Creating a fact sheet to obtain participation in a study

Potential study participants need to know a series of information to decide if they would like to participate in your research. Some things they will need to know will include dates that the survey can be completed, how to gain access to the survey, what the study is about, if participation in the study is voluntary or mandatory, how long the survey will take, if there are restrictions as to who can participate, and if participants will remain anonymous or confidential.

In order to take part in a survey, potential participants will need to know how to access your survey as well as when the survey can be accessed. The researcher should inform the reader using information such as: The survey will be available Monday, March 18, 2013 - Monday, April 22, 2013. To take part in the survey you will need internet access. The following link will direct you to the survey: www.takemysurvey.com/123456. Another option is that the researcher will email the potential participants the link to the survey.

Prior to participating in the survey, the candidates will want to know what the research is about. Let them know who you are and describe what the aim of the study is. Provide insight into what you hope to achieve with the data that is collected. Let the potential participant know if the survey contains material that may be sensitive. Also, inform them of any inclusion criteria they must meet to participate in the survey. Inform them if participation in the study is mandatory or voluntary.

It is also helpful to inform the participant of how long the survey will take and if there is more than one round of surveys to complete. Providing the potential participant with accurate estimates of how long the survey will take will possibly decrease the likelihood of participant drop out. If the researcher grossly underestimates how long the survey will take, the participants will be less likely to complete the entire survey. The researcher should also inform the participant if the information will be anonymous, confidential, or available.

Dissertation Consulting...Getting the Help You Need

I felt a need to blog about getting dissertation support.  A client came to me a year ago seeking dissertation help.  At the time, she was not ready for that support and she subsequently spent another two (unnecessary) semesters at her university at $4,600/semester.  She then came back to me, with her financial aid maxed out at $160,000 and no further ahead in the dissertation process.  The point is this, sure, our services are a few thousand dollars, but we do help clarify your thinking, write data analysis plans and results chapters - and keep you moving.  

Get the help you need! Don’t wait until your financial aid is maxed-out and the thought of not finishing starts to take root. Statistics Solutions has been in business for decades, helping students from Walden, Phoenix, Capella, Nova Southeastern and many, many others.  Get the dissertation help and get out as soon as possible.  Our initial statistical consultation takes about 30 minutes and is always free at 877-437-8622 or Info@StatisticsSolutions.com

The Myth of Mixed Method Dissertations

I want dissertation students to be empowered in their dissertations, to learn something, and to graduate.  In the dissertation consulting business, Statistics Solutions has come across a lot of mixed method dissertations, and they’re seemingly on the rise.  When I ask the graduate student why they want to review two methodologies, then conduct and interpret both quantitative and qualitative methods, they invariably say because their advisor told them to.  The lament of the dissertation chairs are "one methodology is not enough" or I want you to "triangulate your findings."  There are literally tens of thousands of purely quantitative OR qualitative dissertations sitting in the library, so why this trend? 

First, I suspect that the chairs are getting pressure from the top, who are getting pressure from accreditation boards, to have more scholarly dissertations.  The answer to more scholarly dissertations is not more breath, but more depth.  Dissertations are to be original, add to the literature on a topic, and to provide a research experience to the student--this can certainly be done with one methodology.  And let's all be honest, most institutions are not research institutions--and maybe the chairs, administration, and accreditation boards should stop trying to put a square peg into a round hole, and appropriately focus on a dissertation that the students have been prepared to conduct.  (and by the way, just giving them a few dissertation classes is not preparation--the entire graduate experience is the preparation--if you can't do it, don't expect miracles in the last year).

Second, I suspect there is a mismatch between what the student’s comfort and preparation level and the chairs experience. There’s an old adage, that "your down on what you’re not up on."  Dissertation students should therefore pick wisely who their chair (and committee) is and simply ask them what kind of dissertations they have predominantly worked on, and even what the advisors own dissertation methods were like.    

