Top of Form Presentation Research in the Social Sciences Social science, including academic subjects such as criminal justice and homeland security, focuses on studying human interaction between individuals, groups, or societies. Social science is about questioning the world around you by examining cultures, societies, economies, politics, behaviors, and any assortment of social interaction. This range in scope is emphasized by a number of academic disciplines such as anthropology, political science, and sociology. Researchers within social science fields consider how individual or group actions impact their society. Compare, for a moment, social sciences to the physical sciences such as physics or biology. In studying physics, one can grasp how an aircraft can stay in the air. A physicist recognizes the physical forces that impact the aircraft’s flight and can predict what impact these elements will have on the aircraft's continued operation. In understanding the science behind flight, physicists can also estimate or predict what conditions will negatively impact a journey. The aircraft’s design, improvements, and success are all founded on proven mathematical principles. There are also mechanical principles that determine how it must be maintained, fueled, and operated. There are engineering designs with elements that can be measured, tested, and proven reliable. With the knowledge and information these hard sciences provide, practitioners and researchers alike can make better predictions about what designs, models, or activities will be successful. Meanwhile, society has no rules to explain why things may or may not happen. All who are a part of a society represent living, dynamic organisms. There is form and function in a society to a degree, yet the whole can theoretically be impacted by any single element. Societies and social relationships maintain customs, accepted norms, traditions, economic exchanges, and communications within various social constructs. Social sciences examine countless activities occurring in an ever-changing environment. By extension, factors that impact an individual’s response to phenomena may be infinite. For example, in studying homeland security, you might consider the elements of prevention, preparation, mitigation, and response in regard to natural disasters. Researchers consider why individuals choose not to evacuate in advance of a known and deadly hurricane. In asking people about their reasons, researchers select individuals who refused to evacuate before a hurricane arrived. In doing so, they might find that there are dozens of possible answers or combinations of answers. Potential answers such as the following are among the answers a survey might reveal: · Having no transportation · Fearing their homes will be looted · Believing the storm’s intensity was exaggerated · Not comprehending what a hurricane can potentially do to them · Dealing with many storms in the past · Unwilling to leave pets or li ...

1. Top of Form
Presentation
Research in the Social Sciences
Social science, including academic subjects such as criminal
justice and homeland security, focuses on studying human
interaction between individuals, groups, or societies. Social
science is about questioning the world around you by examining
cultures, societies, economies, politics, behaviors, and any
assortment of social interaction. This range in scope is
emphasized by a number of academic disciplines such as
anthropology, political science, and sociology. Researchers
within social science fields consider how individual or group
actions impact their society.
Compare, for a moment, social sciences to the physical sciences
such as physics or biology. In studying physics, one can grasp
how an aircraft can stay in the air. A physicist recognizes the
physical forces that impact the aircraft’s flight and can predict
what impact these elements will have on the aircraft's continued
operation. In understanding the science behind flight, physicists
can also estimate or predict what conditions will negatively
impact a journey. The aircraft’s design, improvements, and
success are all founded on proven mathematical principles.
There are also mechanical principles that determine how it must
be maintained, fueled, and operated. There are engineering
designs with elements that can be measured, tested, and proven
reliable. With the knowledge and information these hard
sciences provide, practitioners and researchers alike can make
better predictions about what designs, models, or activities will
be successful.
Meanwhile, society has no rules to explain why things may or
may not happen. All who are a part of a society represent living,
dynamic organisms. There is form and function in a society to a
degree, yet the whole can theoretically be impacted by any

2. single element. Societies and social relationships maintain
customs, accepted norms, traditions, economic exchanges, and
communications within various social constructs. Social
sciences examine countless activities occurring in an ever-
changing environment.
By extension, factors that impact an individual’s response to
phenomena may be infinite. For example, in studying homeland
security, you might consider the elements of prevention,
preparation, mitigation, and response in regard to natural
disasters. Researchers consider why individuals choose not to
evacuate in advance of a known and deadly hurricane. In asking
people about their reasons, researchers select individuals who
refused to evacuate before a hurricane arrived. In doing so, they
might find that there are dozens of possible answers or
combinations of answers. Potential answers such as the
following are among the answers a survey might reveal:
· Having no transportation
· Fearing their homes will be looted
· Believing the storm’s intensity was exaggerated
· Not comprehending what a hurricane can potentially do to
them
· Dealing with many storms in the past
· Unwilling to leave pets or livestock
Consider the rationale or philosophy behind one of the answers.
Why would someone fear looters? The answers to this
question may vary but may include the following:
· An individual has been looted before.
· This is the first home anyone in the family has ever owned.
· They know of looting that has happened to others.
· They answered looting, but they consider National Guard
members checking on residents to fall into this category.
· They watched a news report the evening prior regarding
looting.
Reading these answers and focusing on individual reasons
people have for doing what they do, the researcher understands
that a scientific method is needed to effectively study why

3. people behave as they do. Understanding individual or group
behavior can also help a community and its leadership develop
policies and procedures intended to overcome problematic
situations. Understanding that a fear of looters exists—which
impedes evacuation—might help community leaders
communicate an active plan to thwart and punish looting. The
end result is to encourage people to take measures to protect
their own lives. In this instance, a policy based upon social
science research can establish open communications with
citizens, save money by reducing resource expenditure, and save
lives.
Article
Purpose and Value of Research
What is the purpose of good research?
Considering a disaster evacuation example without a survey, the
subsequent analysis of the results, and the follow-up questions,
leaders could have trouble predicting what conditions are
required to encourage people to evacuate. Understanding
people’s motivations in these conditions is essential for
homeland security planners and crisis responders. To gain better
understanding and translate this insight into practical
applications, researchers must employ the scientific method and
study a problem and its potential causes systematically.
Social science research has the following four primary
purposes:
· Exploratory research includes studies and projects its focus on
a new field, theory, topic, or area of examination; it explores
the potential for additional research. A researcher could ask,
"Why don’t some people evacuate before a hurricane?"
· Descriptive research describes conditions, situations, or
observable phenomena and then reports the information. A
researcher may report that "45% of those who did not evacuate
before Hurricane Katrina lived in the 9th district."
· Explanatory research takes the descriptive elements and
searches for causes and explanations. The researcher may report

