Survey Methods

PSYC 641 - Spring 2025

Reminders/Updates

• Data Analytic Plan - Due April 13

  • Check it out

• Final Reports and Presentations - Due on April 28

Translating Research to Policy

Take a look at the handout

Read the article

You find out that, based in large part on the research done by Dr. Welsh, State Senator Smith is proposing a new state law requiring all freshmen at state-funded universities to engage in extracurricular activities (ECAs).

Research to Policy

Flip the paper over and provide some bullet points to answer the following questions:

• Reflect on this new policy and identify positives and negatives in how it relates to the research?

• Do you think this new policy should be enacted? Why or why not?

Groups

Break up into groups of 2-3

• You notice that the research study discussed in the article does not provide enough evidence for the senator’s proposed law.

• Your task is to refute (argue against) the Senator’s argument for his proposed law

As a Class

• How “good” does science need to be to inform public policy?

• Statistical vs. Practical Significance

As a Class - Part 2

• What are some ways that we can improve the research to be able to make public policy decisions? Consider the following:

  • Experimental vs. Correlational

  • Class levels in the sample

  • Schools/communities used

  • Role of other variables

  • Replication

  • Other?