Survey research and design in psychology/Assessment/Data collection and entry

Overview
This assessment exercise provides hands-on involvement in real world survey data collection and data entry. It requires collecting data using a survey, entering data, submitting an electronic data file, and submitting the hard copy surveys in an accurate, timely fashion as part of a larger class project. The specific steps are to:
 * 1) Collect 5 cases of survey data by following the survey administration guidelines.
 * 2) Enter the survey data by following the data entry guidelines.
 * 3) Submit:
 * 4) Electronic data file via UCLearn by Monday 09:00 AM of Week 4 - no late submissions accepted
 * 5) Hard copy surveys as a single bundle with a coversheet by Monday 09:00 AM of Week 6 - no late submissions accepted - see hard copy survey guidelines

Important note: In order to earn any marks, it is necessary to submit both electronic and hard copy data on time. No marks will be provided if either the electronic or hard copy submissions are missing or late.

Hard copy guidelines

 * 1) Hard copy surveys for verification of the electronic data file:
 * 2) Number the surveys from 1 to 5 by clearly hand-writing this number in the top-right hand corner of the first page of each survey.
 * 3) Order the surveys from Participant ID 1 to 5.
 * 4) Create a single document by putting a top-left-hand corner staple through:
 * 5) * a completed cover sheet and
 * 6) * all the hard copy surveys.
 * 7) Do not use plastic covers, bulldog clips, paper clips etc.
 * 8) Submit to the unit convener at lectures, tutorials, or in the unit convener's mailbox opposite 12D27 or send to James Neill, Locked Bag 1, University of Canberra, ACT 2601.
 * 9) Marking criteria:
 * 10) Procedure: Following of the detailed survey administration guidelines and data entry guidelines.
 * 11) Veracity: Electronic data files are verifiable by matching hard copy surveys.
 * 12) Penalties: Penalties are applied for not following any of the specified guidelines, particularly where integrity of the sampling or data may be compromised and/or where error leads to the need for additional file handling and/or data checking.
 * 13) Late submissions: No late submissions are accepted because the hard copy surveys are checked immediately after they are due.

Common feedback
This section summarises the most feedback about the data submission exercise.

Feedback for 10/10 submissions included:
 * 1) Data file
 * 2) Received on time
 * 3) Followed the guidelines
 * 4) Hard copies
 * 5) Received on time
 * 6) Followed the guidelines

Feedback for less than 10/10 submissions:
 * 1) Data file
 * 2) Not received on time
 * 3) The filename did not follow guidelines and the file was manually renamed (e.g., didn't include the .sav file extension)
 * 4) The data enterer's student ID wasn't provided in all rows - this was fixed manually
 * 5) The data file included one or more blank cases and/or additional variables - this/these were manually deleted
 * 6) Hard copies
 * 7) Not received on time
 * 8) No staple was provided in the top-left corner through the cover sheet and the five surveys (makes it harder to sort/check surveys)
 * 9) Clipped (not stapled) in top left corner (harder to shred)
 * 10) Presented in a plastic cover (makes it harder to check and shred)
 * 11) The instruction pages for the surveys were double-sided (should be single-sided) - this doesn't allow participants the option to take away this information
 * 12) Surveys were not clearly numbered in the top-right corner of the 1st page of each survey from 1 to 5 (makes it harder to check against the data file)
 * 13) Surveys were not ordered from 1 to 5 (makes it harder to sort and check against the data file)