4. that "of those who did not evacuate, 28% stated that they feared
looting."
· Evaluation research includes examinations that look at the
merits, value, and success of programs and policies designed to
intervene in social circumstances. An example could be the
study of a public information program designed to inform
citizens of what local law enforcement is actively planning or
doing to deter looting.
What is the value of good research?
Research that is relevant and valid aids policy makers in
predicting behaviors and then prescribing initiatives that can
accommodate or overcome problematic conduct. Research
provides an enormous benefit to these policy makers who desire
to develop programs that help people. Refer back to the example
of encouraging people to evacuate in advance of a storm. The
knowledge that some people, especially elderly citizens, may
refuse to evacuate if their pets cannot be safely moved as well
has resulted in governmental leaders, interested in saving lives
or lessening costs of rescues, implementing a policy that
compels communities to plan for pet evacuation and housing
during crises. In this instance, the findings of a social science
research project led to a real-world strategy intended to save
lives. Therein lies the connection between social research and
policy development.
At the same time, the value of research is also important in
academia because it makes contributions to the collective
knowledge and understanding of what happens, why it happens,
and what interventions might or might not be appropriate.
Asking why people will not evacuate is a question that will
produce answers of potential interest to psychologists,
sociologists, anthropologists, homeland security specialists,
political scientists, and management theorists. When researchers
carefully conduct their studies and report the findings through
academic avenues, a vast amount of information is shared,
which can lead to an additional study that provides added
insight.

5. Article
Research and Theory
Social research looks for relationships between various
phenomena. Whether conducted in the physical or social realm,
scientists seek to understand the causality behind what seem to
be related components and a given outcome. Questions ranging
from “What causes cancer?” to “What causes crime?”
demonstrate the commonalities that the social and physical
sciences have. A difference though is that a cancer’s cause or
causes may one day be known, but there can never be a
definitive answer for social science topics.
Theory
A theory is essentially a concept or notion one has about why
something occurs as it does. A theory may be relatively new or
young (also called nascent), or it may have been in existence for
years. Theory is often the basis for a researcher’s examination
of a phenomenon. He or she examines whether the theory is
something a researcher is just developing or something that has
been repeatedly considered, tested, refined, and enhanced.
One type of theory relating to many disciplines within social
science is a conflict theory. A version of conflict theory claims
that crime is a natural and necessary phenomena, and crime’s
existence and resulting conflict with social norms produces
enhanced social evolution as people strive to counter crime by
being increasingly moral or by strengthening society’s laws. In
this case, conflict theory is used to help explain why particular
antisocial actions are so prevalent throughout history and also
to help explain why crime is tolerated to some degree. Conflict
theories examine the competing interests within and between
groups and contend it is the resultant conflict that compels
social change. This is a simplified view of this specific set of
theories, yet conflict theories are the basis for a number of
programs, policies, and initiatives associated with criminal
justice.
Therefore, a theory can be used to support or justify a certain

6. belief system, a formal program, an official policy, and more.
As mentioned before, ever-changing social conditions mean a
social theory can never be proven; instead, researchers seek to
support, refute, or even reject theory. Regardless of the type of
science, it might be argued that if a theory can be proven, it
graduates from theory to fact.
What should the researcher hope to accomplish?
Because of this imprecise nature of the world that social
scientists study, it is never possible to prove a theory about why
certain things happen as they do. The researcher seeks to
support or refute a theory or a hypothesis. Furthermore, when
research is specific and well-documented, others should be able
to repeat or build upon it. The ultimate goal is to deliver
findings that inform people about the world in which they live.
Article
Overview of the Hypothesis
Hypothesis
A hypothesis is sometimes referred to as an educated guess; it is
developed with the intention of explaining or understanding a
phenomenon or observation and is the element that social
scientists will test to support or refute a theory. It includes
variables that are considered (and eventually tested) to be
related in some way. In looking at the relationship between two
variables, the hypothesis considers causality; that is, if there
appears to be a relationship between at least two variables,
which variable causes the other? An example of a hypothesis
might be the following:
· A teenager who drops out of school is more likely to commit a
crime.
This hypothesis supposes that there is a relationship between
teens dropping out of school and their willingness or
compulsion to commit a crime.
In this example, there are two variables: the independent
variable (dropping out of school) and the dependent variable to
which it leads (committing crimes). Variablesare entities or

7. conditions that represent a value of some sort. The independent
variable affects the dependent variable in some way and can be
modified to see if there is an effect on the dependent
variable. The dependent variable is the phenomena the
researcher will measure. The hypothesis above suggests that
there is a relationship between dropping out of school and
criminal activity. The researcher is left to consider why this
might be. In testing the hypothesis, the first step is to see if
real-world data—otherwise called empirical evidence—supports
the claim. The researcher might randomly select 200 cases of
juveniles who have committed crimes and see what percentage
dropped out of school. If the answer is 88%, the hypothesis
arguing that there is a relationship may be strongly supported;
however, this test does not explain why dropping out of school
may be related to committing crimes.
In the scientific method and in developing hypotheses, the
dependent variable is not changed, but the independent variable
can change countless times. A research question is the
fundamental motivation for a study and is formally presented as
such. For the example above, the research question might be
“What do teenage boys do with their time when they drop out of
high school?” Boys dropping out of high school is the
independent variable. The dependent variable could include a
number of possibilities, including get a job, watch a great deal
of television, spend time with friends, play basketball at the
park, or commit crimes. At the same time, the researcher might
modify the independent variable to be boys who do not drop out
of school and find they spend their time in much the same ways
as the dropouts do. Researchers cannot guess what the results
will be for testing either hypothesis; they use the scientific
method to methodically study what happens and why.
It is most important to remember that hypotheses focus on
relationships between variables. Hypotheses are tested, and if
the evidence reveals a relationship to be strong, an overarching
theory may potentially be supported.
One tip for determining whether the variable is independent or

8. dependent or for articulating a hypothesis is to employ an if-
then statement. An example might be as follows: if the sun
shines, then the grass will grow. It would be absurd to invert
these two variables. For the purposes here, a researcher might
hypothesize the following:
1. If people are warned about an approaching storm, then they
will protect themselves and take adequate cover or evacuate the
area.
2. If people protect themselves (by cover or evacuation), then
they will survive the storm.
3. If people survive the storm safely, they will not burden
overtaxed, critical response capabilities.
These hypotheses show the connection between research used to
explore an interesting phenomena and research as the basis for
emergency planning, policies, and programs.
Activity
CHDS: Research Process and Methods – Defining a Problem
This lecture, provided by the Center of Homeland Defense and
Security (CHDS), contains information on various issues and
concepts with regard to the research design process.
Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Research Process and Methods
Lecture: Defining a Problem
Click on the following link to view Defining a Problem:
Click Here to View Lecture
Activity
CHDS: Research Process and Methods – Asking a Question
This lecture, provided by the Center of Homeland Defense and
Security (CHDS), contains information on various issues and
concepts with regard to the research design process.
Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Research Process and Methods
Lecture: Asking a Question
Click on the following link to view Asking a Question.