Third, students are not empowered, nor have the experience, to say I want to do just quantitative or just qualitative.  I believe this happens for several reasons.  The dissertation is primarily an individual process and bouncing the process off others in a confidential manner with colleagues is difficult.  Second, there are a lot more people involved in the process: the chairperson, the committee, IRB or URR, the dean--so the chances of the dissertation getting stuck in one of these areas is much greater than just taking a class where the teacher has virtual total control of the process. I also think anxiety sets in.  Anxiety is natural since dissertation students are so close to finishing, the process is brand new, and their control seems to be at a minimum.

So what’s the solution?  First, pick the dissertation chairperson well and only once.  Changing chairpersons will almost always cost you more time and money.  You’re going to spend a year or more with this person in the dissertation process, so it’s worth it to have a few conversations prior to committing to that chair.  Second, as odd as it may sound, disengage emotionally from the process.  There are a lot of things you have no control over--sometimes the topic, department response time, and the structure of the process itself.  Just focus on what you can control, dispassionately, and consistently.  Finally, get support--social support, collegial support, statistics support, APA editing support--put the odds in your favor by getting help you need in the process with people who know you and the process.  The stakes are high, your time, energy, and monetary investment has been great, so finish strong, as quickly as possible, and get something out of the experience--that’s the kind of triangulation you truly need.  

Dissertation Chairs as Head Chefs

Dissertation chairpersons should be like head chefs—directing the doctorate student (the line cook) and the rest of the prep-chefs in the kitchen (i.e., the committee members).  But too often, the head chef defers his or her responsibility to the committee members (methodologists, statisticians members, or others).  This is very confusing for dissertation students as too often committee members want different things, in different orders, with different emphases.  Do you know what happens in a kitchen when prep-chefs have no leader?  You got it, the entire meal is uncoordinated and it doesn’t go together.  For dissertation students, this means frustration, more time in school, more tuition, and sitting on wonderful ingredients with no meal plan.  

While there was a lot of frustration in my own Ph.D. tenure, mostly because there were lots of dogmatic prep-chefs, when it came to the dissertation process, there was one, and only one, head chef—my dissertation chair.  Yes, the committee read the dissertation (probably the night before), but my chairperson had worked with me for over a year.  During that year we created, recreated, and corrected the methodology, the research design, and really the first three chapters were polished.  Consequently, my committee had very few comments because the head chef did his job!  In fact, during my dissertation proposal defense, it was more of a matter of explaining my research and defending it, and it went smoothly.  

So I implore all of those dissertation chairpersons to be head chefs.  Do not abrogate your responsibility to prep-chefs, even smart ones, for you put your doc student at a disadvantage, you lose their respect, your university loses credibility, and it’s just not right.  OK, you don’t have the statistical skill set, stick to qualitative dissertations, and if you have good quantitative skills than go promote yourself as a quantitative chair.  When you chair a dissertation, don’t just push them off to the methodologist, go get the skills yourself, if you do push them off make sure you are in the “cc” loop, and most importantly, get your dissertation student the unique support they both need and deserve that only you as a chairperson can provide.

Dissertation Help for Business Specializations

For those whose businesses require statistics and data analysis, presentations, reports, reviews etc, and who are not fully equipped with the resources or required expertise to come up with the material, a statistics consultant acts as their problem solvers. A statistical consultant is one who takes on the task of measuring, interpreting and describing given topics and formulating information or collecting data for clients. Highly popular in various fields, a statistics consultant has confirmed his/her importance and significance in today’s world. Cutting edge advancements, developments and competition call for the need of a team of experts willing to unite their minds together and work towards success in all domains.

A statistics consultant is very significant. Constantly busy and on-the-run, a client does not always have time to perform all of the various tasks involved in statistical analysis. A statistics consultant, however, works to provide end-to-end threads of information, data, and facts and figures to the clients. Statistics consultants function in various fields and apply diverse techniques in areas like business, medicine, psychology, law, industry and government. They work effectively to provide precise and accurate results. A statistics consultant acts as an advisor for the clients and counsels them with their findings and researches. Their role differs from project to project. A statistics consultant designs experiments and research studies for the clients. The procedure and technique is determined by the statistical consultant who also conducts research, data analysis, and provides reports and reviews for the clients. When it comes to the businesses concerned, a statistical consultant is reliable and effective at providing exact data and information. A statistical consultant also performs tasks like choosing, constructing and analyzing the tools and methods to be implemented for the provision of quality results to the clients. This way, the statistics consultant ensures the successful working of business operations. A statistics consultant is very precise and clear and utilizes clear-cut methods properly designed to attain the desired results.

