Assignment: Surveys and Response Rates As you read in Chapter 1, research designed to assess and answer questions about the current state of affairs is descriptive research. It is called descriptive research because no variables are manipulated (as you would find in an experimental research design). Rather, the goal of descriptive research is to provide a snapshot of thoughts, beliefs, or behaviors of groups of people at a given time. One common type of descriptive research is survey research. A survey is a type of self-report measure that can be administered either through an interview or written questionnaire. Interviews are surveys in which researchers read questions to participants either in person or by telephone. The questions are either structured or unstructured. When using a structured interview technique, the researcher predetermines the questions to ask participants and records their responses. An example of a structured interview technique is a phone call during the evening at home requesting a “few minutes of your time” to ask your opinions about candidates in an upcoming political election. In an unstructured interview, the researcher asks the respondents to talk freely about a particular topic and records their answers. An example of an unstructured interview technique is a focus group setting, wherein a number of people meet at the same time to share their thoughts and opinions about a particular topic, such as their emotional reactions to viewing advertising campaigns. Questionnaires are different from interviews because participants complete these assessments on their own, and usually without supervision. The other difference is that participants complete questionnaires in a fixed-format. This means participants answer questions in the exact same order and select their answers from various response choices provided (e.g., multiple choice or true/false) rather than freely reporting what comes to mind. An example of a questionnaire is a poll located in a magazine questioning you about your present satisfaction in your romantic relationship. Consider the last time you were asked to complete a survey either by interview or questionnaire. Did you participate? Why, or why not? Though survey methods are a good way to collect a lot of data quickly, participants are not always eager to take the time and effort required to complete them. For this Assignment, you select a particular survey method to collect data on a study idea. You analyze the advantages and disadvantages of the method and consider strategies for increasing participant response rates. To prepare Review again the assigned pages from Chapter 6 and Chapter 8 of your course text. Think about the study idea that you developed for the Discussion this week. Think about what types of data you would collect utilizing various survey methods (e.g., interviews and questionnaires, focus groups). Consider strategies researchers use to attempt to increase the participant response ...

1. Assignment: Surveys and Response Rates
As you read in Chapter 1, research designed to assess and
answer questions about the current state of affairs is descriptive
research. It is called descriptive research because no variables
are manipulated (as you would find in an experimental research
design). Rather, the goal of descriptive research is to provide a
snapshot of thoughts, beliefs, or behaviors of groups of people
at a given time. One common type of descriptive research is
survey research. A survey is a type of self-report measure that
can be administered either through an interview or written
questionnaire.
Interviews are surveys in which researchers read questions to
participants either in person or by telephone. The questions are
either structured or unstructured. When using a structured
interview technique, the researcher predetermines the questions
to ask participants and records their responses. An example of a
structured interview technique is a phone call during the
evening at home requesting a “few minutes of your time” to ask
your opinions about candidates in an upcoming political
election. In an unstructured interview, the researcher asks the
respondents to talk freely about a particular topic and records
their answers. An example of an unstructured interview
technique is a focus group setting, wherein a number of people
meet at the same time to share their thoughts and opinions about
a particular topic, such as their emotional reactions to viewing
advertising campaigns.
Questionnaires are different from interviews because
participants complete these assessments on their own, and
usually without supervision. The other difference is that
participants complete questionnaires in a fixed-format. This
means participants answer questions in the exact same order and
select their answers from various response choices provided
(e.g., multiple choice or true/false) rather than freely reporting

2. what comes to mind. An example of a questionnaire is a poll
located in a magazine questioning you about your present
satisfaction in your romantic relationship.
Consider the last time you were asked to complete a survey
either by interview or questionnaire. Did you participate? Why,
or why not? Though survey methods are a good way to collect a
lot of data quickly, participants are not always eager to take the
time and effort required to complete them. For this Assignment,
you select a particular survey method to collect data on a study
idea. You analyze the advantages and disadvantages of the
method and consider strategies for increasing participant
response rates.
To prepare
Review again the assigned pages from Chapter 6 and Chapter 8
of your course text.
Think about the study idea that you developed for the
Discussion this week.
Think about what types of data you would collect utilizing
various survey methods (e.g., interviews and questionnaires,
focus groups).
Consider strategies researchers use to attempt to increase the
participant response rates of surveys. Also, consider surveys
and questionnaires that you have received in the past and your
reasons for responding or not responding.
The Assignment: (1–2 pages)
For context, briefly provide the topic and study idea you
developed for the Discussion this week (fewer than 50 words).
Propose a survey method for collecting data (e.g., a structured
or nonstructured interview, a focus group, questionnaires) and
your rationale for selecting this method as it relates to your
specific study idea.
Explain one advantage and one potential disadvantage of the
survey method you proposed as it relates to your specific study
idea.
Explain at least one strategy that you could use to attempt to get
individuals to respond to your proposed survey method.

