For this assignment, you will identify the desired population and criteria for the participants you will use for your study.  In a “real” study, you would have more participants than you are required to have for your mini-qualitative research project.

For this assignment, you will identify the desired population and criteria for the participants you will use for your study.  In a “real” study, you would have more participants than you are required to have for your mini-qualitative research project.  For the project you are completing in this course, you are required to have a minimum of six (6) participants.  Additionally, the participants should be divided equally between the two groups you plan to compare (e.g., 3 males/3 females; 3 middle-aged adults/3 senior adults).  As a reminder, your participants must not include minors/children.

Again, please be sure to watch the video on sampling before completing this assignment.

Based on your research questions, please identify who you plan to use as potential participants.  You aren’t providing names; rather you are providing the criteria that would qualify them as a potential participant.

For example, if my research question was:

1.  What are the preferences of males and females regarding vacations and travel?

I obviously will select 3 males and 3 females.  But I could also set some additional criteria for someone to qualify for the study.  Maybe, I only want to hear from married people.  Or maybe I’m only interested in those who currently have a trip planned this summer.  You should only request the criteria you need to complete the study.  In other words, I should not ask someone’s marital status is that is not important to my study.

Examples of Criteria:

Gender Marital Status Age Ethnicity Have a vacation scheduled for this summer Live in a Southern state Once you have identified the criteria needed to complete your study, please share a.) your research question, b.) the desired population, c.) and the specific criteria you plan to use for your desired sample.

HELPFUL TIP:  You will need to ensure the people (i.e., family members, friends, and colleagues that you ask to complete your survey meet the criteria before asking them to complete your future questionnaire.)  Also, do not include too many criteria, as this will limit those who can participate.

Please submit the information in the following format:

Research Question:

1.  What are the preferences of males and females regarding vacations and travel?

Desired Population:  

Male and Female Adults

Criteria:

males and females between the ages of 30 and 40 Have gone on a vacation within the last two years