Research and Assessment

Question 1

Comparative analysis

Answer 1

Analysis where data from different settings or groups at the same point in time or from the same settings or groups over a period of time are analyzed to identify similarities and differenences.

Question 2

Discourse Analysis

Answer 2

A study of the way versions or the world, society, events and psyche are produced in the use of language and discourse. It is often concerned with the construction of subjects within various forms of konwledge/power.

Question 3

Ethnography

Answer 3

A multi-method qualitative approach that studies people in their “naturally occurring settings or ‘fields’ by means of methods which capture their social meanings and ordinary activities, involving the research participating directly in the setting.”

Question 4

Grounded theory

Answer 4

Inductive form of qualitative research where data collection and analysis are conducted together. Theories remain grounded in the observations rather than generated in the abstract. Develops the theory from the data collected, rather than applying a theory to the data.

Question 5

Narrative analysis

Answer 5

Form of discourse analysis that seeks to study the textual devices at work in the constructions of process or sequence within a text.
Respondent gives a detailed account of themselves and is encouraged to tell their story rather than answer a predetermined list of questions. Most successful when people are discussing a life changing event.

Question 6

Nominal data

Answer 6

Classified into mutually exclusive groups or categories and lack intrinsic order.
EX: zoning classification, social security number, sex

Question 7

Ordinal data

Answer 7

Ordered categories implying a rank of the observations. Values are meaningless, only the rank counts

Question 8

Interval data

Answer 8

Data that has an ordered relationship where the difference between the scales has a meaningful interpretation
EX: temperature

Question 9

Ratio data

Answer 9

Gold standard of measurement where both absolute and relative difference have a meaning.
EX: measurement

Question 10

Inferential Statistics

Answer 10

Use probability to determine characteristics of a problem based on observations made on a sample from that population.
We infer things about the population based on what is observed in the same.
EX: We could take a sample of 25 test takers and use their average age to say something about the mean age of all test takers.

Question 11

Central tendency

Answer 11

Typical or representative value for the distribution of observed values. There are several ways to measure including mean, median, and mode

Question 12

Variance

Answer 12

squared difference from the mean

Question 13

Standard deviation

Answer 13

square root of the variance

Question 14

Linear method (population estimation)

Answer 14

Uses the change in population (increase or decline) over time and extrapolates this change into the future, in a linear fashion.
EX: if Plannersville has grown by 1,000 on average, it would be assumed to grow by 1,000 people annually

Question 15

Exponential and Modified Exponential Method (population estimation)

Answer 15

Uses the rate of growth to estimate the current or future population
EX: if Plannersville has been increasing 2%, that is extrapolated over the future, making a curved line

Question 16

Symptomatic Method (population estimate)

Answer 16

Uses any available data indirectly related to population size, such as housing stats, or drivers licenses. It then estimates the population using a ratio, such as the average household size.
EX: The average household size is 2.5, data on 100 new single-family building permits that are issued this year, would yield an estimate of 250 new people will be added to the community

Question 17

Step-down Ratio Method (population estimation)

Answer 17

Relatively simple method, uses the ratio of a population in a city or county at a known point in time and uses this ration to project the current or future population
EX: if Plannersville is 20% of the county population, and we know the county population, we can estimate the pop. of Plannersville

Question 18

Distributed Housing Unit Method (population estimation)

Answer 18

Uses the Census Bureau data for the number of housing units, which is then multiplied by the occupancy rate and persons per household.
Reliable for slow growth or stable communities