MOD+2

PAF 101—MODULE 2 GRADE SHEET

 * BASED ON CHAPTERS 2, 3, & 4 **

** PAF 101 EXERCISES – MODULE 2 **
Whenever you use a source in your answer, including all quotes, you must provide an APA-style internal citation and a full APA-style reference in the References page exercise, except in the case of personal communications. HINT: Most of these exercises require citations. **Whenever you attach an article, it must be directly behind the exercise in which it appears, and it must be clearly labeled with the exercise number and letter to which it pertains. Attach only the first page of the article unless otherwise stated.**
 * BASED ON CHAPTERS 2, 3, & 4 **

Exercise 2.1: Exploring GoodSearch Your Total Score:_ (Maximum: 6 points)

To explore the strengths and limitations of Internet search engines, conduct a search using www.goodsearch.com into one specific societal category. You must choose one of the following societal categories: Crime, Education, Environment, Health, Housing, Jobs and Economic Development, or Poverty. If you do not choose one of those 7 categories exactly as they are listed, you will lose all 6 points for this exercise. Place a print-out of the first page of GoodSearch results you got behind this exercise. Then answer the following questions. No citation or reference is needed for this exercise. (6 points) · ** State your societal category here: ** Education · ** Indicate the search term you used and how many results your search generated here: ** Paying Students for High Test Scores · ** Without visiting any of the individual Web pages on your print-out, circle all the Web page titles on that list, not including the sponsored links, that you think may be useful and indicate how many useful items you have circled here ** : 4 · ** Identify the best source for information about the societal category you picked, go online and visit that page, and write up to 3 sentences describing specific reasons why you think this is a good source for your societal category: ** I think that the article from “USA Today” is a good source because it provides facts and specific information about the issues of paying students for good grades. This article also shows both a positive and negative view on the subject matter.

· ** Identify one Web page you believe is probably not a good source for your societal category. Visit that page and write up to 3 sentences describing why this is not a good source for your societal category: ** College News isn’t a good source because it bases its information off of a different article. It also gives more opinions rather than facts.  Exercise 2.2: Locating Quantitative Data Your Total Score:_ (Maximum: 6 points)

Using the search tables feature on LexisNexis Statistical, find a statistic relevant to your societal category. Do not use statistics from the U.S. Census. (6 points)


 * ** Provide a statistic from the table here, making sure you indicate the year(s) and geographic location(s) it pertains to, as well as a citation: **

This is relevant to my category because it shows the number of Bachelor’s Degrees earned in each specific field. Earning a Bachelor’s Degree is a main part in a college education.
 * ** Justify why it is relevant to your societal category here: **

Exercise 2.3: Finding Periodical Articles Your Total Score:_ (Maximum: 5 points)

Using the ProQuest Research Library database, locate a news or magazine article relevant to your societal category at any geographic level. Do not use an article from an academic journal. Attach a photocopy or printout of the first page of the article directly behind this exercise. Make sure the article was published within the last six months.


 * ** Quote one relevant statement from the article that is related to your societal category here: **

“ Average tuition prices rose sharply again this fall as colleges passed much of the burden of their own financial problems on to recession-battered students and parents.” -. (2009). __ College Tuition Cost Rising Again This Fall__. October 23. Retrieved October 27, 2009 from []. Exercise 2.4: Locating Books Your Total Score:_ (Maximum: 6 points)

Using the library catalog, find a book on your societal category at any geographic level. Books published by the government may not be used for this exercise. Attach a photocopy of the title page directly behind the page on which this exercise appears.
 * ** Directly quote a full sentence from the book that is related to your societal category here: **

 Exercise 2.5: Using United States Government Publications Your Total Score:_ (Maximum: 6 points)

Using **http://catalog.gpo.gov**, locate one United States government publication relevant to your societal category at any geographic level. > announcement or other informal online information summary. These types of publications are often posted on the web in "HTML" format only. “Studies of attitudinal variables yielded some consistent findings, including differences in specific domains of self- concept between girls in single- and mixed-sex schools (but no overall differences), and findings that support the view that single-sex contexts foster less stereotypical views of subjects. Studies also concur that students perceive single-sex school environments to be more orderly.”
 * The publication should include a clearly identified "title page" and the names of individual or organizational authors, such as those found within formal government agency reports, newsletters, online journals/magazines, etc. These government publications are often posted in "PDF”. Their pages frequently are numbered.
 * The publication you locate should not merely consist of a brief news
 * Do not use U.S. Census information.
 * Attach a photocopy or printout of the cover or title page of the document directly behind the page on which this exercise appears.
 * ** In one sentence, explain briefly why this publication will provide you with useful information about your societal category here: **

This Digest was adapted from: Haag, Pamela. (1998). Single-sex education in grades K-12: What does the research tell us? In American Association of University Women Educational Foundation, Separated by sex: A critical look at single-sex education for girls. Washington, DC: Author.

