The question I am researching is: Do gun laws affect a state's violent crime rate? I am comparing Alaska and Nevada.

Overview

Using the research question and hypotheses you developed in your Module 5 Literature Review assignment, write a report outlining the type data you would collect, how you would collect it, and how you would analyze it.

The primary purpose of this Research Methodology Assignment is togive you experience in determining appropriate research methods to beused with the research question and hypotheses you have posed and withthe type of data you would need to collect to answer your question. Yourreport must contain the sections indicated in the assignmentinstructions, and APA formatting standards must be followed throughout.

Assignment Instructions

Your report must contain the following sections. (Use these sections as headings in your paper.)

• Study Design – This is an overview section that includes information from your previous assignments. You should repeat the research question and hypotheses from your literature review assignment here, then briefly tell what type of study you would do, what type of data you would collect, and summarize how you would collect and analyze the data. Most of these points are covered in more detail in later sections.
• Population and Sample – This is a short section describing the population for your report, your sample, and how your sample will be selected.
• Variables and Measures – Describe the variables in yourstudy. Indicate whether they are independent, dependent, moderating, orintervening. Describe the relationship between the variables. Tell howthey will be measured.
• Data Collection Methods – Tell what kind of data youneed to collect and how, where, and when you will collect the data. Ifyou plan to use a survey or questionnaire, include a copy of thatinstrument in an appendix to your report. Also, include a copy of yourcover letter for your survey. If you plan to interview, tell if it wouldbe structured or unstructured and why. If it is a structured interview,include the questions you would ask in an appendix to the report.
• Data Analysis Methods – Describe the techniques youwill use to analyze the data. Indicate why you selected those methodsand why they are appropriate. You must be specific and detailed inidentifying and justifying the processes and statistical tests you willuse in the analysis of your data.
• References – Your report must contain a reference section that includes all sources in your paper. References must be in APA format.
  Research Methodology & Analysis Report Rubric
  Research Methodology & Analysis Report Rubric

  CriteriaRatingsPts

  This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeStudy Design

  10.0pts Problemand hypothesis are correctly stated. Good concise statements of thetype of data to be collected, and summary of how it would be collectedand analyzed.

  6.0pts Problemand hypothesis are correctly stated. Statements of the type of data tobe collected, and summary of how it would be collected and analyzedmisses some key points.

  4.0pts Problemand hypothesis are stated but with errors. There are substantial errorsin the statements of the type of data to be collected, and summary ofhow it would be collected and analyzed.

  0.0pts Problemand hypothesis are not stated. The statements of the type of data to becollected, and summary of how it would be collected and analyzed aremissing or totally erroneous.

  10.0 pts
  This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomePopulation and Sample

  10.0pts Accurately describes the population and the sample and how the sample will be selected.

  6.0pts Population and sample and how the sample will be selected are described with a few minor errors.

  4.0pts There are major errors in the description of the population and sample and/or how the sample will be selected.

  0.0pts Little or no attempt is made to describe the population and sample or the descriptions are totally inaccurate.

  10.0 pts
  This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeVariables and Measures

  20.0pts Allvariables are accurately described and classification as to whether theyare independent, dependent, moderating, or intervening variables areaccurate. Relationships among variables are described and accurate.Accurate descriptions of how variables will be measured are given.

  12.0pts Variabledescriptions and relationships are mostly accurate with minor errors.Descriptions of how variables will be measured are mostly accurate withminor errors.

  8.0pts Thereare major errors in the descriptions of variables and theirrelationships as well as in the descriptions of how they will bemeasured.

  0.0pts Littleor no attempt is made to describe the variables, their relationships,or how they will be measured, or descriptions are completely inaccurate.

  20.0 pts
  This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeData Collection Methods

  20.0pts Accuratedescription of the kind of data needed to complete the study and howthe data will be collected are given. In the case of surveys andquestionnaires, a copy is included in an appendix and surveys orquestionnaires are well formulated. For structured interviews, proposedinterview questions are included and well formulated.

  12.0pts Descriptionof the kind of data needed to complete the study and how the data willbe collected are mostly accurate with some minor errors. In the case ofsurveys and questionnaires, a copy is included in an appendix andsurveys or questionnaires contain only minor errors. For structuredinterviews, proposed interview questions are included and contain onlyminor errors.

  8.0pts Thereare substantial errors in the description of the kind of data needed tocomplete the study and how the data will be collected. In the case ofsurveys and questionnaires, a copy is included in an appendix butincludes numerous errors. For structured interviews, proposed interviewquestions are included but contain numerous errors.

  0.0pts Noattempt is made to describe the kind of data needed to complete thestudy and how the data will be collected. Copies of surveys,questionnaires, or structured interview questions are not included.

  20.0 pts
  This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeData Analysis Methods

  20.0pts Proposedtechniques for analyzing the data are appropriate and fully andaccurately described along with an explanation of why the techniqueswere chosen and why they are appropriate for the study.

  12.0pts Mosttechniques described are appropriate with some minor errors. Explanationof why the techniques are appropriate and why they were chosen missessome key elements.

  8.0pts Manytechniques described are inappropriate. Explanation of why thetechniques are appropriate and why they were chosen is sketchy and omitsmany key elements.

  0.0pts Analysistechniques are either inappropriate or not given. No explanation of whythe techniques were chosen or why they are appropriate is given.

  20.0 pts
  This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeReferences and Formatting

  10.0pts Consistentlyapplied APA guidelines in regards to all aspects of the paper includingcitations, references, headings, page numbers, and running headers.

  6.0pts Manuscript conformed to most APA guidelines

  4.0pts Weak, incomplete, ambiguous, or inconsistent application of APA formatting.

  0.0pts Failure to apply APA rules for manuscript presentation.

  10.0 pts
  This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeWriting and Timeliness

  10.0pts Consistentlyapplied standards of English composition. There were no grammatical,spelling and/or punctuation errors and transitional phrases were used toguide the reader throughout the text. Assignment submitted on time.

  6.0pts Paperconformed to most standards of English composition. There was anoccasional grammatical, spelling and/or punctuation error. Timeliness ofdelivery was acceptable.

  4.0pts Weak,incomplete, ambiguous, or inconsistent application of rules of Englishcomposition. There were frequent grammatical, spelling and/orpunctuation errors. Delivery was delinquent.

  0.0pts Failureto apply standard rules for English composition. There were manygrammatical, spelling and/or punctuation errors that distracted thereader from the content of the writing. Delivery was delinquent

  10.0 pts
  Total Points:100.0