Build and Launch Your Survey SOCL 3633 Research Methods · Lab 8 · Midwestern State University

Questions 1 to 3

Build these three first, exactly as written. The Lab 9 script expects these questions in these positions, so a changed word or answer choice can break it.

1. In your form, click the first question. Set the question type to Multiple choice.
2. Use the copy button, then paste the question into the question box. Type each answer choice as its own option, in the order shown.
3. Leave Required turned off. Your consent text tells people they may skip any question.
4. Click the plus button to add the next question, and repeat.

Questions 4 to 10

Add seven questions on your proposal topic, starting with your repaired questions from Lab 7. At least two of them must measure core concepts in your research question. You describe each question in the operationalization table on the Response sheet tab.

• Every question is Multiple choice, with one answer per person. Do not use checkboxes; they let people choose several answers, which makes the Lab 9 chart hard to read.
• The answer choices fit everyone exactly once. Add "Does not apply" or "Other" when some people would have no answer.
• Each question is free of the eight problems from Lab 7: two questions in one, leading, hard to recall, answer choices, unclear wording, sensitive, assumes something about the person, and does not measure your concept.
• No question asks about mental health, sexual attitudes or practices, alcohol or drug use, illegal behavior, anything that could damage a person's finances, job prospects, or reputation, or medical records.
• Required is turned off on every question.
• If you add the optional comment box, it is the last item in the form, set to Paragraph.

Consent text

Your respondents read this before they answer. It covers what the MSU Texas guidelines for class projects require: who you are, that this is a class project, the age requirement, what people will do and how long it takes, what happens to their answers, and how to reach you and the instructor.

1. In your form, click the box under the form title (the form description) and paste the consent text there.

Settings

Open the Settings tab at the top of your form, then click the arrow next to Responses.

• Collect email addresses is set to Do not collect. Collecting email addresses would make the survey identifiable.
• Limit to 1 response is off. Turning it on makes every respondent sign in to Google, which removes anonymity and stops people without an account.
• Click Preview (the eye icon) and read your form as a respondent would. Do not submit a test response. If you did, go to the Responses tab, click the three dots, and choose Delete all responses.

Two checks before you launch

Partner check

Trade seats with the person next to you. Open their form in Preview and check each item. Tell them what you find; they fix it. Then switch.

• The consent text is at the top, with the student's name and MSU email filled in.
• Questions 1 to 3 match the Questions 1 to 3 tab exactly.
• There are exactly 10 multiple-choice questions, plus at most one comment box at the end.
• No question is marked with a red asterisk (required).
• No question has one of the eight problems or a sensitive topic.
• The form does not ask for an email address or a sign-in.

Instructor check

Raise your hand when your partner check is done. Your instructor looks over your form and confirms it fits the class-project rules. Do not publish before this check.

Publish and send

1. Click Publish at the top right. Under responders, click Manage and set General access to Anyone with the link. Click Done, then Publish.
2. Click Published, then Copy responder link. Paste the link into question 1 of the response sheet.
3. Send the link to your first group of respondents now, by text, email, or a group chat.

Rules for collecting responses

• Send it only to adults, 18 or older.
• Do not pressure anyone, and do not ask anyone for their name.
• Keep a private note that describes your respondents as a group, for example "15 friends and coworkers, mostly ages 18 to 25." You need it for your chart in Lab 9.
• If responses are slow, send one reminder in the middle of a week. Count how many reminders you send.

Before Lab 9 on Thursday, March 25

1. Collect at least 15 responses. Spring break (March 15 to 21) falls in between, so send your link today.
2. In your form, open the Responses tab, click the three dots, and choose Download responses (.csv). If the download arrives as a .zip file, open it and take out the .csv file.
3. Rename the file my_survey.csv and save it in your campus storage.

Lab 8 response sheet

Answer in complete sentences. Then assemble your answers and paste them into the Lab 8 submission on D2L. Nothing is sent anywhere until you paste it.

Sources