Focus groups vs. surveys In this section, we'll compare and contrast focus groups and surveys. We'll proceed to define both of them and then we'll describe and analyse their differences in social research. A focus group is a small group of between six and ten people who express their view about a particular topic that has been tightly defined by the researcher, who acts as a moderator (Gilbert and Stoneman, 2016). Surveys, on the other hand, use questionnaires to collect information that then will be codified. Surveys can be asked by the interviewer or they can be self-administered either by post or online (Babbie, 2013). First, let's compare internal validity. In surveys, it is easier to determine the internal validity of an indicator. You …show more content…
All the studies were carried out with the purpose of identifying the reasons for the increase of sexually transmitted infections (STI) and teen pregnancy. For focus groups, we selected two research articles on the topic (Roberts et al., 2005; Bay-Cheng et al., 2011). In one of the articles, the groups consisted of 43 girls from 14 to 17 years that formed seven focus groups. In the second article, there were four focus groups, with eight females and eight males from 15 to 17 in total. Both works selected agreed that because it was a sensitive topic, focus groups were ideal because of the less directive role of the researcher and the similarity between the participants made it easier to share their opinions and feel mutual support. None of the researchers used a random sampling selection technique; one advertised in a local newspaper while the other selected two schools and then selected students based on their communications skills, listening skills and interest in health-promotion activities. This translates in the studies not being generalizable as they can only represent the sample of people interviewed, especially in the second case where the participants all came from the same two schools. This also represents biased results, which harms its external validity. In the second article, the schools chosen were centrally located …show more content…
They administered a survey before and after the intervention. The total of students in that grade was 148 but only 95 (64%) had their parent's consent to participate, the intervention took place in a school in 'an economically and ethnically diverse' area. Participants were between the ages of 12 and 15. A correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between the variables collected (gender ideology and sexual knowledge and contraceptive beliefs) for boys and girls separately. Similarly to our previous example, this research couldn't be generalized as the sample wasn't randomly selected and isn't representative of the population. The sample is biased seeing that only students with their parent's consent were allowed to take part. Nonetheless, since the students were interviewed before and after the intervention, changes resulting from the second survey can be regarded as occasioned by this intervention. This proves causality and therefore is an indicator of internal
Two sampling methods include mail surveys and convenience sampling, a variation of a nonprobability sample. Mail surveys, inexpensive way to contact individuals over a large geographical area, provide anonymity to the respondent, and eliminate interview bias. Convenience sampling, a nonprobability sample, the only criteria is the convenience of the unit to the researcher, fast and uncomplicated, but the sampling error not determined.
In developing this guide, ARHP/SRHU was addressing a major concern in regards to adolescent sexual and reproductive health: knowledge about accessibility of resources and the proper contraceptive methods to use for optimal protection against pregnancy and STIs. The workshop developed by ARHP had been designed with pre and post surveys in order to accurately assess the impact of the workshop on the participants. The surveys assessed the teens knowledge about parental permission, free services, whether ...
The researchers went through the proper channels to get permission to carry out a study using the students who volunteered to participate. The research was conducted using a variety of different survey methods that were chosen to determine the degree and/...
The articles, published after 1996, contain varied methods of research attainment, but share similarities such as being a self-survey, having a small sample size, and being
Today it is no longer a novelty to hear that teenagers are having sex. However, while this “bedroom” activity may be fun, there are now ample reports indicating that rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in teenagers have skyrocketed. Current data reveal that nearly 25% of adolescent girls who have sex are infected with one of the four commonly sexually transmitted infections-namely gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes and HIV (Kann et al, 2015). Nationally, the prevalence of STDs account for 50% of cases in people under the age of 25. While every ethnic and race has been known to be affected, African American youth are disproportionately affected. These data are not a surprise to professionals who are engaged in adolescent sexual health because the numbers have been slowly creeping up over the decades, despite national educational policies to counter the threat of STDs (Sales & DiClemente, 2016). All the STDs have a significant impact on sexual and reproductive health, if they are mot promptly diagnosed and treated. Although many preventive strategies have been implemented in all communities, the rates of STDs are still increasing (Madkour et al, 2016).
The source of the study population is a high school that is largely composed of Hispanic teens (age 14-16). This high school is in an inner city in the southwestern area of the United States. The students had to be registered in one of two classes of a mandatory health course in order to be in the study. The number of participants in the study is 19 out of 32 teens that were enrolled in the two health class sections and received consent from their parents. A randomized controlled pilot study was the study design as this was included in the title of the article.