A statistics consultant carries a lot of weight and responsibility in the world of business today. One should possess unique communication and verbal skills essential for interaction with clients and should be able to relate to the client cordially. Clients are always a first priority and the statistical consultant is always striving to satisfy them as per their requirements. Besides these communication skills, the statistics consultant has also to possess scientific, statistical and computer skills. Statistical knowledge is necessary to every statistics consultant because a consultant has to employ the required technical skills and designs and implementation. A scientific outlook is absolutely necessary for a statistics consultant. Finally, basic computer skills are absolutely necessary for a statistics consultant because the use of various new statistical software ensures reliable and accurate results. The statistics consultant must therefore acquire and have such traits and skills so that they are able to process and provide adequate data.

A statistics consultant is very beneficial to industries throughout. However, the special advantage lies in the fact that small-scale industries gain added value and can expect increased profits. With a statistics consultant completing the given tasks on time, within budget and fuelled with skilled techniques and methods, small-scale industries (in particular the small ones who would otherwise not have much opportunities) gain tremendously. With professionals handling the research work and required undertakings, chances for a large boost in profit for such industries increase.

A statistics consultant is therefore absolutely necessary in today’s modern era. Providing precise and well defined information and data to their clients, a statistics consultant is invaluable. With a highly skilled team of experts, the horizon and scope of amateurs in the field of statistics broadens, enriching businesses with the best of services as required by the customers. With comprehensive techniques, the statistics consultant is of extreme importance to all bodies. They are proficient and add much value to the businesses.

For more information on statistics consultants, click here.

How Can Statistical Consulting Firms Help?

How can statistical consulting firms help?

If you are a business owner, a manager or an individual looking for help with statistics, statistical consulting firms are your best answer in terms of getting help. Statistical consulting firms can provide accurate and reliable statistical analysis to anyone needing help with statistics. Statistical consulting firms provide an invaluable service as statistical consulting firms provide guidance, assistance and answers to any statistical question or issue an individual, a business or a company may have.

Statistics Solutions is the country's leading statistical consulting firm. Contact Statistics Solutions today for a free 30-minute consultation.

How, exactly, can statistical consulting firms help me?

If you are in need of help with statistics, statistical consulting firms are your best bet for getting affordable, dependable and accurate results. This is true because statistical consulting firms are staffed with trained statisticians who are experts at helping others with statistical issues and problems. Statistical consulting firms will listen to your statistical needs and determine the best way to provide the information that you are looking for. Statistical consulting firms will work with the client as they come up with the best strategy in terms of harnessing the power of statistics.

How important is it for me to use statistical consulting firms?

If you are struggling with statistics, it is extremely important for you to use statistical consulting firms. This is true because there is no better way to get expert advice and help on statistical issues than by using statistical consulting firms. And while it might be tempting to attempt to solve your own statistical problems, this can lead to disastrous results, as the wrong statistics can lead to making poor business decisions that can greatly affect the bottom line. Statistical consulting firms are available for a reason—and that is because they can be extremely useful to anyone in need of help with statistics.

Additionally, statistical consulting firms can provide feedback and advice in areas where one might not even consider. In other words, statistical consulting firms will look at the entire business or corporation and in doing so, they will come up with a plan of action that will deal with the entire business or corporation. They might therefore make suggestions that a business or organization had not even considered. And that suggestion might make a huge difference when it comes to profitability and efficiency. It is therefore essential to seek help from statistical consulting firms, as the expert advice they give can make a huge difference in the profitability of a business, organization or company.

Can statistical consulting firms help me if I am a student?

