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Using Existing Instruments
After completing the required readings for this module, post your original response to the discussion question .
Looking at some of the instruments featured in the readings, discuss the procedures for using one of these existing instruments. How would you obtain permission from the person who developed an instrument? What sources would you review to find an instrument? Respond to the prompt and at least 2 of your peers.
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SundayMay 28 at 3:36am
With the vast range of resources available to us in the Information Age, researchers rarely are required to “reinvent the wheel.” Along with that availability, it’s incumbent upon research practitioners to evaluate and vet instruments to determine if they are applicable and appropriate in the design of new projects. This week we take a closer look at the process of evaluating and adopting research instruments.
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YesterdayMay 31 at 6:18am
After reviewing the instruments featured for this week’s reading, I found several examples of questionnaires and links to surveys and text. As was noted in Finding research instruments, surveys, and tests,(n.d) while it may be handy to use an instrument that has been validated, you may have to develop your own instrument for your research study. I also searched The Universal Index of Dissertations in Progress (http://www.phddata.org/ (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.) and this site stated, dissertations sometimes contain the instrument used, often in an appendix. However, I did not find a dissertation related to my planned qualitative research study.
On the web site for the VARK Questionnaire (Flemin, 2010), the questionnaire tab focused on the VARK®(Visual, Auditory, Read/write and Kinesthetic) learning tools and learning processes. In my review of the “Using VARK for Research” tab I found this link was for research on learning styles and did not provide useful information for my research design. As a part of my past corporate training, I took the Myers’ Briggs personality test. Retaking the Jung test (HumanMetrics,1998) resulted in the same outcome as Myers’ Briggs; ENFP. Other than the 64 question questionnaire, I am not sure how this will be informative in conducting my research study. All of the tables and the 2016 Human Development Report (UNDP, 2015), provide a wealth of information of the world’s condition relative to human development. The narrative and table data for 2015 presented comparative information for all of the countries in the world.
Most important from this week’s reading was the comment to find dissertations related to your topic. This confirmed by action for including in my research library, five current dissertations directly related to my research study. My plan is to review these documents for methodology, design and instruments used. If needed, I will contact the author to discuss the source of their instrument and if warranted, seek permission to use this instrument or process.
Indiana State University Cunningham Memorial Library Indiana State University Cunningham Memorial Library. (n.d.). Finding research instruments, surveys, and tests. Retrieved from http://libguides.indstate.edu/content.php?pid=89389&sid=2558213 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Flemin, N. (2010). VARK questionnaire [Web survey]. Retrieved from http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=questionnaire (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
HumanMetrics. (1998). Jung personality typology test. Retrieved from http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). (2016). Table 5: Gender development index (GDI). In 2016 Human development report – Sustaining human progress: Reducing vulnerabilities and building resilience (pp. 176-179). New York, NY: Author. Retrieved from http://hdr.undp.org/en/content/gender-development-index-gdi (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
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YesterdayMay 31 at 11:14am
Walt makes some valid points on identifying instruments that may be adapted to other research projects. By this point of the course, we begin to realize the form and range that research instruments can take. Jung's personality Typology Test is a fascinating example.
Imagine, if you will, that an instrument could be developed to measure a person’s attitude toward the external world. That attitude might be best discerned and defined by an instrument that measured “general interest,” Jung, (1971). We all know friends and acquaintances we might consider to be introverts or extraverts. How can our opinion of those individual’s traits ever be categorized beyond our subjective impressions of them?
Jung developed the concept of indexes to measure and balance traits of human attitudes, distinguished between those who “think and feel,” and another pair of perceptive functions: sense and intuition. Humans participate in both realms to different degrees. Many of us have experienced a personal evaluation of our attitudes through the Myers-Briggs test. It’s always interesting to take the interest inventory repeatedly, over a span of time and, perhaps, a change in our life situation, to see how our personal scores may change.