 Exercise 2.6: Using Policy Publications Your Total Score:­­­_ (Maximum 12 points)

A. Using CQ Researcher, find a publication that contains information relevant to your societal category at any geographic level. (6 points) Part A Score:

“While there is a long tradition of private single-sex  schools in the United States, there are probably fewer than two dozen single-sex public   schools. Advocates of single-sex education believe it represents a valuable educational option, especially for girls, who they say flourish away from boys' teasing. But critics say the approach offers no real social or educational benefits for girls or for boys.”
 * **Using full sentences, quote no more than three sentences from the article that gives you a better understanding of your societal category** **here:**

Jost, K. (2002, July 12). Single-sex education. //CQ Researcher//, //12// , 569-592. Retrieved October 27, 2009, from CQ Researcher Online, [].

B. Using the “Contacts” section of the CQ Researcher article, find one of the organizations from the list (preferably a public policy institute), and retrieve a policy paper, working paper, policy brief, or online report from the past five years on your societal category. The “Contacts” section appears once you have opened an article. It is one of the links in the gray column at the left margin of each CQ Researcher publication. (6 points)

Part B Score: _


 * ** Quote one sentence from the publication that gives evidence of a societal problem that exists within your societal category here: **

National Association for the Advancement of Single-Sex Public Education P.O. Box 108, 19710 Fisher Ave., Poolesville, MD 20837 (301) 972-7600 www.singlesexschools.org “The single-sex format creates opportunities that don't exist in the coed classroom.”

Edison Trickett, Penelope Trickett, et al. The independent school experience: aspects of the normative environment of single-sex and coed secondary schools, //Journal of Educational Psychology//, 74(3):374-381, 1982. Exercise 2.7: Using United States Census Data Your Total Score:_ (Maximum: 15 points)

Use the “American FactFinder” on the 2000 online census report (**http://www.census.gov**) to locate the information for your home census area, a comparable census area, and the United States, and fill  out the chart below with the required information from the 2000 online census report.
 * Fill in the top row of the table with the name of your census area and the area comparable to your census area. Be sure to indicate the state.
 * The comparable census area must be similar to your census area, which is your hometown or home county, in population size. A comparable population is one within 20% of the population size of your census area.
 * Do not cite or reference this exercise.
 * ** 10/15/09 **
 * 11:32 a.m. ** || ** [Your Census Area] **
 * Putnam County ** || ** [Comparable Census Area] **
 * Steuben County ** || ** United States ** ||
 * ** Population ** || 95,745 || 98,726 || 307,702,775 ||
 * ** Median Age (years) ** || 37.4 || 38.2 || 35.3 ||
 * ** % White ** || 93.9% || 96.4% || 75.1% ||
 * ** % Male ** || 49.9% || 49.0% || 49.1% ||
 * ** Per Capita Income ($) ** || $30,127 || $18,197 || $21,587 ||
 * ** % Individuals Below Poverty Level ** || 4.4% || 13.2% || 12.4% ||
 * ** % Vacant Housing Units ** || 6.6% || 15.3% || 9.0% ||
 * ** % High School Graduate or Higher ** || 90.2% || 82.8% || 80.4% ||

 Exercise 2.8: Narrowing your societal category Your Total Score: _ (Maximum: 2 points)

Based on the research you have done in this chapter, narrow your societal category to a specific societal problem within it. Be sure to state it as a problem.

 Exercise 3.1: Researching Your Players Your Total Score: _ (Maximum: 30 points)
 * ** Write your specific societal problem, indicating a specific geographic location suffering from the problem here: **

List three individuals, either a player or a staff person of the player, who deal with your narrowed societal problem, keeping in mind the geographic location you specified. Be sure to follow the prompts listed below.