Yes, if you are a student seeking help from statistical consulting firms, statistical consulting firms can indeed help you. Most students seek help from statistical consulting firms because they need help with the statistics part of their dissertation. This is quite common as oftentimes students are not properly trained in statistics. And yet, they need to make use of statistics in order to successfully complete their dissertation. In these cases, getting help from statistical consulting firms is the best solution as statistical consulting firms can provide help, feedback, assistance and guidance throughout the entire dissertation process. If you are a student and you are struggling with the statistics portion of your dissertation, there is no better, more affordable way to get help than to seek the assistance of statistical consulting firms. With the help provided by statistical consulting firms, you will be well on your way to finishing your dissertation accurately, precisely and in a timely manner. And this, of course, is the entire point—to finish the lengthy and difficult dissertation with great success.

Dissertation Consultants

Dissertation consultants provide help, assistance, guidance and mentorship to anyone who is working on his or her dissertation. This help, guidance, assistance and mentorship can be invaluable to anyone who is working on his or her dissertation as the dissertation is the most challenging aspect of a student’s career. Dissertation consultants, therefore, are the best way to get help on a dissertation.

Statistics Solutions is the country's leading dissertation consultant specializing in research methodology, dissertation statistics, APA style editing, and more. Contact Statistics Solutions today for a free 30-minute consultation.

Dissertation consultants help students with every single aspect of the dissertation. This includes giving help on the actual topic—something that seems easy but can actually pose many problems. Oftentimes students have an idea of what they want to study, research and write a dissertation on, but they do not know how to narrow their topic down so that it makes sense statistically. Dissertation consultants can help narrow down the topic as dissertation consultants can provide expert advice in terms of what can and cannot be studied statistically. Additionally, once the actual topic is chosen, dissertation consultants can help a student phrase that topic so that it makes sense statistically as well. While students know what it is they want to study, they stumble when it comes to phrasing it correctly.

Once the topic has been chosen, dissertation consultants can help students when it comes to doing dissertation research. Dissertation research can be extremely lengthy because it needs to be extensive. Dissertation research provides the student with information about what has already been studied in their chosen field. Because every dissertation needs to provide new information on a topic of study, it is very important to do careful dissertation research so that a student does not write a dissertation on a topic or area that has been studied in the past. Dissertation consultants can help the student do the dissertation research, as dissertation consultants know the best methods to do dissertation research. Dissertation consultants can also help students when it comes to documenting the dissertation research, as this will be used in the literature review for the dissertation. Dissertation consultants will help students every step of the way when it comes to the dissertation research and the literature review.

Once the dissertation research is completed and all research has been well documented, the student and the dissertation consultants can get to work on the actual dissertation. This involves much time spent on the statistics part of the dissertation. All dissertations contain statistics, and this is where the dissertation consultants can be most beneficial. Dissertation consultants are experts when it comes to statistics, as many dissertation consultants are statisticians. Additionally, many dissertation consultants have received their doctoral degrees and are very familiar with the stress and anxiety that students feel as they write their dissertations. Thus, dissertation consultants know exactly what the student is going through, and dissertation consultants can relieve some of this stress and worry.

Dissertation consultants will help with every single aspect of the statistical portion of the dissertation. This means that dissertation consultants will help with the gathering of data, the interpretation of that data and the administering of that data to the dissertation. In other words, dissertation consultants will take every student through every single part of the statistical work successfully and accurately. Additionally, dissertation consultants will provide instruction so that the student actually knows what’s going on in their dissertation. This is extremely important as all students will have to defend their dissertation.

With the help of dissertation consultants, students can finish on-time and with success. There is absolutely no better way to work on a dissertation than with dissertation consultants by the student’s side.

Dissertation Help

Just as it is a good idea to hire a tutor when you are struggling with a certain subject, it is a good idea to get dissertation help when you are struggling with your dissertation. Because the dissertation is the single most important part of your academic career, it is important to spend a lot of time and effort on it. This time and effort can be maximized, however, with dissertation help. This is true because dissertation help will make sure that you are not wasting your time on things you should not be doing and that you are focusing in on what needs to be done. Additionally, dissertation help will steer you in the right direction at each and every turn. Thus, with dissertation help, you will not spend time agonizing what needs to be done—instead, dissertation help will tell you exactly what needs to be done.

Statistics Solutions is the country's leader in dissertation help and dissertation statistics. Contact Statistics Solutions today for a free 30-minute consultation.

