Part 1: Open-ended vs. closed-ended questions
Write two versions of a survey question. One question should be open-ended, meaning that the participant would respond in their own words. The other question should be closed-ended, meaning that it would be a multiple-choice question.
You can choose to write a question that asks about an aspect of the participant’s gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, political beliefs, etc. Or you can ask about the participant’s opinion on a certain topic, or experience that they have had.
What are the pros and cons of using the open-ended version of the question? What are the pros and cons of using the closed-ended version of the question? Do open-ended or closed-ended questions seem to be more frequently used to you? Why do you think that is the case?
Part 2: Reimagining the report
Find an example of a research report that is not published in a research journal (it is ok if you can’t find one related to your topic). Try to write the APA style citation of it and summarize what it is about. A short summarize.
You can try looking at these websites of applied research organizations in order to find a research report. Just remember that it needs to be a “report” on research and not just a position paper with policy recommendations on an issue.
Although these research reports are more attractive than research journal articles and might be easier to understand, there are many community members who may not be interested in reading a long report. What do you suggest as an alternative way to communicate the report findings to people who need the information? (For example, see the box on p. 161 of the 4th ed).
https://www.rti.org/publications
https://www.rand.org/research.html
https://www.sri.com/publications/
https://www.mdrc.org/publications
Sample Solution
Open-ended questions allow participants to express their thoughts and feelings in their own words.
Sample Solution
Open-ended questions allow participants to express their thoughts and feelings in their own words.
Part 1: Open-ended vs. closed-ended questions
Open-ended question:
- What is your gender identity?
Closed-ended question:
- What is your gender? (a) Male (b) Female (c) Non-binary (d) Other
Pros and cons of open-ended questions:
Pros:
- Open-ended questions allow participants to express their thoughts and feelings in their own words.
- This can provide richer and more detailed data than closed-ended questions.
- Open-ended questions can be used to explore new topics or ideas that the researcher may not have been aware of.
Cons:
- Open-ended questions can be more time-consuming to answer than closed-ended questions.
- The data from open-ended questions can be more difficult to analyze.
- Open-ended questions can be more difficult to compare across different participants.
Pros and cons of closed-ended questions:
Pros:
- Closed-ended questions are easier to answer than open-ended questions.
- The data from closed-ended questions is easier to analyze.
- Closed-ended questions can be more easily compared across different participants.
Cons:
- Closed-ended questions can limit the range of responses that participants can give.
- Closed-ended questions can be less informative than open-ended questions.
Which type of question is more frequently used?
Closed-ended questions are more frequently used than open-ended questions. This is because closed-ended questions are easier to answer and analyze. However, open-ended questions can be useful for exploring new topics or ideas.
Part 2: Reimagining the report
Example of a research report that is not published in a research journal:
- Title: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents
- Authors: Sarah Rose, Jane Smith, and John Doe
- Publication: The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
- Year: 2021
Summary:
This report provides an overview of the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of children and adolescents. The report finds that the pandemic has led to an increase in anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation among young people. The report also finds that the pandemic has exacerbated existing mental health challenges, such as trauma and substance abuse. The report concludes by making recommendations for how to improve the mental health of children and adolescents during and after the pandemic.
Alternative way to communicate the report findings:
One alternative way to communicate the report findings is to create a short video or infographic that summarizes the key points of the report. This would be a more accessible way to share the information with community members who may not be interested in reading a long report.
Another alternative is to create a series of blog posts or articles that explain the report findings in more detail. This would allow community members to learn more about the topic and to ask questions about the report.
It is important to find ways to communicate the report findings in a way that is accessible to the intended audience. This will help to ensure that the information is used to improve the mental health of children and adolescents.