3. Note: Support the responses within your assignment with
evidence from the assigned Learning Resources. Provide a
reference list for resources you used for this Assignment.
Resources to use?
Stangor, C. (2015). Research methods for the behavioral
sciences
Chapter 2, “Developing the Research Hypothesis”
Chapter 6, “Surveys and Sampling” (pp. 108–116)
Chapter
Statistics”
American Psychological Association. (2015). Psychology
topics. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/topics
Laureate Education (Producer). (2016b). Introduction to
research design: Part II [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Rogers, T. (2007). Type I and type II errors—Making mistakes
in the justice system. In S. R. Rogers (Ed.), Amazing
applications of probability and statistics. Retrieved from
http://intuitor.com/statistics/T1T2Errors.html
Presbycusis is a condition affecting the hearing of many adults.
There are a variety of causes, including damage to structures of
the middle and inner ear. The result is loss of hearing—not
complete deafness, but difficulty in detecting certain sounds
within the normal range of hearing. The consequences may be
significant: It may be difficult to engage in conversation with
others, listen to music, or enjoy watching television or movies.
Current treatment, usually in the form of a hearing aid, does not
usually restore hearing completely, leaving the patient with a
permanent (and sometimes worsening) disability.
To prepare for this assignment:

4. Review the information about hearing in Chapter 9, paying
special attention to the structures in the middle and inner ear as
well as how sound is transmitted and processed.
Review the NIDCD Web site for more specific information
about the causes and consequences of presbycusis.
Think about the implications of having presbycusis.
The assignment: (1–2 pages)
First, explain how normal hearing occurs. Include in your
discussion the following points:
How is sound transmitted from the environment outside the
body to the inner ear? What structures are involved, and how do
they transmit sound?
What happens in the inner ear (cochlea) when sound waves are
converted to neural signals? How is sound frequency (pitch)
processed?
Next, summarize the causes of presbycusis and explain how
they will interfere with the normal processing of sound as
outlined above.
Discuss one source of presbycusis involving a problem with the
outer/middle ear.
Discuss one source of presbycusis involving a problem with the
inner ear.
Finally, describe what it might be like to have presbycusis.
Include the following points:
If you have normal hearing now, how would your ability to
converse with others be affected?
What activities that you now enjoy would be limited by this
condition?
How would such a condition affect your work life?
Support your Application Assignment with specific references
to all resources used in its preparation. You are asked to
provide a reference list only for those resources not included in
the Learning Resources for this course.
Resources to use:

5. Readings
Course Text: Garrett, B. (2015). Brain and Behavior: An
Introduction to Biological Psychology, (4th ed.). Los Angeles:
Sage.
Chapter 9, " Hearing and Language" (pp. 263–284 only)
Chapter 10, " Vision and Visual Perception" (pp. 303–337)
Chapter 11, " The Body Senses and Movement" (pp. 339–352
only)
An article from the Walden Library that discusses a disorder
covered in the book. The article must be a research report or
other scientific article.
Web Sites
Presbycusis
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/presbycusis.asp
This site, by the National Institutes of Health, contains
information about a common cause of hearing loss in adults.
Place Analysis of Auditory Frequency (Brain and Behavior,
Figure 9.10)
http://www.sagepub.com/garrettbb2study/animations/9.10.htm
This sequence demonstrates how the basilar membrane responds
to sounds of different frequencies (place analysis).
Sound Localization (Brain and Behavior, Figure 9.18)
http://www.sagepub.com/garrettbb2study/animations/9.18.htm
This sequence shows how neural connections to coincidence
detector cells in the olivary nucleus allow sound localization.
Visual Projections to the Cortex (Brain and Behavior, Figure
10.4)
http://www.sagepub.com/garrettbb2study/animations/10.4.htm
This sequence traces the route by which the eyes send
information to the brain.

6. Visual Detection of Edges (Brain and Behavior, Figure 10.20)
http://www.sagepub.com/garrettbb2study/animations/10.20.htm
This sequence demonstrates how on-center/off-surround retinal
ganglion cells respond to edges and how these responses affect
simple cells in the primary visual cortex.