-  Exercise 4.1: Gathering Information for and Determining the Purpose of a Survey Your Total Score:_ (Maximum: 16 points)
 * 1.) Write the name and position of an elected government official here: **
 * ** Write the player’s phone number and email address here (If instead of an email address you find a site that allows you to send a message to the individual, indicate this and provide a link to the site. This applies to all of 3.1): **
 * ** Write why he/she will provide you with useful information by describing one policy he/she had worked on previously: **
 * ** Write three questions related to your specific societal problem that you could ask the player here: **
 * 2.) Write the name and position of a non-elected player from a governmental department here: **
 * ** Write the player’s phone number and email address here: **
 * ** Write why he/she will provide you with useful information by describing one policy he/she had worked on previously: **
 * ** Write three questions related to your specific societal problem that you could ask the player here: **
 * 3.) Write the name, their position, and the non-profit organization or public interest/lobby group they work for here: **
 * ** Write the player’s phone number and email address here: **
 * ** Write why he/she will provide you with useful information by describing one policy he/she had worked on or one service the organization has provided previously: **
 * ** Write three questions related to your specific societal problem that you could ask the player here: **

A. Select a player to be your “client,” and contact them or a member of their staff. Use the information you get from communicating with this person to answer the following bulets. (10 points) Part A score:

· ** Name the individual you contacted, their organization, and title: ** Donald Blaine Smith, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff · ** Provide a contact telephone number for the player here: ** (845) 225-4300 · ** Briefly describe the purpose of the survey you will be designing here, including a quote from the player that justifies why this survey will be useful: ** The survey will help find ways that we can prevent bullying in schools.

<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontweight: bold; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· ** Write a piece of factual information that could be gathered through your survey here: ** How many people are bullied? How many people have witnessed bullying? How many people see themselves as bullies? <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontweight: bold; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· ** Write a piece of attitudinal information that could be gathered through your survey here: ** How serious do people think the issue of bullying is? Are the repercussions for bullying appropriate or effective?

<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontweight: bold; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· ** Describe the types of policies the player might develop from the information gathered in your survey here: ** How to prevent bullying How to properly discipline bullies B. Quote the definition of the term "target population" from the //Maxwell Manual//. (2 points)Part B score:_
 * Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. (2000-2009).http://www.putnamsheriff.com/. Retrieved December 1, 2009 **

<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· **Place definition here: “**the entire group of individuals about whom you want to gather information.” (Coplin 2007:40)

C. Identify the target population you will sample for your survey. You cannot use any single K-12 school or a university as your target population. (4 points) Part C score:_

All 45 high schools in Putnam and Westchester County Including both students and staff Approximately 66,150 people Exercise 4.2: Choosing a Sample and Method of Contact Your Total Score:_ (Maximum: 8 points)
 * ** Write a specific description of your target population including its geographic location and approximate size: **

A. Indicate and discuss which of the three methods of contact from the //Maxwell Manual// you will use to contact your sample. (4 points) Part A score:_

B. Identify one variable you will use to assess the degree to which your sample accurately reflects your target population. (4 points) Part B score:_
 * **State the method here:** By E-mail
 * **Justify why you have chosen to use this method here: ** I chose this method because even though I know many individuals will ignore the e-mails it is the easiest way to react such a large number of people at one time.

To gain more accurate information I will make each school count for a percent that correctly corresponds with the number of students each school has compared to the rest. This variable matters to gain both fair and accurate results. The distribution should be similar to that of the target population so that it accurately reflects the school. Exercise 4.3: Determining Sample Size Your Total Score:_ (Maximum: 15 points)
 * ** Identify the variable here: **
 * ** Explain why the variable you have chosen matters, and why it is important that the distribution of the variable should be similar to the target population: **

A. Clearly and concisely describe the exact procedures you will use to select the sample and contact the respondents. Be detailed and list each step needed to select the sample. Be realistic. (5 points) Part A score:_

1. Out of the 45 schools use 1 from Putnam County and 8 from Westchester County 2. Out of these schools I will obtain a list of both all students and staff 3. Out of these people I will pick every 100th person data to analyze
 * ** List the steps you will follow here: **

