know
that my survey will not reach every person in America, and as such there is a I need to be as non-specific as possible in order to represent the "public"
Subjects of high likelihood that many of the survey takers will be by Columbine as accurately as possible.
study Highschool students, although this is not by specific design, and rather by
necessity.

Method Description Justification

Subtopic
On the rubric, a 3 “Describes a replicable research method, with On the rubric, a 4 and 5 “Logically defends the alignment of a detailed,
questionable alignment to the purpose of the inquiry.” replicable research method to the purpose of the inquiry.”

Instruments What specific tools (surveys, frameworks, interview questions, etc.) need to be How will your instrument gather the information you want?
created?

Surveys, administered via online social media platforms. This is It will directly ask survey takers the information I need to generate my
data.
based on ease of access, administrability, and simplicity.

Procedure How will you gather your data, step-by-step (describe in as much detail as you How will this process support both internal and external validity as well
have)? as good research ethics? (what have you done/ need to do?)

First I will ask permission for the answers that will lie herein to be used
anonymously in my data. In addition to this I will allow the participants to skip
any questions they are uncomfortable with, explain my goal briefly, and offer to I believe this process will accurately generate relevant data that I can
provide the results of my survey after it has concluded to willing survey takers. then use to support my hypothesis. Since I ask permission, and allow
participants to skip uncomfortable questions and allow for total
Then I will ask several questions based purely on generating demographical transparency I believe my methods satisfy any ethical problems.
data: Political affiliation, gender, race, etc. This is in order to support some
secondary sources I have, as well as potentially find specific demographics that
deviate from the established norm, whatever that norm turns out to be.

I will then proceed to ask several questions on the basis of participants' opinions
on environmental protection, global warming, and renewable energy.
Then I will ask questions relating specifically to biofuels, and the participant's
opinions on them. Whether or not they'd support their expansion, think about
entering the industry themselves, buy biofuels instead of natural gas if given the
chance, etc.

I'll then thank the participants, and end the survey.