9. Click Here to View Lecture
Activity
CHDS: Research Process and Methods – Formulating and
Substantiating an Argument
This lecture, provided by the Center of Homeland Defense and
Security (CHDS), contains information on various issues and
concepts with regard to the research design process.
Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Research Process and Methods
Lecture: Formulating and Substantiating an Argument
Click on the following link to view Formulating and
Substantiating an Argument.
Click Here to View Lecture
Activity
Volunteering and Training for Emergency Management
As a future emergency management professional, higher
education is one of the most important credentials that you can
attain in order to jumpstart your career. Your educational
experiences are where you learn the concepts, theories, and best
practices that will support your endeavors for the rest of your
life.
However, it is important to ensure that you have a significant
advantage over your competitors who are also looking to begin
their careers in emergency management. Current professionals
in emergency management highly recommend that you take a
proactive approach and seek out valuable experience or
certifications from various emergency management volunteer
and training opportunities.
Fortunately, these opportunities are widely available and highly
valued by both government agencies and employers alike. In
this activity, a wide variety of volunteer and training resources
are available for you to explore, which will allow you to
develop a more refined idea of which emergency management
path you would like to take. Once you have narrowed the

10. options and made a decision of which concentrations you wish
to pursue, begin applying for the various opportunities available
by using this activity as a resource portal. By volunteering and
receiving training certifications you will:
· Receive valuable field experience and certifications
· Network with emergency management professionals
· And serve your community
You are highly encouraged to participate in as many volunteer
and training opportunities as time will allow. As you complete a
growing number of these volunteer and training tasks, you will
begin to develop an extensive emergency management
background that will allow you to apply for emergency
management and homeland security positions with the utmost
confidence.
Following is a list of Web sites of various organizations,
agencies, and training materials that you are encouraged to
utilize throughout the course of this program. Keep in mind,
that the resources provided here are not the only volunteer and
training opportunities available. Always be sure to ask your
local law enforcement and fire service agencies for
opportunities tailored to your own community.
For each Web site, a brief description and instructions are
provided on how to volunteer, participate, and get involved.
Training
FEMA Training: Independent Study Program
Click on the above link. The Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) offers 106 independent study courses that are
free of charge for U.S. citizens. These courses are geared
towards the following nine mission areas identified by the U.S.
National Preparedness Goal:
· Incident Management
· Operational Planning
· Disaster Logistics
· Emergency Communications
· Continuity Programs
· Public Disaster Communications

11. · Integrated Preparedness
· Hazard Mitigation
Upon completion of each course’s final exam, you will receive
an official certification of completion from FEMA. You may
also request complete official transcripts from FEMA when you
have completed multiple courses within the Independent Study
Program (ISP). Once you have attained any number of
certifications, you can then place them within your resume.
These courses can be completed at any time and at your own
pace.
Volunteer Opportunities
Citizen Corps
Click on the above link. CitizenCorps is strategy developed by
the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in order to
coordinate emergency management volunteer efforts with a
mission of making communities safer and more efficient with
regard to emergency mitigation, preparedness, response and
recovery. It provides U.S. citizens with opportunities to get
involved and protect their families, homes, and communities.
To obtain volunteer information, type you U.S. Zip Code into
the field under the Get Involved section on the left side of the
page. Select your maximum desired travel distance and click on
Locate. Scroll down the list in order to see all available state,
county, and local councils as well as any affiliate organizations.
Click on any links of interest and use the contact information to
inquire about potential volunteer opportunities.
Citizen Corps: Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)
Click on the above link. Volunteering with a local Community
Emergency Response Team (CERT) will not only add to one’s
professional credibility, but can also enable one to provide a
valuable service to his or her community in a time of significant
need.
The CERT Program is used to educate and train members of
communities on how to be effective disaster workers. In order
to become a certified CERT member, several training sessions
must first be completed.

12. Click onthe Find Nearby CERTs link within the left page menu
in order to obtain local CERT contact information. Call or e-
mail the agency or endorsing organization to inquire about the
next CERT training sessions.
American Red Cross
Click on the above link. The American Red Cross is considered
by many to be one of the most respected response and relief
organizations in the world. A large number of first responders
have high praise for the Reds Cross and the work that the
organization does in disaster affected communities. The
organization has affected millions of lives in a positive manner.
To begin you volunteer career at the American Red Cross, it is
important to first view the organization’s online orientation.
Click on the Volunteer link located in the top menu and then
click on Online Orientation link after the Get Started Now!
heading in the page text.
When you have finished watching the Online Orientation, click
on the Introduction to Disaster Services link directly below the
orientation link to view a video that shows you some of the
work disaster volunteers perform on-site and behind the scenes.
Next, use the two above links Find your Local Red Cross or
VolunteerMatch to obtain Red Cross contact information and
volunteer opportunities available in your area.
Medical Reserve Corps
Click on the above link. The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a
government agency devoted to promoted efficient health and
safety measures in communities nation-wide through the
organization of professional and non-professional volunteers.
To volunteer, click on About Volunteering under the Volunteers
section of the MRC Home page. Click on the MRC Unit link
directly beneath the text “Find out how to become part of your
community's team” towards the bottom of the page. Select the
Zip Code tab and type a U.S. Zip Code in the field provided.
Click on Search to find the nearest MRC Units and then click on
any of the Unit links for contact information. E-mail or call the
Unit for information on volunteer opportunities.

