Data Collection Methods

This study will use a survey design and a descriptive research approach. According to Best (1981), descriptive research has five characteristics which distinquish it from other types of research. These characteristics are:

1. Descriptive studies are nonexperimental in that they deal with the relationships between nonmanipulated variables in a natural rather than laboratory setting. Since the events or conditions have already occurred, the researcher selects the relevant variables for an analysis of their relationships.

2. Descriptive studies involve hypothesis formulation and testing.

3. Descriptive studies use the logical methods of inductive-deductive reasoning to arrive at generalizations.

4. Descriptive studies employ methods of randomization so that error may be estimated when inferring population characteristics from observations of samples.

5. In descriptive research, the variables and procedures are described

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open-ended as well as quantitative, with the quantitative section of the instrument utilizing both a nominal and a Likert-type scale format. The Likert-type format is selected because according to Kiess & Bloomquist (1985), this format yields equal-interval data, a fact that allows for the use of more powerful statistical statistics to be used to test hypotheses. In order to strengthen the validity of the instrument, the preliminary or first draft of it will be given to a panel of five experts in the field of drug enforcement. These experts will be asked to review the instrument and to make recommendations for improving its validity. These recommendations will then be incorporated into a second draft of the instrument which will then be given to a small sample of relevant professions. This pilot sample will be asked to comment on the ease with which they understood and completed test items. Where relevant, these comments will be incorporated into a third draft of the test instrument. This third draft will then constitute the final test instrument. Data Analysis Procedures The open-ended questions on the survey instrument will be analyzed qualitatively; that is, they will simply be reported for each of the four groups o
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Some common words found in the essay are:
SURVEY INSTRUMENT, Collection Procedures, Research Approach, Analysis Procedures, LInton Gallo, Borg Gall, Kiess Bloomquist, , Selection Subjects, strong extent, drug law, weak extent, drug law enforcement, law enforcement, effective drug, effective drug law, extent strong, extent strong extent, weak extent weak, extent weak, extent weak extent, Bloomquist DW, survey instrument, answered yes, ____no answered,
Approximate Word count = 1595
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

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