You will find...

• How to use the Library’s Community Website to find resources.

• Where to find writing tips and MLA citation builders.

• The difference between Quantitative and Qualitative Research.

• How to begin planning your research.

QUANTITATIVE VS.

QualitativeWhat does it all mean?

Qualitative Research• Concerned with characteristics or observations

• Questionnaires• Interviews• Focus Groups• Reviews

• Expressed in words• Describes the qualities of something

• Color• Taste• Sound• Appearance

• Interpretive• Subjective• Exploratory• Personal

Quantitative Research• Concerned with numbers and precision—hard data.

• Data collection• Polls and Surveys• Controlled experiments• Logs

• Expressed in numbers• Can be counted, measured, charted or graphed

• Amounts• Temperature• Mass • Length

• Statistical• Objective• Scientific• Detached

• Video games are popular among teenagers.

• Video games are enjoyed by both genders almost equally.

• Video game playing is a social activity for teens.

• Teens that play games with others in person are more civically and politically involved.

Video Games & Civic Engagement

Qualitative Research Quantitative Research

• 97% of teens ages 12–17 play video games.

• Of that 97%, 99% are male and 94% female.

• Only one-quarter of teens play video games strictly alone.

• 64% of teens that play with others in the room have raised money for charity.

Qualitative• Qualitative research is used when we are trying to evaluate or describe experiences. • What do people in my community value?• How can we improve the quality of someone’s life?• What makes a neighborhood or community special?• Why are there differences in community values?

Quantitative

• Quantitative Research uses data to explain and analyze information• How many people are in your community?• What percentage of the population would benefit from

your project?• How much will it cost to initiate an improvement project?• How long will it take from conception to finish?

Or both...

• Much research uses a combination of methodology• Start out with observations, interviews, images, news

articles, journals, etc.• Formulate your thesis or inquiry.• Use databases, books, Internet, etc. to round out your

investigation.• Then gather hard data to support your observations.

FOR EXAMPLE...

My Old Man

• 99 years old• Can no longer drive

(Thank goodness!)• Lives in Walsenburg, CO• Small town• No public transportation• Limited resources

How can we help?

To begin, start with...

Observations

• Walsenburg is a poor, dying town with few resources.

• Many of its citizens are elderly.

• The doctor’s office and hospital are outside of town by a few miles.

• There is no public transportation.

• Interview Joe and a others who are too old to drive about transportation issues.

• Interview others who provide some relief to elderly non-drivers.

• Send questionnaire to city officials, social workers, etc. as to community transportation needs.

Interviews

• Research • Databases • Websites, etc.

for information, ideas, solutions and other community projects involving seniors and transportation.

• List possible solutions• Grants• Church groups and service organizations.• High school service programs

•Formulate a plan.

Gather data to support findings...

• Population is 3,068• 23% of population is 65 and older.• 7% is over 75.• The hospital and doctor’s offices

are 3.5 miles out of town.• The unemployment rate is over

12%.• The estimated cost of this project

would be $12,000 to start.

Economic Characteristics

Walsenburg Colorado Colorado

Median Household Income

$22,005 $47,203

Per Capita Income $11,562 $24,049

In Labor Force 39.5% 70.1%

Families below poverty level

17.8% 6.2%

Citing your sources..."American FactFinder." United States Census Bureau. U.S. Department of

Commerce, 1 July 2013. Web. 17 Jan. 2015. <http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/community_facts.xhtml>.

Feiccabrino, Joe D. Personal interview. 14 Jan. 2015.

"Older American Attitudes Toward Mobility and Transportation ." . University of Colorado Retired Faculty Association, 12 May 2006. Web. 27 Jan. 2015. <http://www.colorado.edu/RetiredFaculty/051206harris_interactive.pdf.

"Senior Transportation Alternatives: Why Are They Important and What Makes Them Work? ." National Center for Transit Research. N.p., Dec. 2003. Web. 27 Jan. 2015. <http://www.nctr.usf.edu/pdf/473-09.pdf>.

Walsenburg Overlooking Main Street. Walsenburg, Colorado. Web. 17 Jan. 2015. <http://www.city-data.com/city/Walsenburg-Colorado.html>.

Bibliography

"Choosing Appropriate Research Methodologies." Improve Your Study Skills. Palgrave Study Skills, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2015. <http://www.palgrave.com/studentstudyskills/page/choosing>.

"Pew Research Internet Project." Teens, Video Games and Civics. Pew Research Center, Feb. 2008. Web. 23 Jan. 2015. <http://www.pewinternet.org/2008/09/16/teens-video-games-and-civics/>.

Qualitative and Quantitative Research. Imperial COE, 2006. Web. 23 Jan. 2015. <https://www.icoe.org/webfm_send/1936>.