13. Serve.gov
Click on the above link. Serve.gov is managed by the
Corporation for National and Community Service and its
purpose is to provide current volunteer opportunities available
as well as allow for the ability to develop, register, and
coordinate new community projects.
For volunteer and project information, scroll down to the
section titled Find a Volunteer Opportunity and explore the
various subsections.
Public-Private Alliance Foundation (PPAF)
Click on the above link. The mission of the Public-Private
Alliance Foundation (PPAF) is to improve social and economic
development of poor rural areas in nations worldwide through
the collaboration of business, non-profit, and governmental
interests.
To inquire about volunteer needs, click on Get Involved on the
Home page top menu. Scroll down and use the PPAF contact
information to determine whether or not new volunteers are
currently needed.
Idealist.org
Click on the above link. This Web site allows users to search
for posted volunteer opportunities. Click on the Volunteer
opportunities link and enter your search criteria into the field to
find matching volunteer positions.
Volunteer Florida Disaster
Click on the above link. This is a Web site provided by The
Governor’s Commission of Volunteerism and Community
Service of Florida State. It provides information on state-wide
volunteer efforts as well as available opportunities.
If you would like to volunteer in the State of Florida, then click
on Volunteer! and follow the directions provided.
Article
Fundamentals of Research Design
These are just a few of the methods used by quantitative
scientists to gather data. Generally, quantitative data are

14. converted into numbers, and the numbers are then used to draw
conclusions. Qualitative data are usually collected using
interviews and observations that are then converted into
research narratives. Qualitative data in narrative formats are
routinely used by scientists to generate a hypothesis and to then
draw conclusions.
Quantitative data are analyzed statistically, using numbers,
values, and trends. In contrast, the meaning and content in
qualitative data are coded specifically for nonnumerical
categories and themes.
The following are the three basic data collection methodologies
used to gather quantitative or qualitative data:
· Interviews: Interviews are conversations where facts, which
are eventually converted to data, are elicited from one or more
of the parties involved.
· Observations: Observations are forms of knowledge received
by utilizing human senses or scientific instruments of
measurement.
· Written surveys and documentation: Written surveys are
questionnaires administered to random population samples with
the intent to collect data for both quantitative and qualitative
research. Documentation can include policies, letters, and
photographs.
Evaluating any type of research is a matter of drawing valid
inferences from the collected data. The type of inferences you
are trying to make will guide your research methodology.
Many people inquire as to which is the quickest and easiest way
to perform research. The answer is that the easiest method will
be the one with which you are most comfortable. The researcher
is asking the question, and the researcher is trying to prove or
improve an area in his or her professional life. He or she will
generally know potential information sources and professional
references better than anyone else.
Any research advisor should be a professional in the field that
is being observed. However, it is up to the researcher to develop
the research hypothesis. As time and research move on, the

15. researcher will begin to get a better understanding of what
direction will be taken. Sometimes, the data analysis methods,
or even the hypothesis, can change and lead the research in
another direction. As the developer of the research hypothesis,
it is important to remember to always take external input from
other professional members with caution. The effective
researcher must remain diligent and only alter the research
process if absolutely necessary.
For example, one thesis by a homeland security and emergency
management professional addressed recruiting and retention in
the Air National Guard because the numbers for recruiting and
retention had decreased dramatically. The researcher wanted to
illustrate the differences between the different military services
in their recruiting and retention methods. It was found through
observation that the methods used by the different services and
their chains of command were major factors in recruitment and
retention numbers.
When the results were shared with thesis advisors, one of whom
was an Air Force general, they only wanted to address the Air
Force recruiting and retention practices. Politics became
involved, to some extent, and the advisors would not sign off on
the thesis unless the Army recruiting and retention data was
dropped from the research. It is likely that the research, if
allowed to contain the additional data, would have been more
valid and meaningful to the professionals and fields affected.
It is important to understand that there are alternatives for
presenting research. Although the previous research example
was not approved by the professional research advisors, there
were always the options of publishing the research through
professional journals or publishing houses instead.
Resource Links
(http://www.agelesslearner.com/assess/)
Ageless Learner provides a learning style manual self-
assessment from Marcia L. Conner that can be printed to score.

16. Visual, auditory, and tactile and kinesthetic learning styles are
covered. Learning Styles Assessment is at the top of the list on
this page.
rk Questionnaire: How Do I Learn Best?
(http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=questionnaire)
When the learner completes this brief test, the assessment
provides scores for each learning style and preferred style of the
learner: visual, aural, reading and writing, and kinesthetic. This
Web site provides bulleted lists per preferred learning style
describing how to absorb information, how to study, and how to
perform well on a test.
(http://www.mindtools.com/mnemlstylo.htm)
This explanation of how the different learners use their learning
style to remember content focuses on visual learners, auditory
learners, and kinesthetic learners. Click "Memory Improvement"
in top-right navigation for memory aids.
(http://www.literacyworks.org/mi/assessment/index.html)
Assessment: How Are You Smart?
(http://www.dhs.gov)
Official Web site of the Department of Homeland Security
(DHS).
(http://www.fema.gov/)
Official Web site of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA). Contains information on types of disasters,
planning, recovery, rebuilding, and federal assistance.
rch Methods
(http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/)
A website for people involved in applied social research and
evaluation. You'll find lots of resources and links to other
locations on the Web that deal in applied social research
methods. The site offers an online statistical advisor that will
answer questions and lead you to an appropriate statistical test

17. for your data. It also includes a resource guide for learning
about structured conceptual mapping including links to general
introductory materials, research and case studies illustrating the
use of the method, and information about software. An online
hypertext textbook on applied social research methods that
covers everything you want to know about defining a research
question, sampling, measurement, research design and data
analysis is available, and an online workbook about manual
(i.e., dice-rolling) and computer simulation exercises of
common research designs, for students and researchers to learn
how to do simple simulations.
Questions
(http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/resques.htm)
This site provides an overview of the different types of research
questions.
Hypotheses, Specific Aims, and Long-Term Goals of the Project
(http://www.theresearchassistant.com/tutorial/2-1.asp)
Tutorial on formulating research questions.
(http://allpsych.com/researchmethods/researchcontents.html)
A virtual course on the fundamentals of research methods.
cientific Method
(http://www.experiment-resources.com/)
A Web page that contains information on the various elements
of scientific research.
Bottom of Form
Top of Form
Phase 1 - Task 3

18. Task Type:
Individual Project
Deliverable Length:
1,000–1,250 words
Points Possible:
100
Due Date:
8/25/2014 11:59:59 PM
Weekly tasks or assignments (Individual or Group Projects) will
be due by Monday and late submissions will be assigned a late
penalty in accordance with the late penalty policy found in the
syllabus. NOTE: All submission posting times are based on
midnight Central Time.
The Johnson county emergency manager, the city of Smith
police chief, and the state of chaos director of homeland
security are working together to plan for evacuations of citizens
and their pets and livestock during wildfires, which are
prevalent in their region each summer. During the last round of
fires this past summer, several critical issues surfaced.
· People were reluctant to leave pets and livestock behind, but it
was critical that they evacuate quickly to save their own
lives. Some people were caught sneaking back into the area to
liberate their animals, and one woman was severely injured by
returning to a closed area for a pet.
· People often attempted to defend their own properties from
fire with water hoses, fire repellents, and with makeshift
earthen berms. Trying to force them to leave their land led to
several confrontations and even a few arrests for physical
altercations. These encounters also consumed precious time and
resources.
· Shelters that could be ready quickly had very limited space on
short notice. More space could be arranged, but it often took 24
hours or longer to coordinate larger areas. None of the currently
designated shelters permit pets.
· Residents of vulnerable areas complained that they had little

