The goal of this final research exercise is twofold. The first is to develop ski

The goal of this final research exercise is twofold. The first is to develop skills in turning sociological questions into testable hypotheses. The second, reliant upon the first, is to practice the development and use survey-based instruments and quantitative measures to test associations between variables, thus ‘testing’ hypothetical associations. These skills are foundational to social statistics and the logic of causal modeling in sociology. *Note: you will not be asked to perform statistical analysis in this assignment. Rather, the focus is on the logic and design of survey research.
To complete this exercise, begin by considering each of the four, prior research exercises related to your chosen research topic. Focus especially on the big ideas, themes, or patterns you may have thought about thus far. Then, perform each of the following steps:
Pose a question, related to your research topic, that asks about cause and effect. *Keep in mind, you will be distributing a survey, so try to raise a question that might relate to questions you could realistically ask people about (in-person or online).
Causal questions may take several forms, including “Why is A different from B and C?” “Does X mediate the effect of A on B?” “What causes differences in X across A, B, and C populations?” “What causes variation in X?”, “Does X change Y”? (in these formulations, the letters signify variables).
The above examples could reasonably be filled with a whole range of social variables, that is, observable aspects of people, groups, or societies that vary, and which may be studied to find out the cause of variation (based on other variables).
Using your preceding four research exercises, and especially the literature you have reviewed, pose a hypothesis. A hypothesis should appear as a statement (not a question). Hypotheses typically take the form, “I expect…” or “I hypothesize that…”
Next, make a list of relevant variables. The kinds or number of variables you propose will be dictated by how you reason about the hypothetical cause-effect relationship you propose to test.
Your list should appear as a list, rather than a narrative. However, it should identify the dependent variable, independent variables, and control variables (e.g. demographic variables). Measures of variables should be concrete.
Draw a simple causal diagram, which demonstrates the hypothetical relationship between causal variables. The direction and character of cause-effect should be clear on the diagram.
Transform your list of variables by operationalizing them into measures, that is, into survey items. You may use single-item measures or composite measures (scale, index).
Compile all survey items into a survey using Google Forms or Qualtrics Links to an external site. (SSU login required).
The survey can be simple, and need not take any more than 3-10 minutes to complete.
Distribute your survey to 10 individuals. Consider this a “pilot” of the survey. Even so, the individuals taking the survey should ideally be members of the study population. If this is not possible, then you are welcome to ask SSU classmates to take the survey, acknowledging that the survey is not ultimately designed for them.
Finally, conduct a very basic and preliminary analysis of your results. The expectation is that you look for and identify any patterns, use your data to reason about your stated hypothesis, and write up your results in 3 paragraphs.
Your three paragraphs should address the following:
The first “paragraph” is simply your list of variables (independent, dependent, controls), your hypothesis, and your simple causal diagram.
The second paragraph must justify how your survey was designed to test your hypothesis.
The third and final paragraph must contain a brief analysis of some of your results. This “analysis” is not complex: it is simply the interpretation of a couple data points
Attached below are parts of this assignment that already have been completed the theme of this project is this question: “How much does counseling support help high school students succeed in school and in life?”
Please do not use any outside sources, aside from the ones already mentioned