Analysis of the Methods Used in the Collection of Data in Australia - Term Paper Example

Student name: Unit name: Course name Submission date: Table of Contents Table of Contents 1 Research Evaluation Report 1 1.0.Introduction 1 2.0.Collection of Data 2 3.0.Methodological approach 5 4.0.Data Analysis 6 Research Evaluation Report 1.0. Introduction Research entails an inquiry into a given issue in order to describe, give objective information or predict a given issue. In the process of research, different methods are applied; this could be inductive or deductive methods through which data is collected for the given phenomenon. Depending on the subject, objective and hypothesis formulated data is collected by use of different scientific methods of data collection. The common used methods for data collection include observation, use of questionnaires and interviews. On 2nd September 2013 the Australian carried a prediction of election in which the Labor’s primary support had slumped to 33%, this was the lowest slump recorded under the leadership of Mr. Rudd. Other predictions concerning the polls were also given. The aim of this paper is to analyse the research methods used in the collection of data and subsequent analysis in the prediction of the polls in Australia. 2.0. Collection of Data For data to be collected, theappropriate collection methods for the survey should listed depending on the suitability and the type of the information to be obtained. The data collection in a survey research is dependent on the researcher’s competencies. Therefore, the researcher is normally expected to play a critical role in in the entire research process. Generally, for surveys, interviews and questionnaires are mostly used. 2.1. Interviews To collect the data for the poll survey, interviews were conducted by professionals who had been trained received training in interviewing. Therefore through interviews data was collected in all the states of Australia, both in urban and rural areas. For this survey on the Australian polls, the collection of the data was through interviews that were conducted via telephone calls. 2.2. Sampling design Australia is very vast and therefore to ensure that there was representation of all the states, an appropriate sampling design was used.In social science research, a sample is considered as a subset of the target population, which is selected through appropriate sampling techniques. Normally, a study sample comprises elements that form the subjects to be studied. In this study the elements were the Australian voters interested in the polls and who as citizens are entitled to vote. As a result a sample frame that had set criteria for inclusion was used. 2.3. Sampling frame The development of a sampling frame aims at including all members of the target population, who are eligible for inclusion in the final sample. A sampling frame comprises all the elements in the accessible population. Through random sampling the targeted households and the telephone numbers of the people to be interviewed were selected and included in the survey. The data that was collected was weighted to ensure that there was even representation of the target population. 2.3.1. Sample size After a sampling frame is established the research goes ahead to form the sample size for the survey. The sample size should show representation of the target population. In this survey, the target population was the voters in the elections that were forthcoming. The most important thing in determining a sample size for a study like this is whether the adopted sample size is sufficient to generate adequate data for answering the research question. In this study, a sample size of 1116 Australian voters sampled from the sampling frame was included. This sample size was considered sufficient to answer the research questions that were done through telephone interviews. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the adequacy of the sample was determined by the by the data targeted and which was to show reliability and validity. The minimum sampling error margin was plus or minus 3 percent of the points. 2.4. Data collected The data collected included the preferred choice for the House of the representatives. In this case the names of the politicians were given.For the undecided people (those who were not committed to a specific political; candidate) they were to give the person they were leaning more to, this was to be chosen from the candidates given. Concerning the Prime Minister, the interviewers asked the respondents if they were satisfied with the operations and work of Kevin Rudd. Subsequently for the opposition leader, Tony Abbott, the interviewers asked a similar question, i.e. whether they were satisfied with the operations and the work of the opposition leader. The final question to the respondent was to say the person they thought would make a better prime minister for Australia.From these interviews qualitative data that answered the questions was collected. This data was statistically quantified from the 1116 correspondents to form the data that was used for the analysis. 2.5. The time for data collection The data was collected two weeks before the polls which were to take place on 7th September, 2013. Collecting the data before the polls was an appropriate to make informed predictions. 2.6. Why did they collect these data and not others? A research is usually specific and targets a given phenomenon in the society. The aim of this research was related to the polls that were forth coming. In addition, there were survey questions that were to guide the study; hence the data collected was to answer the survey questions. The survey questions probed only on the specifics required. This meant that the data collected was filtered by the questions any other information could not be included in the study. 3.0. Methodological approach Research methodology entails decision regarding what, where, when, how many, and by what means a problem is solved. The methodology as employed in social sciences refers to the processes, principles, and procedures by which a social scientist approaches a problem and seeks answers. In evaluating the methodology used in the survey, the areas to be evaluated will include: research approach, research strategy that was adopted by the survey, the sampling design, data collection methods, data analysis, validity and reliability issues, as well as interpretation of data and results. 3.1. Research Approach This study adopted both qualitative and quantitative approaches to research. This study was conducted using telephone interview for the gathering of sufficient data to help in answering the research question. 3.2. Research Strategy A research strategy is a plan that attempts to provide an account of how the study intends to answer the research question. This study was a survey that sought to find out the people’s choice in the polls that were expected to take place. As pointed out, qualified interviewers were involved in the interviewing of the respondents. Interviews give first-hand information and are quick to conduct. Through a qualified interviewer, the respondents were probed to give an honest opinion on the issue at hand. In this case the issue was the polls.The main purpose of the study was to obtain opinion on the elections, especially for the prime minister. In so doing, the study’s specific objectives were to find out the likely voters decision in the elections and the reasons informing their decision. 4.0. Data Analysis From the analysis, the primary vote support for the Labor had slumped to 33%. On the preference of the parties, the Labor was found to have preference of 46% compared to the 54% preference for the Coalition. The overall polls showed that the Australians were in support of Mr. Abbott with 43% compared to the support of the sitting prime minister who had 41% of the people interviewed. The report however does not report the percentage of the people who were not committed and leaning on either side of the political divide. The figures given are general. I.e. 4% uncommitted and 2% refused to be interviewed, hence were excluded.The story carried in the Australian carries the general analysed results for the polls. To analyse the qualitative data, the data different statistical analysis could have been used. For instance, use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive summary statistics like mean, mode, media, and standard deviation are not reported on how they were computed; the same applies for the continuous variables and proportions for categorical characteristics of the respondents. This was a predictive survey data so the multivariate logistic regression could have been performed to determine significant predictors. Even though the study has given the sample size used, it fails to give a detailed means in which the sampling frame was obtained before randomization to get the size. The report shows the method used to collect the data, the target population for the survey. The study also lists the study questions that were used to guide and help in the collection of the data. In addition the report shows the sample size that was used for the survey (1116) and the sampling technique which was random sampling. However the study does fail to show the methods used for the data analysis, and the approaches used in the sampling process. The hypothesis used for the survey is not given; this could have helped in the analysis. Analysis in many instances tests the validity of the hypothesis. This was given in the report. Without the provision of all the approaches used, the validity and reliability of the survey cannot be established. Read More