19. advance warning of an approaching fire. They received no word
when an "all clear" was called.
· Residents who were evacuated more than once are publicly
demanding that local and state leadership take proactive
preventative measures.
You are a planner within one of the three agencies listed in the
scenario. In developing plans for crisis response, you have
found the scientific method to be extremely effective, especially
because it helps to identify empirical evidence that supports
predicting behavior and prescribing policy. Based on the
scenario, you must do the following:
Assignment Guidelines
· Develop three (3) separate research questions with regard to
the wildfire information above.
· In 1,000–1,250 words, address the following
· For each research question, explain why the research question
has merit and how it is tied to lessons learned from the past fire
season.
· Consider and present arguments for what real-world
applicability answering each question could provide to your
agency.
· For each research question, develop three (3) separate
hypotheses that could be tested.
· For each hypothesis, identify the independent and dependent
variables.
· Explain why the causality between these variables goes in the
direction you claim that it goes. (In other words, make clear
why the variables cannot logically be reversed.)
· Explain and defend what type(s) of evidence you might
examine to test each hypothesis.
· Ensure your research questions and hypotheses are specifically
related to your agency or argue why and how questions and
hypotheses appearing to be broad are in fact relevant for your
agency’s own use.
· For each hypothesis, outline for your agency ways in which
potential findings from testing each hypothesis could be used in

20. plans or policies your agency should produce before the next
wildfire season (this should be estimated without knowing what
your actual findings will be).
For example, say that you choose to test a hypothesis stating the
following: "If a given fire is resolved during the darkness, there
will be more looters in the evacuated area."
· To locate empirical evidence, you plan to examine crime
statistics for reports of looting in areas hit by wildfires.
· You will also check dates and times to see how soon after the
fire the looting occurs.
· Because it makes sense, you also will check whether more
expensive homes are looted more often than lower income
homes and look for patterns in these statistics.
· Lastly, you decide to look at whether people with homes that
are completely destroyed (versus partially destroyed or
completely intact) report any evidence of looting.
If you test this hypothesis and find the evidence strongly
supports the causality you claim (a fire’s resolution during
darkness promotes looting), you might propose a plan or policy
that provides increased security in the area until homeowners
can return to and secure their property. You might further
recommend a process for notifying people that they can return
home.
If there does not seem to be any causality between darkness and
the incidence of looting, but looting still occurs, your
recommendations (as given above) might remain the same.
Lastly, if you find looting after fires is rare or nonexistent, you
might recommend the issue not be addressed anywhere in plans
and policies so that security resources can be conserved, but
anyone reading the policy will not be alerted to this leaner
security status.
· Compile your research questions, hypotheses, and responses
into your final paper, and submit the file to your instructor.
· All sources must be referenced using APA style.
Please submit your assignment.
For assistance with your assignment, please use your text, Web

21. resources, and all course materials.
Course Materials
Presentation
Research in the Social Sciences
Social science, including academic subjects such as criminal
justice and homeland security, focuses on studying human
interaction between individuals, groups, or societies. Social
science is about questioning the world around you by examining
cultures, societies, economies, politics, behaviors, and any
assortment of social interaction. This range in scope is
emphasized by a number of academic disciplines such as
anthropology, political science, and sociology. Researchers
within social science fields consider how individual or group
actions impact their society.
Compare, for a moment, social sciences to the physical sciences
such as physics or biology. In studying physics, one can grasp
how an aircraft can stay in the air. A physicist recognizes the
physical forces that impact the aircraft’s flight and can predict
what impact these elements will have on the aircraft's continued
operation. In understanding the science behind flight, physicists
can also estimate or predict what conditions will negatively
impact a journey. The aircraft’s design, improvements, and
success are all founded on proven mathematical principles.
There are also mechanical principles that determine how it must
be maintained, fueled, and operated. There are engineering
designs with elements that can be measured, tested, and proven
reliable. With the knowledge and information these hard
sciences provide, practitioners and researchers alike can make
better predictions about what designs, models, or activities will
be successful.
Meanwhile, society has no rules to explain why things may or

22. may not happen. All who are a part of a society represent living,
dynamic organisms. There is form and function in a society to a
degree, yet the whole can theoretically be impacted by any
single element. Societies and social relationships maintain
customs, accepted norms, traditions, economic exchanges, and
communications within various social constructs. Social
sciences examine countless activities occurring in an ever-
changing environment.
By extension, factors that impact an individual’s response to
phenomena may be infinite. For example, in studying homeland
security, you might consider the elements of prevention,
preparation, mitigation, and response in regard to natural
disasters. Researchers consider why individuals choose not to
evacuate in advance of a known and deadly hurricane. In asking
people about their reasons, researchers select individuals who
refused to evacuate before a hurricane arrived. In doing so, they
might find that there are dozens of possible answers or
combinations of answers. Potential answers such as the
following are among the answers a survey might reveal:
· Having no transportation
· Fearing their homes will be looted
· Believing the storm’s intensity was exaggerated
· Not comprehending what a hurricane can potentially do to
them
· Dealing with many storms in the past
· Unwilling to leave pets or livestock
Consider the rationale or philosophy behind one of the answers.
Why would someone fear looters? The answers to this
question may vary but may include the following:
· An individual has been looted before.
· This is the first home anyone in the family has ever owned.
· They know of looting that has happened to others.
· They answered looting, but they consider National Guard
members checking on residents to fall into this category.
· They watched a news report the evening prior regarding
looting.

