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Assignment Instructions: Writing the Method Section
General Format:
Document type: Microsoft Word
Font: Times New Roman, 12-point
Line Spacing: Double-spaced
Margins: 1 inch on all sides
Citation Style: APA 7th edition
Method Section (2 pages, )
The Method section will clearly articulate the design, population, sample, data collection methods, and measurements that will be used in your research. It will explain why these methods are chosen and how they will contribute to the reliability and validity of the research findings.
Sub-sections:
Research Design:
Description: You will provide a detailed description of the research design (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods) that will be selected for the study.
Justification: You will explain why this design will be the most appropriate for addressing the research questions or hypotheses set out. Discuss how it will help in achieving the objectives of your study.
Example: “The study will utilize a quantitative correlational design to examine the relationship between social media engagement and fan loyalty.”
Target Audience:
Description: You will clearly define who your target population will be. Specify the demographic characteristics relevant to your research.
Justification: You will explain why this audience is relevant to your research questions.
Example: “The target audience for this study will comprise collegiate basketball fans aged between 18 and 34 years, a group that heavily uses social media.”
Sampling Method:
Description: You will describe the sampling technique to be used to select participants (e.g., random sampling, convenience sampling, stratified sampling).
Justification: You will provide reasons for choosing this sampling method, including its advantages and limitations in the context of your study.
Example: “A stratified random sampling method will be used to ensure that the sample represents different geographical regions where collegiate basketball is popular.”
Data Collection:
Description: You will outline the methods that will be used for data collection (e.g., surveys, interviews, observation).
Justification: You will discuss why these methods are suitable for your research and how they will help collect the necessary data.
Example: “Online surveys will be chosen due to their efficiency and ability to reach a widespread audience quickly, aligning with the widespread geographical distribution of the target demographic.”
Measurements and Instruments:
Description: You will detail the instruments or tools that will be used to measure your variables (e.g., questionnaires, rating scales).
Justification: You will explain the validity and reliability of these instruments in your research context.
Example: “The use of the Sport Fan Engagement Questionnaire, which has been validated in previous research, will allow for consistent measurement of fan engagement levels across different social media platforms.”
APA Style References:
Ensure all sources are cited according to APA 7th edition guidelines.
Provide a comprehensive list of all references used in this section.
Additional Notes:
Ensure that each methodological choice is linked back to your research questions and objectives.
Remind students to critically justify their methodological choices, explaining not just what methods will be used but why they have been chosen.
This structured approach will help students develop a method section that is informative and robust, ensuring that the planned research is reproducible and transparent. Encourage the use of sport management databases and other scholarly resources to support their choices and explanations.