PSYC

515 M1 RESEARCH DESIGN INSTRUCTIONS 1

RESEARCH DESIGN ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS

OVERVIEW
This is the first assignment in your Research Project. The purpose is to scaffold the process of
designing and conducting a research study. In this first phase, you will submit a research
proposal and survey by completing this form. Your instructor will review this form and provide
feedback to let you know if you are approved to collect data using the survey submitted as part
of this assignment (you should create your survey at the end of this document).
INSTRUCTIONS
Be sure you have reviewed this module’s assigned readings and presentations before
completing this assignment. Of most relevance is the Research Project Overview and Research
Project Survey Instructions documents in this week’s Learn section. This assignment is worth 40
points – 36 points for content and 4 points based on format. Each question is worth 2 content
points. Format is for completing answers within the assigned sections and for proper format of
the survey. Also note that until the survey is approved by your instructor you cannot move
forward with the future assignments associated with the Research Project. Turning in this
assignment late, incomplete, or inaccurately may impact performance on future portions of this
project.
• There are two parts to this assignment:
o Research Design: complete the table below by placing answers where indicated
(“<ANSWER>”).
o Survey: at the end of this document (where it says <Create Proposed Survey Here>
create a proposed survey. It should be formatted to be easy for a person to read and
complete. You must create the survey in its entirety within this document – you
cannot copy / paste any question(s) as an image as distortion may occur. All
questions should be using the same font and font size. Make sure there is uniformity
in appearance and that there are no typos.
• You will submit this assignment as a single word document by the due date in Canvas.

Research Design Table

Demographic Variable(s) Name of variable: Age in years
Levels: 18-35
Scale of Measurement: Ordinal
Appropriate measure of Mean
central tendency and (if
appropriate) variability:
Variable of Interest #1 Name of variable: Intrinsic Spirituality Scale
(include citation if How quantified: Survey
appropriate): Levels: 0 to 10
Scale of Measurement: Ordinal
Variable of Interest #2 Name of variable: Quiet Ego
(include citation if How quantified: Quantitative
appropriate): Levels: Five point scale
Scale of Measurement: Ordinal
Research Design Descriptive, predictive, quasi- Predictive
experimental, or
experimental:

PSYC 515 M1 RESEARCH DESIGN INSTRUCTIONS 2

Justification: The researcher predicts that

spirituality impacts ones ego
in accordance with social
media and outward
validation.
Research Hypothesis (note There is a significant impact on the quiet ego based on the
this is the alternate / intrinsic spirituality scale.
research – NOT the null
hypothesis):
Proposed Target “Friends” on Facebook
Population (e.g., “friends”
on facebook; only women,
colleagues at a specific
type of business):
Proposed survey Facebook survey
distribution method (e.g.,
email, facebook)

At the end of this document (starting on the next page), create a proposed survey making
sure to include the following components:
• Disclaimer
• Directions to the participant on how to answer the questions (may need directions for
each subsection)
• Question(s) related to the Demographic Variable(s)
• Question(s) related to Variable 1
• Question(s) related to Variable 2

Disclaimer:
You are invited to participate in a research project about the impact of spirituality in relation to
the ego. This survey should take about 20 minutes to complete. Participation is voluntary, and
responses will be kept confidential to the degree permitted by the technology being used.
You have the option to not respond to any questions that you choose. Participation or non-
participation will not impact your relationship with the Liberty University. Submission of the
survey will be interpreted as your informed consent to participate and that you affirm that you
are at least 18 years of age.

If you have any questions about the research, please contact the Principal Investigator, Aimee
Tarte, via email at tarteinvestments@gmail.com. If you have any questions regarding your rights
as a research subject, contact the Liberty University Review Board (RH IRB) at (605) 755-9028.

Please print or save a copy of this page for your records.

* I have read the above information and agree to participate in this research project.
Signature ___________________ Date ___________________

(Introduction summary)

PSYC 515 M1 RESEARCH DESIGN INSTRUCTIONS 3

Hello, I am a graduate student researcher at the Liberty University. I am conducting a study on

the correlation between spirituality and ego and I would like to know your experiences with the
impact and effects of a relationship with Jesus and self-esteem and identity. Please complete
this 20-minute survey. Your responses are anonymous and you can skip any questions you are
not comfortable with. Thank you for your participation.

Demographic questions

Select a minimum of one demographic question.

1. Biological Sex:

• Male
• Female

2. How would you describe your gender?

• Male
• Female
• Other (with a blank entry field for the participant to self-identify)
• Prefer not to answer

3. What is your age?

• Under 15
• 16-24
• 25-34
• 35-44
• Over 50
• Prefer not to say

4. What is your ethnic background?

• White / Caucasian
• Asian - Eastern
• Asian - Indian
• Hispanic
• African-American
• Native-American
• Mixed race

PSYC 515 M1 RESEARCH DESIGN INSTRUCTIONS 4

• Other (with a blank entry field for the participant to self-identify)

• I prefer not to say

5. What is the highest level of education you have achieved?

• Master’s degree or above

• Bachelor’s degree
• High school
• Other (with a blank entry field for the participant to self-identify)
• I prefer not to say

6. What is your marital status?

• Married
• Divorced
• Separated
• Single
• I prefer not to say

7. Would you consider yourself to have a disability?

• Yes
• No
• I prefer not to say

8. What is your employment status?

• Full-time
• Part-time
• Contract/ Temporary
• Unemployed
• Unable to work
• Other (with a blank entry field for the participant to self-identify)
• I prefer not to say

9. What is your religion?

• Protestant
• Roman Catholic
• Mormon
• Orthodox - Greek
• Orthodox - Russian
• Jewish
• Muslim

PSYC 515 M1 RESEARCH DESIGN INSTRUCTIONS 5

• Buddhist
• Hindu
• Atheist
• Agnostic
• Other (with a blank entry field for the participant to self-identify)
• I prefer not to say

Questions related to Variable 1

Questions related to Variable 2

PSYC 515 M1 RESEARCH DESIGN INSTRUCTIONS 6

References

Hodge, D.R. (2003). The Intrinsic Spirituality Scale: A new six-item instrument for assessing
the salience of spirituality as a motivational construct. Journal of Social Service Research 30
(1), 41 – 61.https://doi.org/10.1300/J079v30n01_03

Wayment, H. A., Bauer, J. J., & Sylaska, K. (2015). The Quiet Ego Scale: Measuring
the compassionate self-identity. Journal of Happiness Studies, 16(4), 999-
1033. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-014-9546-z