Research Methodologies: College Drug Abuse of Caffeine Cigarettes Nicotine
...centage of a college population. Open ended or fill in questions usually does not provide specific information and is often a turn off, resulting in a lack of participation (McIntyre 77-9) In the fall of 2001 college freshman from two schools were participants in a self administered survey on risks of cigarette smoking and nicotine addiction. The schools were located in Buffalo, NY and Atlanta, GA which provided different cultures and economies. A total of 1,020 students, 97% of the freshman population, took the 11 question matrix style survey. The survey supported the raised issue that college students do not recognize the dangers in smoking in the 18-24 age range (Higbee 371-4). In my research project, questions will be in a written, multiple choice form but contained in an e-mail sent to the entire student body. It is not expected that everyone will reply but the advantage of it is that it will be distributed to everyone. The questions will be asked in a form of multiple choice questions directed towards smoking. The survey will focus on year level in college, sex and socialization which will include reasons for smoking. Quantitative research as to how many cigarettes a smoker smokes in a day and week will also be gathered. Observational research also known as field research is going to be the second means of fulfilling my study. Subjects being observed in their normal social environment will tend to provide the most accurate of results (McIntyre 84-5). My job as a researcher in this method is to fit in and not be an influencer of any sort. I would deploy this method by setting up a free movie night on the green or any other activities that would generate college students. At this event, coffee (decaf and regular), soda, water and caffeine-free fruit drinks will be served. The smoking of cigarettes will also be allowed. The subjects, college students, will be in their natural context which is the main advantage of observational research. Alcohol will not be served at this event due to the legal aspects of the law. Positioning myself as being the server of the beverage stand I would be able to effective observe which drinks are being ordered. Ash trays will also be present therefore allowing another quantitative form of data to the study. Obtrusive research is similar to observational but involves an alternative way of studying behavior. Accretion measures are a sociological way of finding evidence of actions related to what the researche...