The main take away from the topic is the requirements to develop valid questions that are to be used in surveys. The topic focused on understanding the purpose of the data to be collected. In other words, what data is to be collected; this aspect is essential according to the information presented by the authors (Staton-Tindall, Badger & Webster, 2009). The chapter addresses the option as being essential for determining the scope, content that will be valid. The outcome is a cascade of progressive appreciation of the resources and other factors such as funding and means of collecting data. Another essential aspect to consider when developing survey questions is whether they will be open-ended or close-ended. Each will further determine the scope of the survey as they are both controlled by the amount of data collected. Open-ended questions accept data from the interviewee without limiting them to a predetermined set of responses (Staton-Tindall, Badger & Webster, 2009). The participants have the freedom of responding to the question; thereby, it has the potential of being time-consuming. Close-ended questions, on the other hand, limit the participants to a predetermined set of responses. The primary include responses such as “Agree or Disagree.” It limits the amount of data as well as time consumed, thereby limiting the scope as well as resources needed (Staton-Tindall, Badger & Webster, 2009). Other considerations include how the survey can be undertaken. Some of the strategies identified include mail, internet or telephone survey. Many other considerations are taken into account depicting the proper approach in developing survey questions.
However, after reading the article, the main question was if the entire process has to be considered before or after developing the survey questions. The question is based on the fact that each consideration slightly changed the main objective of the survey (Staton-Tindall, Badger & Webster, 2009). Some of the changes include increased complexity in data collection as well as the structure of the question. Some of the already accepted facts with the topic include the structure, language, and exclusivity of the question is that ethics must be maintained. Therefore, the question must conform to the new requirements and this may also contribute to the alteration of the question (Staton-Tindall, Badger & Webster, 2009). Another question based on the material is whether the structure and nature of the question determines the analysis approach. The reading material identified three analysis strategies, name qualitative, quantitative and quantitative and qualitative data analysis. Regardless of the numerous requirements to develop a valid research question, the article advanced the considerations needed in conducting surveys (Staton-Tindall, Badger & Webster, 2009). The topic increased the dynamic range of the question to be used. Some of the considerations include the inclusion of multiple variants.
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Article Assessment
The journal article under assessment is Enhancing Their Likelihood for a Positive Future: The Perspective of Inner-City Youth by Ginsburg et al. (2002). The article addresses the numerous challenges that inner-city youth undergo (Ginsburg et al., 2002). The challenges limit the youth’s progression in society in various aspect. However, the authors further state that the outcome is affected by the relationship between the protective forces and risk factors.
Introduction
The article begins by addressing the general challenges faced by the adolescent age set. The challenges affect the developmental tasks, autonomy and independence; the problems are mostly focused in urban areas where poverty is rampant (Ginsburg et al., 2002). After developing the purpose of the research, the authors identify the objective of the study to be the learning what would change the prospects of the youth(Ginsburg et al., 2002). The strategy is to allow the research to be teen centred, allowing the participants to develop, rank and elaborate on their ideas.
Methods
The study was populated by students from four middle schools and five high schools in Philadelphia. In 1997, the study had 2800 participants; the purpose of including high school students, specifically 9th graders was due to their high probability of dropping out. The senior participants, mostly 12th graders, were there to represent their age group (Ginsburg et al., 2002). Nevertheless, additional research was included to explain the reasoning for the strategy and participants. According to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, adolescents from the state of Philadelphia partake in risky behaviours at similar rates to the national mean. The teen methodology applied worked in four stages (Ginsburg et al., 2002). Utilizing mixed qualitative-quantitative methodology, it allowed the participants to frame their questions in the first stage. The second stage prioritized on the ideas identified by the adolescents. The third stage rationalized on the idea of explaining the prospect route (Ginsburg et al., 2002). The final stage, each participant, partook in parallel focus groups where the practicality of the ideas are addressed.
Results
The outcome of the study from responses to the demography of the participants is tallied. The results identified numerous common outcomes of the survey, such as all participants listing that their time should be spent positively (Ginsburg et al., 2002). The time should be spent interacting with others within the community, creating better opportunities for development. Other outcomes that resulted from the survey include better relations with adults. By also involving community resources such as the police, assistance is offered to make ethical as well as legal decisions (Ginsburg et al., 2002). The data from the results are fully elaborated into detail, identifying various statistical information as well as theories that are applicable.
Discussion
The authors recognize the desire by various professions to aid in guiding the adolescent population as they navigate today’s challenging social setting. They further state that the survey was able to identify numerous challenges and the various efforts needed to handle them (Ginsburg et al., 2002). The researchers also identified many efforts to categorize the various target risks explored, such as the variances in the demography.
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Study
The study, as previously mentioned utilizes mixed qualitative-quantitative methodology. The approach provides the needed information for decision making as well as designing the best solution to the problem at hand. The quantitative aspect of the research provides the needed numbers to assess the general nature of the problem. The information also allows the researcher to determine the variances of the data to be collected. By assessing the demography of the participants, a better appreciation of the situations is achieved. Finally, the use of both qualitative and quantitative research allows for trends to be verified. The main weakness is the quantity of data collected. The amount of data collected, analyzed and interpreted takes time as it involves the interaction of two methodologies.
Reference
Ginsburg, K., Alexander, P., Hunt, J., Sullivan, M., Zhao, H., & Cnaan, A. (2002). Enhancing Their Likelihood for a Positive Future: The Perspective of Inner-City Youth. PEDIATRICS , 109 (6), 1136-1142. doi: 10.1542/peds.109.6.1136
Staton-Tindall, M., Badger, K., & Webster, M. (2009). Needs Assessment. Pocket Guides to Social Work Research Methods . Oxford University Press, USA.