And while dissertation help will tell you what needs to be done, dissertation help will also give you the necessary tools to do those tasks. Because writing a dissertation is an extremely lengthy endeavor (as you very well know!) dissertation help will assist you every step of the way. For this reason, dissertation help should be sought at the very beginning of the project as dissertation help can assist you from the very beginning of the project.

If you have already begun your project, dissertation help can also assist you as you continue to complete your lengthy dissertation. Dissertation help, then, can step in at any juncture and dissertation help can provide guidance and assistance to any student.

Dissertation help can assist you as much or as little as you need. Some students only need help with the editing of their dissertations while others need help with the statistics portion of the dissertation. Dissertation help can assist any and all students as the people who provide dissertation help are well versed in every single aspect of the dissertation.

Essentially, dissertation help provides the same feedback and advice as an advisor would provide you. If you are writing your dissertation and have an advisor, however, you probably already know that your advisor is not always available or willing to help with every single aspect of your dissertation. And, oftentimes you check-in with your advisor every so often and you realize that somewhere between your last visit and your current visit, a lot of mistakes have been made. In other words, an advisor points out the mistakes after you have made them and spent a lot of time and energy on that part of your dissertation.

Dissertation help will not let you make these mistakes however, because dissertation help will be there to guide you from the very beginning and dissertation help will make sure that you are following every single statistical procedure, rule and guideline appropriately. If you have already gotten to the statistics portion of your dissertation, you know how demanding, time consuming, and difficult the statistics portion is. Dissertation help is there to help you with this part of your dissertation and dissertation help will be there to assuage your worries about these statistical procedures. Dissertation help will also not let you misstep when it comes to the statistics portion. And as you know, a misstep in the statistics portion can set you back weeks, months and sometimes even years. For example, if you collect invalid data (let’s say for example you have the wrong sample size, or the data you collect is biased) you must start the statistics portion of your research and dissertation all over again. This is a huge delay that is also incredibly frustrating. With dissertation help, however, these delays will not happen as the people who offer dissertation help are experts in statistics. Additionally, dissertation help will make sure that you actually understand everything you need to know about statistics in order to make your dissertation successful.

There is no question that with the proper dissertation help, you will no-doubt finish your dissertation both on time and with great success.

Research Designs

Research designs can be broadly classified into two categories, namely quasi experimental research designs and experimental research designs.

Statistics Solutions is the country's leader in research design and dissertation consulting. Contact Statistics Solutions today for a free 30-minute consultation.

The research designs are said to be quasi experimental research designs only if the subjects are randomly assigned to the groups and the statistical controls are used by the researcher.

Non equivalent control group research designs are one of the quasi experimental research designs. Cook and Campbell (1979) gave some non equivalent control group research designs.

One group posttest only research designs are also sometimes called one shot case studies. This research design is one of the non equivalent control group research designs. This type of research design lacks a pretest baseline, thus, it results in making invalid conclusions.

Posttest only research designs with non equivalent comparison group research designs are a kind of social science research design. In this kind of research design it is quite impossible for the researcher to draw valid conclusions about the treatment effects which are entirely based on posttest information.

Posttest only research designs that predict higher order interactions are used in the cases when the expectation of the treatment effect interrelates with the third variable. However, these types of research designs are confined to the possible challenges of validity due to certain factors.

One group pretest-posttest research designs are common but defective research designs in social science. These research designs are also known as proxy pretest-posttest research designs.

Two group pretest-posttest research designs using an untreated control group are a kind of classic experimental research design.

Double pretest research designs help in strengthening the pretest and posttest research designs. This kind of research design can be established only if there exists a particular trend in the data that is independent of the treatment effect and is measured by pretest.

Interrupted time series research designs are one of the quasi experimental research designs. Cook and Campbell (1979) list certain time series research designs.

Simple interrupted time series research designs are the expansion of one group pretest-posttest research designs into multiple pretests and posttests. These one group pretest-posttest research designs do not have the control group and therefore make it difficult for the researcher to assess other confounding factors.

Interrupted time series research designs with removed treatments are powerful research designs. These research designs are powerful because in these designs, the threat of certain unwanted factors are removed.