23. Reading these answers and focusing on individual reasons
people have for doing what they do, the researcher understands
that a scientific method is needed to effectively study why
people behave as they do. Understanding individual or group
behavior can also help a community and its leadership develop
policies and procedures intended to overcome problematic
situations. Understanding that a fear of looters exists—which
impedes evacuation—might help community leaders
communicate an active plan to thwart and punish looting. The
end result is to encourage people to take measures to protect
their own lives. In this instance, a policy based upon social
science research can establish open communications with
citizens, save money by reducing resource expenditure, and save
lives.
Article
Purpose and Value of Research
What is the purpose of good research?
Considering a disaster evacuation example without a survey, the
subsequent analysis of the results, and the follow-up questions,
leaders could have trouble predicting what conditions are
required to encourage people to evacuate. Understanding
people’s motivations in these conditions is essential for
homeland security planners and crisis responders. To gain better
understanding and translate this insight into practical
applications, researchers must employ the scientific method and
study a problem and its potential causes systematically.
Social science research has the following four primary
purposes:
· Exploratory research includes studies and projects its focus on
a new field, theory, topic, or area of examination; it explores
the potential for additional research. A researcher could ask,
"Why don’t some people evacuate before a hurricane?"
· Descriptive research describes conditions, situations, or
observable phenomena and then reports the information. A
researcher may report that "45% of those who did not evacuate

24. before Hurricane Katrina lived in the 9th district."
· Explanatory research takes the descriptive elements and
searches for causes and explanations. The researcher may report
that "of those who did not evacuate, 28% stated that they feared
looting."
· Evaluation research includes examinations that look at the
merits, value, and success of programs and policies designed to
intervene in social circumstances. An example could be the
study of a public information program designed to inform
citizens of what local law enforcement is actively planning or
doing to deter looting.
What is the value of good research?
Research that is relevant and valid aids policy makers in
predicting behaviors and then prescribing initiatives that can
accommodate or overcome problematic conduct. Research
provides an enormous benefit to these policy makers who desire
to develop programs that help people. Refer back to the example
of encouraging people to evacuate in advance of a storm. The
knowledge that some people, especially elderly citizens, may
refuse to evacuate if their pets cannot be safely moved as well
has resulted in governmental leaders, interested in saving lives
or lessening costs of rescues, implementing a policy that
compels communities to plan for pet evacuation and housing
during crises. In this instance, the findings of a social science
research project led to a real-world strategy intended to save
lives. Therein lies the connection between social research and
policy development.
At the same time, the value of research is also important in
academia because it makes contributions to the collective
knowledge and understanding of what happens, why it happens,
and what interventions might or might not be appropriate.
Asking why people will not evacuate is a question that will
produce answers of potential interest to psychologists,
sociologists, anthropologists, homeland security specialists,
political scientists, and management theorists. When researchers
carefully conduct their studies and report the findings through

25. academic avenues, a vast amount of information is shared,
which can lead to an additional study that provides added
insight.
Article
Research and Theory
Social research looks for relationships between various
phenomena. Whether conducted in the physical or social realm,
scientists seek to understand the causality behind what seem to
be related components and a given outcome. Questions ranging
from “What causes cancer?” to “What causes crime?”
demonstrate the commonalities that the social and physical
sciences have. A difference though is that a cancer’s cause or
causes may one day be known, but there can never be a
definitive answer for social science topics.
Theory
A theory is essentially a concept or notion one has about why
something occurs as it does. A theory may be relatively new or
young (also called nascent), or it may have been in existence for
years. Theory is often the basis for a researcher’s examination
of a phenomenon. He or she examines whether the theory is
something a researcher is just developing or something that has
been repeatedly considered, tested, refined, and enhanced.
One type of theory relating to many disciplines within social
science is a conflict theory. A version of conflict theory claims
that crime is a natural and necessary phenomena, and crime’s
existence and resulting conflict with social norms produces
enhanced social evolution as people strive to counter crime by
being increasingly moral or by strengthening society’s laws. In
this case, conflict theory is used to help explain why particular
antisocial actions are so prevalent throughout history and also
to help explain why crime is tolerated to some degree. Conflict
theories examine the competing interests within and between
groups and contend it is the resultant conflict that compels
social change. This is a simplified view of this specific set of
theories, yet conflict theories are the basis for a number of

26. programs, policies, and initiatives associated with criminal
justice.
Therefore, a theory can be used to support or justify a certain
belief system, a formal program, an official policy, and more.
As mentioned before, ever-changing social conditions mean a
social theory can never be proven; instead, researchers seek to
support, refute, or even reject theory. Regardless of the type of
science, it might be argued that if a theory can be proven, it
graduates from theory to fact.
What should the researcher hope to accomplish?
Because of this imprecise nature of the world that social
scientists study, it is never possible to prove a theory about why
certain things happen as they do. The researcher seeks to
support or refute a theory or a hypothesis. Furthermore, when
research is specific and well-documented, others should be able
to repeat or build upon it. The ultimate goal is to deliver
findings that inform people about the world in which they live.
Article
Overview of the Hypothesis
Hypothesis
A hypothesis is sometimes referred to as an educated guess; it is
developed with the intention of explaining or understanding a
phenomenon or observation and is the element that social
scientists will test to support or refute a theory. It includes
variables that are considered (and eventually tested) to be
related in some way. In looking at the relationship between two
variables, the hypothesis considers causality; that is, if there
appears to be a relationship between at least two variables,
which variable causes the other? An example of a hypothesis
might be the following:
· A teenager who drops out of school is more likely to commit a
crime.
This hypothesis supposes that there is a relationship between
teens dropping out of school and their willingness or
compulsion to commit a crime.

27. In this example, there are two variables: the independent
variable (dropping out of school) and the dependent variable to
which it leads (committing crimes). Variablesare entities or
conditions that represent a value of some sort. The independent
variable affects the dependent variable in some way and can be
modified to see if there is an effect on the dependent
variable. The dependent variable is the phenomena the
researcher will measure. The hypothesis above suggests that
there is a relationship between dropping out of school and
criminal activity. The researcher is left to consider why this
might be. In testing the hypothesis, the first step is to see if
real-world data—otherwise called empirical evidence—supports
the claim. The researcher might randomly select 200 cases of
juveniles who have committed crimes and see what percentage
dropped out of school. If the answer is 88%, the hypothesis
arguing that there is a relationship may be strongly supported;
however, this test does not explain why dropping out of school
may be related to committing crimes.
In the scientific method and in developing hypotheses, the
dependent variable is not changed, but the independent variable
can change countless times. A research question is the
fundamental motivation for a study and is formally presented as
such. For the example above, the research question might be
“What do teenage boys do with their time when they drop out of
high school?” Boys dropping out of high school is the
independent variable. The dependent variable could include a
number of possibilities, including get a job, watch a great deal
of television, spend time with friends, play basketball at the
park, or commit crimes. At the same time, the researcher might
modify the independent variable to be boys who do not drop out
of school and find they spend their time in much the same ways
as the dropouts do. Researchers cannot guess what the results
will be for testing either hypothesis; they use the scientific
method to methodically study what happens and why.
It is most important to remember that hypotheses focus on
relationships between variables. Hypotheses are tested, and if