HumanMetrics. (1998). Jung personality typology test. Retrieved from http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
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YesterdayMay 31 at 3:11pm
Walt,
I have also been searching for dissertations that cover my topic in search of methodology and instruments used. I have been keep track of author's information when it is given to reach out to those researchers. I have found some materials that is leading me in the right direction but I am still in search for the best possible instrument to ensure validity in my research.
Bill
YesterdayMay 31 at 3:06pm
As I progressed through this week’s materials I began with the James Madison video pertaining to the selection or design of an instrument. In the video one point that stood out to me was that by using an existing instrument(s), there is validity added (Assessment Instruments n.d.). Another aspect that stuck-out was how long it may take to create a suitable, reliable, and valid instrument for research (Assessment Instruments n.d.). Next I looked at Indiana State University Library page and the takeaway I got from here is that not all instruments are valid or reliable (Finding research instruments, surveys, and tests. n.d.). This page also addressed getting permission in writing from the original publisher of the instrument as not to violate copyright laws (Finding research instruments, surveys, and tests. n.d.). As I am thinking about my research topic of how Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) will help decrease discipline issue I wondered how the VARK questionnaire could help. PBIS has lesson plans for teaching correct behaviors, so if a teacher knows how their students learn then they would be better suited to reach those students (Flemin, 2010). Jung’s personality test would also be helpful for teacher to better understand their students (HumanMetrics, 1998). As a member of my local board of education leadership team we all took the Jung’s personality test at our first meeting so we would know how to take people and communicate with them effectively.
Flemin, N. (2010). VARK questionnaire [Web survey]. Retrieved from http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=questionnaire (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
HumanMetrics. (1998). Jung personality typology test. Retrieved from http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp
Indiana State University Cunningham Memorial Library. (n.d.). Finding research instruments, surveys, and tests. Retrieved from http://libguides.indstate.edu/content.php?pid=89389&sid=2558213
The Center for Assessment and Research Studies. (n.d.). Assessment instruments. Harrisonburg, VA: James Madison University’s Program Assessment Support Services. Retrieved from http://www.jmu.edu/assessment/resources/prodserv/cbts.htm
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YesterdayMay 31 at 5:08pm
I found the instrument using Jung’s Topology instrument very interesting and the format of answering 64 questions was very simple and quite easy. Further, after taking the survey and finding out the results, information about “how” your type communicates and learns is presented which is very insightful and can be useful when dealing with new employees or with students that need to learn a new skill. This instrument has a copyright, hence in order to utilize this instrument one would have to obtain written permission from the person or entity that holds the copyright. Using the internet, one could find out what company, person or entity holds the copyright for an instrument and write to the owner and ask permission to utilize the tool. There may be a fee involved or the entity may allow you to use it a limited number of times for research purposes, either way permission is required.
In order to find a tool or instrument that you may need for your research project, one of the ways that I think is a particularly good method is to utilize current research articles on the topic that you are going to study and inspect the instruments that they used. When you have a list of the instruments that have reliability and validity for your particular phenomenon, then you can actually search the literature with the name of the tool and find more uses of the instrument. This will help to see if the instrument will work in your study or if it has ever been used in the way your study is designed.
For instance, in my current project, I have been looking at instruments that measure situation awareness. I have found several at this point and have found a company that owns the copyright to these tools. I have seen multiple articles that have used these tools for various industries like aviation, anesthesia and combat. It is important to make sure that the tool or instrument would “fit” into your study and that it is available by the author and that it is practical to use. Using an existing instrument is easier, less timely and usually more cost effective than having to conceive, finance and carry out the work of developing a new tool. While a personally developed tool may be more related and specific to your study, it can be problematic.
HumanMetrics. (1998). Jung personality typology test. Retrieved from http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.aspLinks to an external site. Links to an external site.
Lunce, L. M., & Huang, X. (2013). Situational awareness and online instruction: A perspective for instructional designers. Journal of Applied Learning Technology, 3(3), 18-33.
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