Interrupted time series research designs with multiple replications are simply an interrupted time series research design with removed treatments, except that the treatment and the removal in these research designs occurs multiple times.

Interrupted time series research designs with switching replications require a much higher level of control over the subjects. But is a stronger research design in ruling out the threats of invalid conclusions.

Interrupted time series research designs with non equivalent dependent variables have the goal of obtaining the dependent variables that are related to the dependents being studied. In these research designs, the related variables are not assumed to be correlated with the treatment variables.

A non experimental research design is not a kind of quasi experimental research design because these types of research designs do not use statistical controls.

The research designs are said to be non experimental only if there exists a systematic collection of the data with respect to interest of study that are not considered experimental (as there are no control groups or randomization of the subjects).

Some qualitative approaches are applied typically to such research designs. These include approaches like case study research designs, content analysis, participant observation, etc.

Dissertation Consultants

Are you struggling to write your dissertation? Are you at a loss at how to proceed in your research and analysis? If so, dissertation consultants are your answer! Dissertation consultants are by far the most reliable means to ensure your success as a student. This is true because dissertation consultants can help you, regardless of what it is you are struggling with. Be it the research part of your project or the actual writing of the dissertation, dissertation consultants have answers and solutions, and dissertation consultants can help.

Statistics Solutions is the country's leader in dissertation consultation and dissertation statistics. Contact Statistics Solutions today for a free 30-minute consultation.

The most important part of any students’ academic career is the dissertation that they must write in order to acquire their doctoral degree. Dissertation consultants, therefore, can be the most invaluable asset that a student can acquire. Because their dissertation is so important, dissertation consultants are essential. Dissertation consultants ensure that a student’s dissertation gets accepted, and therefore dissertation consultants are a must when it comes to the actual dissertation.

Dissertation consultants help students throughout the entire process of writing the dissertations. Dissertation consultants guide students from the very beginning of the project. Dissertation Consultants therefore help students choose a topic—something that many students struggle with. And though these students have attended classes all semester and looked forward to writing their dissertation, when it comes down to the actual time to write the dissertation, students do not know where to begin. Unlike students, dissertation consultants have much experience with different topics. Additionally, dissertation consultants have a broader view of the problem and they can help students take a step back. This step-back, so to speak, is invaluable as it gives students a new perspective. With this new perspective and with proper guidance, students can decide what they want to research/study and more importantly, how they will phrase this topic. The phrasing of the topic matters because this is what the entire dissertation will be based upon. Additionally it leads to the proper research that needs to be performed. Thus, with the help of dissertation consultants, students can choose a topic and phrase it properly.

Dissertation consultants are trained in many areas. Dissertation consultants are especially good at statistics. Dissertation consultants, then, can help students with every single statistical issue they may face. This is valuable because many students do not have the proper training to handle all the data and statistics they need to finish their dissertation. But again, this is where dissertation consultants step in to guide students and keep them on track.

Because dissertation consultants are so invaluable, they are certainly worth their cost. Dissertation consultants are very affordable, especially when compared to all the time that can be wasted if a student struggles with and works slowly on the statistics part of their dissertation. Additionally, dissertation consultants give students a lot of self confidence as dissertation consultants work with the student. Many students can lose their confidence when they realize that they have been performing tests incorrectly, or using the wrong sample size, or applying the wrong statistical methodology to their research. Dissertation Consultants can guide student so that they do not use the wrong methodology. Thus, students do not need to struggle and students do not need to lack confidence in their statistical abilities.

Because of all of the help that dissertation consultants provide, one might ask if choosing dissertation consultants is ethical. This is a very valid question and it certainly deserves some consideration. The point of dissertation consultants, however, is to help the student, not to give the student the work or to do the work for them. Dissertation consultants, then, are a tool that students should use free of guilt. Dissertation consultants understand that their job is to guide students along the path, not to travel that path themselves.

Clearly dissertation consultants are a necessary part of any students’ quest to attain their doctoral degrees. Dissertation consultants know what to do and how to do it and dissertation consultants will pass that much-needed advice, guidance, support and assistance on to the students.