28. the evidence reveals a relationship to be strong, an overarching
theory may potentially be supported.
One tip for determining whether the variable is independent or
dependent or for articulating a hypothesis is to employ an if-
then statement. An example might be as follows: if the sun
shines, then the grass will grow. It would be absurd to invert
these two variables. For the purposes here, a researcher might
hypothesize the following:
1. If people are warned about an approaching storm, then they
will protect themselves and take adequate cover or evacuate the
area.
2. If people protect themselves (by cover or evacuation), then
they will survive the storm.
3. If people survive the storm safely, they will not burden
overtaxed, critical response capabilities.
These hypotheses show the connection between research used to
explore an interesting phenomena and research as the basis for
emergency planning, policies, and programs.
Activity
CHDS: Research Process and Methods – Defining a Problem
This lecture, provided by the Center of Homeland Defense and
Security (CHDS), contains information on various issues and
concepts with regard to the research design process.
Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Research Process and Methods
Lecture: Defining a Problem
Click on the following link to view Defining a Problem:
Click Here to View Lecture
Activity
CHDS: Research Process and Methods – Asking a Question
This lecture, provided by the Center of Homeland Defense and
Security (CHDS), contains information on various issues and
concepts with regard to the research design process.
Center for Homeland Defense and Security

29. Research Process and Methods
Lecture: Asking a Question
Click on the following link to view Asking a Question.
Click Here to View Lecture
Activity
CHDS: Research Process and Methods – Formulating and
Substantiating an Argument
This lecture, provided by the Center of Homeland Defense and
Security (CHDS), contains information on various issues and
concepts with regard to the research design process.
Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Research Process and Methods
Lecture: Formulating and Substantiating an Argument
Click on the following link to view Formulating and
Substantiating an Argument.
Click Here to View Lecture
Activity
Volunteering and Training for Emergency Management
As a future emergency management professional, higher
education is one of the most important credentials that you can
attain in order to jumpstart your career. Your educational
experiences are where you learn the concepts, theories, and best
practices that will support your endeavors for the rest of your
life.
However, it is important to ensure that you have a significant
advantage over your competitors who are also looking to begin
their careers in emergency management. Current professionals
in emergency management highly recommend that you take a
proactive approach and seek out valuable experience or
certifications from various emergency management volunteer
and training opportunities.
Fortunately, these opportunities are widely available and highly
valued by both government agencies and employers alike. In
this activity, a wide variety of volunteer and training resources

30. are available for you to explore, which will allow you to
develop a more refined idea of which emergency management
path you would like to take. Once you have narrowed the
options and made a decision of which concentrations you wish
to pursue, begin applying for the various opportunities available
by using this activity as a resource portal. By volunteering and
receiving training certifications you will:
· Receive valuable field experience and certifications
· Network with emergency management professionals
· And serve your community
You are highly encouraged to participate in as many volunteer
and training opportunities as time will allow. As you complete a
growing number of these volunteer and training tasks, you will
begin to develop an extensive emergency management
background that will allow you to apply for emergency
management and homeland security positions with the utmost
confidence.
Following is a list of Web sites of various organizations,
agencies, and training materials that you are encouraged to
utilize throughout the course of this program. Keep in mind,
that the resources provided here are not the only volunteer and
training opportunities available. Always be sure to ask your
local law enforcement and fire service agencies for
opportunities tailored to your own community.
For each Web site, a brief description and instructions are
provided on how to volunteer, participate, and get involved.
Training
FEMA Training: Independent Study Program
Click on the above link. The Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) offers 106 independent study courses that are
free of charge for U.S. citizens. These courses are geared
towards the following nine mission areas identified by the U.S.
National Preparedness Goal:
· Incident Management
· Operational Planning
· Disaster Logistics

31. · Emergency Communications
· Continuity Programs
· Public Disaster Communications
· Integrated Preparedness
· Hazard Mitigation
Upon completion of each course’s final exam, you will receive
an official certification of completion from FEMA. You may
also request complete official transcripts from FEMA when you
have completed multiple courses within the Independent Study
Program (ISP). Once you have attained any number of
certifications, you can then place them within your resume.
These courses can be completed at any time and at your own
pace.
Volunteer Opportunities
Citizen Corps
Click on the above link. CitizenCorps is strategy developed by
the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in order to
coordinate emergency management volunteer efforts with a
mission of making communities safer and more efficient with
regard to emergency mitigation, preparedness, response and
recovery. It provides U.S. citizens with opportunities to get
involved and protect their families, homes, and communities.
To obtain volunteer information, type you U.S. Zip Code into
the field under the Get Involved section on the left side of the
page. Select your maximum desired travel distance and click on
Locate. Scroll down the list in order to see all available state,
county, and local councils as well as any affiliate organizations.
Click on any links of interest and use the contact information to
inquire about potential volunteer opportunities.
Citizen Corps: Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)
Click on the above link. Volunteering with a local Community
Emergency Response Team (CERT) will not only add to one’s
professional credibility, but can also enable one to provide a
valuable service to his or her community in a time of significant
need.
The CERT Program is used to educate and train members of

32. communities on how to be effective disaster workers. In order
to become a certified CERT member, several training sessions
must first be completed.
Click onthe Find Nearby CERTs link within the left page menu
in order to obtain local CERT contact information. Call or e-
mail the agency or endorsing organization to inquire about the
next CERT training sessions.
American Red Cross
Click on the above link. The American Red Cross is considered
by many to be one of the most respected response and relief
organizations in the world. A large number of first responders
have high praise for the Reds Cross and the work that the
organization does in disaster affected communities. The
organization has affected millions of lives in a positive manner.
To begin you volunteer career at the American Red Cross, it is
important to first view the organization’s online orientation.
Click on the Volunteer link located in the top menu and then
click on Online Orientation link after the Get Started Now!
heading in the page text.
When you have finished watching the Online Orientation, click
on the Introduction to Disaster Services link directly below the
orientation link to view a video that shows you some of the
work disaster volunteers perform on-site and behind the scenes.
Next, use the two above links Find your Local Red Cross or
VolunteerMatch to obtain Red Cross contact information and
volunteer opportunities available in your area.
Medical Reserve Corps
Click on the above link. The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a
government agency devoted to promoted efficient health and
safety measures in communities nation-wide through the
organization of professional and non-professional volunteers.
To volunteer, click on About Volunteering under the Volunteers
section of the MRC Home page. Click on the MRC Unit link
directly beneath the text “Find out how to become part of your
community's team” towards the bottom of the page. Select the
Zip Code tab and type a U.S. Zip Code in the field provided.