The father of quantitative analysis, Rene Descartes, thought that in order to know and understand something, you have to measure it (Kover, 2008). Quantitative research has two main types of sampling used, probabilistic and purposive. Probabilistic sampling is when there is equal chance of anyone within the studied population to be included. Purposive sampling is used when some benchmarks are used to replace the discrepancy among errors. The primary collection of data is from tests or standardized questionnaires, structured interviews, and closed-ended observational protocols. The secondary means for data collection includes official documents. In this study, the data is analyzed to test one or more expressed hypotheses. Descriptive and inferential analyses are the two types of data analysis used and advance from descriptive to inferential. The next step in the process is data interpretation, and the goal is to give meaning to the results in regards to the hypothesis the theory was derived from. Data interpretation techniques used are generalization, theory-driven, and interpretation of theory (Gelo, Braakmann, Benetka, 2008). The discussion should bring together findings and put them into context of the framework, guiding the study (Black, Gray, Airasain, Hector, Hopkins, Nenty, Ouyang, n.d.). The discussion should include an interpretation of the results; descriptions of themes, trends, and relationships; meanings of the results, and the limitations of the study. In the conclusion, one wants to end the study by providing a synopsis and final comments. It should include a summary of findings, recommendations, and future research (Black, Gray, Airasain, Hector, Hopkins, Nenty, Ouyang, n.d.). Deductive reasoning is used in studies...
The program called Don’t Be a Sexual Statistic (DBASS), is based on the HYA and implements their mission to provide truthful information regarding reproductive health education in the North Carolina school system. This program requires all seven to ninth graders to have a class every semester or year pertaining to each grade level, teaching the students about reproductive health education. The target group for DBASS, is young children to teenagers from ages twelve to fifteen. This focuses on seven to ninth graders in the North Carolina school system. With students today ages fifteen to nineteen having sex a least once (Guttmacher.org, 2010), shows that the old ways of teaching health education needs to be revised. This statistics shows that increasing knowledge with comprehensive sex and reproduction health could help lower the statistics and help the students make wiser decision in their future.
Not surprisingly the lack of useful sexual information is one of the reasons of the spreading sex related diseases. According to The American Social Health Association (1998) each year there are near ten million of new cases of sexually transmitted diseases among the teenage...
Research Questions and/or Hypotheses The research question and basis of the study can be summarized as whether or not the exposure to sexual concepts through the media have significant influences on the sexual practices of teenagers. Similarly, it is proposed that, if proven to be accurate, media can be used in similar formats to encourage safe sex and preventative sexual health practices. The use of focus groups, journal writings, room tours, and interviews allowed teens the opportunity to discuss sexuality which was operationalized as teen views on love, sex, and relationships. Steele, 1999, p. 334.
Focusing on surveys and questionnaires, and quantitative research methods, it varies on the person getting questioned as to which method they prefer. Some individuals may prefer to fill in a questionnaire, as it is quick and simple for them, whereas someone else would rather have a face-to-face interview because they may find questionnaires to complicated. Giving people the choice gives the more chance of getting a response overall. It is important that the researchers are aware of the advantages and disadvantages because they will then be aware of what method to use, and will know what method is best to use. It is also an advantage to work with experienced researchers in order to find out the best results.
Four focus group discussions (FGDs) with students from both Universities were carried out. In each University two focus group discussions comprising of 10 students grouped by gender were conducted. The number of FGD was guided by data saturation. By the time we conducted the third and fourth FGD we noticed that issues already identified earlier were being repeated and there was no need for further discussions. The FGDs were used to understand the magnitude of substance use and risky sexual behaviour as well as the commonly abused substance so as to guide in the designing of the intervention and also supplement the data from the survey.
The Advantages and Limitations of Social Surveys in Sociological Research To survey something, is to carry out a systematic overview so that a researcher can produce a comprehensive general report on it. Survey method is often used by positivist sociologists seeking to test their hypotheses, and to investigate causes and examine variables. As with every other sociological research, survey has its own advantages and limitations. Positivist research, which is in the scientific tradition, begins with a hypothesis that can be either confirmed or rejected according to the data collected. One of the significant advantages of survey method is that, it can be used to collect data that is a representative of a larger population.
...sis, which could make all results invalid. With any research projects, limitations will be present. It is important to attempt to eliminate some of these causes in order to complete a thorough, accurate study. In future projects, this study could go about researching the issue in different ways. Perhaps using a larger sample size would be conducive for accurate results. A larger sample size helps reduce and even out any possible errors caused by those who do not answer truthfully. Also, keeping the surveys mainly anonymous would help to receive more truthful and accurate responses from participants. Participants may be fearful of judgments on open interviews or phone interviews, which could affect responses. In order to obtain as accurate results as possible, a future study would need to find ways to survey participants in a confidential way that feels comfortable.
Surveys are an effective and popular method for research because of the efficiency, versatility and generalizability. Generalizability is the ability to sample and draw research conclusions for large populations (Bachman & Schutt, 2012). In order to effectively maximize outcomes in survey research, surveys must be structured to avoid unclear or confusing questions. Demographic related questions should be avoided if not pertinent to the research study (Bachman & Schutt, 2012). Generally, the motivation of the researcher is clearly identified in a survey, and the respondent has the option of declining involvement in the survey. There are fewer ethical dilemmas with survey research than other types of research methods.