B. Complete the following steps to determine your sample size and confidence interval. (4 points) Part B score:_

<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontweight: bold; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· ** Restate your target population and its size here: ** 66,150 <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontweight: bold; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· ** Indicate the size of the sample you plan to analyze here: ** 500 <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontweight: bold; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· ** Indicate the approximate percentage this represents of the target population here: ** 75% <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontweight: bold; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· **Indicate the 95% confidence interval of responses from a sample of this size here: ** +/- 4.5%

C. Complete the following steps to determine your response rate and required number of contacts. (6 points) Part C score:_

30% In chapter 4 figure 4.5 says that the response rate for mail or e-mail is 5%-50%, I chose 30% because I feel as though my survey is about a topic many people encounter on a daily basis. Also my survey is being sent to both students in schools whom this seems to be in direct contact with the subject. 1,667 __ Desired sample size __ Expected response rate = required contacts selected from the sampling frame __ 500 __ .30 = 1667 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> Exercise 4.4: Creating the Questions Your Total Score:_ (Maximum: 6 points)
 * ** Estimate the __exact__ response rate you expect for your survey here: **
 * ** Justify the rate you chose here: **
 * ** Write how many people you will have to contact in order to obtain your desired number of responses here: **
 * ** Using the formula from the text, show the calculations that you used to find how many people you will have to contact here: **

Provide examples of two closed-choice questions for your survey. Base one question on the factual information your player identified in 4.1, and base the other on the attitudinal information your player identified in 4.1. All response categories must be shown.

How many students claim to have been bullied? How many students have witnessed bullying? How big of a problem do you think bullying is? Do you think your school properly disciplines bullies?
 * ** Write the question that will gather factual information here: **
 * ** Write the question that will gather attitudinal information here: **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> Exercise 4.5: Examining News Media Treatment of Surveys Your Total Score:_ (Maximum: 6 points)

Using the ProQuest database or LexisNexis Academic database, locate a newspaper article from the last six months that presents or discusses a survey that has already been conducted on ANY subject, not necessarily the one studied in this module. Attach a copy of the entire article directly behind the page on which this exercise appears.

“ <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Cannaday's survey however, found his students doing just fine: They answered an average of 7.8 out of the 10 questions correctly. By comparison, the high school students that were purportedly surveyed by Strategic Vision had gotten just 2.8 out of the items correct. 98 percent of the students on Cannaday's survey -- not 23 percent -- knew that George Washington was the first President. 81 percent -- not 14 percent -- knew that Thomas Jefferson had written the Declaration of Independence. 95 percent -- not 43 percent -- knew that the Democrats and Republicans are the major political parties. There was just no comparison between the two.” Nate Silver.(2009). Real Oklahoma Students Ace Citizenship Exam; Strategic Vision Survey Was Likely Fabricated. []. Retrieved December 3, 2009. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Ed Cannaday <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’s survey was conducted by giving students a test via e-mail and evaluating the results. The goal of the survey was clear and 10 school 325 seniors participated. I believe that this survey was thorough enough to be seen as accurate. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> Exercise 4.6: References Your Total Score:_ (Maximum: 16 points) <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· ** Start References on the next line or on the next page: ** -. (2009). __ College Tuition Cost Rising Again This Fall__. October 23. Retrieved October 27, 2009 from []. This Digest was adapted from: Haag, Pamela. (1998). Single-sex education in grades K-12: What does the research tell us? In American Association of University Women Educational Foundation, Separated by sex: A critical look at single-sex education for girls. Washington, DC: Author. Jost, K. (2002, July 12). Single-sex education. //CQ Researcher//, //12// , 569-592. Retrieved October 27, 2009, from CQ Researcher Online, []. Edison Trickett, Penelope Trickett, et al. The independent school experience: aspects of the normative environment of single-sex and coed secondary schools, //Journal of Educational Psychology//, 74(3):374-381, 1982.
 * ** Quote at least one sentence from the article here: **
 * ** Using the questions under “Examining News Media Treatment of Surveys” on page 54 of the //Maxwell Manual//, evaluate how thoroughly the author reported the procedures followed for the survey here: **
 * Prepare a list of references that includes all sources for this module.
 * Follow the APA format.
 * Include all sources used in the exercises.

Nate Silver.(2009). Real Oklahoma Students Ace Citizenship Exam; Strategic Vision Survey Was Likely Fabricated. []. Retrieved December 3, 2009.