33. Click on Search to find the nearest MRC Units and then click on
any of the Unit links for contact information. E-mail or call the
Unit for information on volunteer opportunities.
Serve.gov
Click on the above link. Serve.gov is managed by the
Corporation for National and Community Service and its
purpose is to provide current volunteer opportunities available
as well as allow for the ability to develop, register, and
coordinate new community projects.
For volunteer and project information, scroll down to the
section titled Find a Volunteer Opportunity and explore the
various subsections.
Public-Private Alliance Foundation (PPAF)
Click on the above link. The mission of the Public-Private
Alliance Foundation (PPAF) is to improve social and economic
development of poor rural areas in nations worldwide through
the collaboration of business, non-profit, and governmental
interests.
To inquire about volunteer needs, click on Get Involved on the
Home page top menu. Scroll down and use the PPAF contact
information to determine whether or not new volunteers are
currently needed.
Idealist.org
Click on the above link. This Web site allows users to search
for posted volunteer opportunities. Click on the Volunteer
opportunities link and enter your search criteria into the field to
find matching volunteer positions.
Volunteer Florida Disaster
Click on the above link. This is a Web site provided by The
Governor’s Commission of Volunteerism and Community
Service of Florida State. It provides information on state-wide
volunteer efforts as well as available opportunities.
If you would like to volunteer in the State of Florida, then click
on Volunteer! and follow the directions provided.
Article

34. Fundamentals of Research Design
These are just a few of the methods used by quantitative
scientists to gather data. Generally, quantitative data are
converted into numbers, and the numbers are then used to draw
conclusions. Qualitative data are usually collected using
interviews and observations that are then converted into
research narratives. Qualitative data in narrative formats are
routinely used by scientists to generate a hypothesis and to then
draw conclusions.
Quantitative data are analyzed statistically, using numbers,
values, and trends. In contrast, the meaning and content in
qualitative data are coded specifically for nonnumerical
categories and themes.
The following are the three basic data collection methodologies
used to gather quantitative or qualitative data:
· Interviews: Interviews are conversations where facts, which
are eventually converted to data, are elicited from one or more
of the parties involved.
· Observations: Observations are forms of knowledge received
by utilizing human senses or scientific instruments of
measurement.
· Written surveys and documentation: Written surveys are
questionnaires administered to random population samples with
the intent to collect data for both quantitative and qualitative
research. Documentation can include policies, letters, and
photographs.
Evaluating any type of research is a matter of drawing valid
inferences from the collected data. The type of inferences you
are trying to make will guide your research methodology.
Many people inquire as to which is the quickest and easiest way
to perform research. The answer is that the easiest method will
be the one with which you are most comfortable. The researcher
is asking the question, and the researcher is trying to prove or
improve an area in his or her professional life. He or she will
generally know potential information sources and professional
references better than anyone else.

35. Any research advisor should be a professional in the field that
is being observed. However, it is up to the researcher to develop
the research hypothesis. As time and research move on, the
researcher will begin to get a better understanding of what
direction will be taken. Sometimes, the data analysis methods,
or even the hypothesis, can change and lead the research in
another direction. As the developer of the research hypothesis,
it is important to remember to always take external input from
other professional members with caution. The effective
researcher must remain diligent and only alter the research
process if absolutely necessary.
For example, one thesis by a homeland security and emergency
management professional addressed recruiting and retention in
the Air National Guard because the numbers for recruiting and
retention had decreased dramatically. The researcher wanted to
illustrate the differences between the different military services
in their recruiting and retention methods. It was found through
observation that the methods used by the different services and
their chains of command were major factors in recruitment and
retention numbers.
When the results were shared with thesis advisors, one of whom
was an Air Force general, they only wanted to address the Air
Force recruiting and retention practices. Politics became
involved, to some extent, and the advisors would not sign off on
the thesis unless the Army recruiting and retention data was
dropped from the research. It is likely that the research, if
allowed to contain the additional data, would have been more
valid and meaningful to the professionals and fields affected.
It is important to understand that there are alternatives for
presenting research. Although the previous research example
was not approved by the professional research advisors, there
were always the options of publishing the research through
professional journals or publishing houses instead.
Resource Links

36. (http://www.agelesslearner.com/assess/)
Ageless Learner provides a learning style manual self-
assessment from Marcia L. Conner that can be printed to score.
Visual, auditory, and tactile and kinesthetic learning styles are
covered. Learning Styles Assessment is at the top of the list on
this page.
k Questionnaire: How Do I Learn Best?
(http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=questionnaire)
When the learner completes this brief test, the assessment
provides scores for each learning style and preferred style of the
learner: visual, aural, reading and writing, and kinesthetic. This
Web site provides bulleted lists per preferred learning style
describing how to absorb information, how to study, and how to
perform well on a test.
(http://www.mindtools.com/mnemlstylo.htm)
This explanation of how the different learners use their learning
style to remember content focuses on visual learners, auditory
learners, and kinesthetic learners. Click "Memory Improvement"
in top-right navigation for memory aids.
(http://www.literacyworks.org/mi/assessment/index.html)
Assessment: How Are You Smart?
(http://www.dhs.gov)
Official Web site of the Department of Homeland Security
(DHS).
(http://www.fema.gov/)
Official Web site of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA). Contains information on types of disasters,
planning, recovery, rebuilding, and federal assistance.
ch Methods
(http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/)
A website for people involved in applied social research and
evaluation. You'll find lots of resources and links to other

37. locations on the Web that deal in applied social research
methods. The site offers an online statistical advisor that will
answer questions and lead you to an appropriate statistical test
for your data. It also includes a resource guide for learning
about structured conceptual mapping including links to general
introductory materials, research and case studies illustrating the
use of the method, and information about software. An online
hypertext textbook on applied social research methods that
covers everything you want to know about defining a research
question, sampling, measurement, research design and data
analysis is available, and an online workbook about manual
(i.e., dice-rolling) and computer simulation exercises of
common research designs, for students and researchers to learn
how to do simple simulations.
Questions
(http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/resques.htm)
This site provides an overview of the different types of research
questions.
Hypotheses, Specific Aims, and Long-Term Goals of the Project
(http://www.theresearchassistant.com/tutorial/2-1.asp)
Tutorial on formulating research questions.
(http://allpsych.com/researchmethods/researchcontents.html)
A virtual course on the fundamentals of research methods.
ientific Method
(http://www.experiment-resources.com/)
A Web page that contains information on the various elements
of scientific research.
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