Topic: Achieving Self-Determination: Challenges and Solutions for College Students with Learning Disabilities

Objective for the week: Ss will write the “Instrumentation” section of the proposal.

In a qualitative study, the instrument used to collect data may be created by the researcher or come from on an existing instrument.  If the instrument is researcher created, the process used to select the questions should be described and justified.

If an existing instrument is used, the background of the instrument is described including who created it and what measures were used to validate it. If a Likert scale is used, the scale should be described. If the study involves interviews, an interview protocol should be developed that will result in a consistent process of data collection across all interviews. This protocol should be thoroughly described. Two types of questions are found in an interview protocol: the primary research questions, which are not asked of the participants, and the interview questions that are based on the primary research questions and are asked of the participants. Instruments should be placed in an appendix, not in the body of the text. Most qualitative studies include both a demographic survey to develop a picture of the participants and an interview protocol. If the instrument is researcher created, a pilot study should be conducted with a small sample of participants that will not participate in the study to test the instrument.

The survey questions and/or the questionnaires will be part of the appendix, therefore, you will reference the reader to the appendix when you mention them in chapter 3.