Research Methods

Question 1

Evaluation Research

Answer 1

Research that describes or identifies the impact of social policies and programs.”. Evaluation research is used as a way to provide feedback to the program or policies stakeholders; this feedback is used to add credibility to the program or policy.

Question 2

Formative Evaluation

Answer 2

One type of evaluation research. Formative evaluation is used to evaluate and possibly change the implementation process, it evaluates the operations side of the program, that is, how it is being managed and administered.

Question 3

Summative Evaluation

Answer 3

Summative evaluation measures how the program or policy has affected the inputs to the program; basically it is measuring to what degree the program or policy has affected the change it was intended to make

Question 4

Survey Research

Answer 4

Research in which information is collected from a sample of individuals through their responses to a set of standardized questions.” Survey research allows public organizations to make informed decisions on policy choices by researching the needs of stakeholders involved. Survey research can be done in two ways. The first way is by doing an interview either in person or by phone. The second way is to use a questionnaire, which is administered to the respondent and then collected and evaluated Marshall, ). Surveys can help organizations identify strengths and limitations pertaining to an organizations service delivery

Question 5

Variables

Answer 5

The next term I will be discussing is variable. A variable is defined as, “ A characteristic or property that can vary (take on different values or attributes)” There are two types of variables: independent and dependent. A dependent variable is influenced and may vary based on the independent variable, and an independent variable influences and causes variation in the dependent variable

Question 6

Unit of Analysis

Answer 6

The entities being studied, whose behavior is to be understood.The unit of analysis is the basis of what we are determined or what we are trying to understand while carrying out research

Question 7

Research

Answer 7

original data collection or analysis

Question 8

Literature review

Answer 8

A literature review is an evaluative report of information found in the literature related to your selected area of study. The review should describe, summarise, evaluate and clarify this literature.

Question 9

Best Practices

Answer 9

a method or technique that has conistently yielded results to be used as a benchmark