Rest of Course Proposals & Research Design Measurement Sampling Survey methods Basic Statistics for Survey Analysis Experiments Other Approaches- Observation, qualitative methods

Topics for Today 1. Evaluation Research Proposal Format 2. Introduction to Research Design Primary & Secondary Data Qualitative & Quantitative Approaches Survey & Experiments On-Site & Household designs 3. Common Problems/Approaches in PRTR

Communicate with Client Demonstrate your grasp of problem Purposes of Proposal Communicate with Client Demonstrate your grasp of problem Plan the study in advance, so others can evaluate the study approach will it work? have you overlooked something? will results be useful to client? Can we afford it?

Proposal Format 1. Problem Statement - define program to be evaluated/problem to be studied, users & uses of results. Justify importance of the problem/study. 2. Objectives : Concise listing . In evaluation studies, the objectives usually focus on the key elements of program to be evaluated & the evaluation criteria. These are the study objectives NOT the program objectives. 3. Background/Literature Review - place for more extensive history/structure of program. Focus on aspects most relevant to proposed evaluation. Discuss previous studies or the relevant methods. 4. Methods - details on procedures for achieving objectives - data gathering and analysis, population, sampling, measures, etc. Who will do what to whom, when, where, how and why? 5. Attachments - budget, timeline, measurement instruments, etc. NOTE: Most “programs” must be narrowed to specific components to be evaluated. Think of a “Program of studies” rather than a single evaluation study. The proposal should define this specific study & how it fits into a broader program of studies.

Sample Objectives 1. Estimate benefits and costs of program 2. Estimate economic impacts of program on local community (social, environmental, fiscal). 3. Determine effects of program on target population. 4. Describe users and non-users of program 5. Assess community recreation needs, preferences 6. Determine market/financial feasibility of program 7. Evaluate adequacy or performance of program

Typical Research Objectives Describe a sample or population Identify/test relationships between variables in a population: statistical cause-effect Quantify the relationship Average income of MI Snowmobilers in 1998 is $45K SB with higher incomes spend more money After safety program, SB’s have fewer accidents SB spend per day = $25 + .4 * Income

Variable Terminology Variables : any characteristic that varies across individuals in a population (i.e. takes on different values for different individuals). Dependent variable is the one you are trying to predict or explain, usually the focus of your study Independent variables are the ones that help explain the dependent variable. In Program evaluation, the outcomes are generally the dependent variables and characteristics of program or target populations are independent. In a cause effect relationship, cause is independent & effect dependent.

Methods Choices Overall Approach/Design Qualitative or Quantitative Primary or secondary data Survey, experiment, case study, etc. Who to study - population, sample individuals, market segments, populations What to study - concepts, measures behavior, knowledge, attitudes Cost vs Benefit of Study

Qualitative vs Quantitative Approaches Focus Group In-Depth Interview Case Study Participant observation Secondary data analysis Quantitative Surveys Experiments Structured observation

Qualitative vs Quantitative Gen’l Laws Test Hypotheses Predict behavior Outsider-Objective Structured formal measures probability samples statistical analysis Qualitative Unique/Individual case Understanding Meanings/Intentions Insider-Subjective Unstructured open ended measures judgement samples interpretation of data Purpose Perspective Procedures

Primary or Secondary Data Secondary data are data that were collected for some purpose other than your study, e.g. government records, internal documents, previous surveys Choice between Primary /Secondary Data Costs (time, money, personnel) Relevance, accuracy, adequacy of data

Research Designs/Data Collection Approaches

(field and lab experiments) Survey vs Experiment Survey - measure things as they are, snapshot of population at one point in time, generally refers to questionnaires (telephone, self-administered, personal interview) Experiment - manipulate at least one variable (treatment) to evaluate response, to study cause-effect relationships (field and lab experiments)

General Guidelines on when to use different approaches 1. Describing a population - surveys 2. Describing users/visitors - on-site survey 3. Describing non-users, potential users or general population - household survey 4. Describing observable characteristics of visitors - on-site observation 5. Measuring impacts, cause-effect relationships - experiments

Guidelines (cont) 6. Anytime suitable secondary data exists - secondary data 7. Short, simple household studies - phone 8. Captive audience or very interested population - self-administered survey 9. Testing new ideas - experimentation or focus groups 10. In-depth study - in-depth personal interviews, focus groups, case studies