Module 11: Introduction to Quantitative Data Analysis II and Introduction to Qualitative Data Analysis

Fake News  

1. Find a strong but clearly spurious correlation online (a good source: https://www.tylervigen.com/spurious-correlations ). Using this case, write a 300-500 online news story debunking the correlation as fake news. Feel free to adopt a ‘breaking news’ tone and/or use quotations from (fictitious) experts. Don’t forget to include a headline. In your news story, use at least two terms covered in the module (readings and/or videos), and be sure that all terminology is used correctly. Proofread carefully.
2. Post your news story in your Learning Activity Discussion Board.
3. Provide a constructive response to at least one of your fellow group members’ posts. A constructive response is one that (a) uses supportive language to (b) identify for the author an area in which the work can be strengthened. For example, it may identify an issue where the wording is unclear or a point where terminology is used incorrectly, or suggest ideas for examples or ways to strengthen the argument, or let the author know of questions that the work raised for them. A constructive response goes beyond ‘I agree’ or ‘that is interesting’ to assist the author in improving the work. It should provide feedback that is intended to assist the author of the learning activity in improving their work.

Reminder: At the end of Module 12, you are required to select one learning activity for submission from Modules 9-12. You can use the feedback that you receive in the group forum to revise your selected learning activity prior to submission.

axial coding the second stage of qualitative data analysis, during which specific passages are labelled as belonging under certain themes; see tagging.

chunks passages of text that serve as indicators of a given theme.

computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS) computer programs designed to assist researchers in coding, retrieving, storing, and analyzing qualitative data.

intervening variable a situation in which a third variable comes between an independent and dependent variable; the independent variable influences the intervening variable, which in turn influences the dependent variable.

measures of association statistical measures of the strength of a relationship between two variables; also known as coefficients of association or relationship measures

memoing the process of writing notes about the coding process.

mixed methods research research that uses a variety of qualitative and quantitative methodologies in the confines of a single study.

moderate correlation/relationship a relationship in which a change in the independent variable is to some degree correlated with change in the dependent variable.

open coding the first stage of qualitative data analysis, during which general patterns or themes are identified.

optical character recognition (OCR) software designed to translate non-electronic text into machine-readable format.

passages parts of a study that are labelled as belonging under certain themes; see tagging.

perfect correlation a relationship between two variables in which a change in the independent variable is always and systematically correlated with change in the dependent variable.

reinforcing variable a variable that strengthens or magnifies the relationship between the two other variables.

selective coding the third and final stage of qualitative data analysis, during which the researcher verifies the accuracy of earlier coding decisions.

scatter plot a graphical presentation of the relationship between all cases on a dependent and independent variable, typically where these variables are measured at the interval level.

tagging the process of labelling specific passages as belonging under a given theme.

Note: Unless otherwise stated, glossary source is Berdahl, Loleen and Keith Archer. 2015. Explorations: Conducting Empirical Research in Canadian Political Science (Third Edition). Oxford University Press.