Replies to Discussion Board Questions

Must be at least 450-600 words, in current APA format, must use at least 2 scholarly articles as references, and one biblical scripture for each reply. 

13.15

If you were working for a national survey organization doing a general public survey of young adults and older adults, what topics and questions would you design into your survey to elaborate on this finding?

            The number of fully employed adults working in the United States is one of the most important economic indicators.  The rate of employment affects the federal government, as well as local and state government.  Beyond the economic implications, the work one does is one of the primary ways people view and define their identity.  The Preacher, in the book of Ecclesiastes, writes, “there is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil” (Ecclesiastes 2:24, ESV Study Bible).

            Business Research Methods, 12^th edition, states that survey questions contain three categories of questions: administrative questions, classification questions, and target questions (Cooper & Schindler, 2014, p. 302).  The right questions will assist the survey organization create a clearer picture of the survey topic.  To assist a national survey organization in understanding unemployment rates, the first step is to define the nature of the unemployment.  In Gatzia’s exploration, “The Problem of Unemployment”, the author explains that there are three types of unemployment in a capitalist system, cyclical, structural, and frictional. 

Cyclical unemployment corresponds to business cycles – it typically results from recessions.  Structural unemployment occurs when the jobs that are available do not match with the skill sets of the unemployed workers – it typically results from international competition or technological changes.  Frictional unemployment corresponds to the turnover of labor – it typically results either from job loss or increases in the number of people entering the workforce (Gatzia, 2012, p. 37).

Based upon this expanded understanding of unemployment, among the topics to address in the survey should include:

·         Geographic location

·         Previous employment

·         Race / Ethnic identity

            Additionally, the survey should investigate the circumstances that surround the severing of unemployment.  For younger workers, it is more likely that the end of employment is mutual; the work may be seasonal or school-related.  The job may be entry-level, unskilled work that is not central to the worker’s life, or is not highly valued.  According to Popescu, “youth unemployment is heavily concentrated among the least educated” (Popescu, 2014, p. 36).  To fully understand unemployment, any survey of the subject must include in-depth questions about the respondent’s educational background and skill level. The survey should ask:

·         Does the respondent have a high school diploma? Bachelor’s degree? Graduate degree?

·         What is the level of computer skill?

·         Is the respondent confident in the use of social media tools?

·         Does the respondent have any valuable or specialized skills?

            Finally, the survey should ask the respondents to evaluate the nature of their unemployment.  Do the individuals believe that their work severance is due to a lower skill level?  Do they believe that it is related to their level of education?  Do they believe it is based solely on an economic downturn or failing economy?  Do they feel optimistic about their likelihood to find new employment?  According the Nordic Economic Review, “young people are optimistic about the future and particularly happy” (Bell & Blanchflower, 2011, p. 14).  Does this optimism extend to their job search?

            The highest level of understanding of unemployment will be produced by a survey that explores the type and contributing factors of unemployment.  To understand why unemployment among young people, the survey organization must discover whom these young people are and compare this group with other age groups and other time periods.

14.6

“Your task is to interview a representative sample of attendees for the large concert venue where you work.  The new seasons schedule includes 200 live concerts featuring all types of musicians and musical groups.  Since neither the number of attendees not their descriptive characteristics are known in advance, you decide on nonprobability sampling.  Based on past seating configuration, you can calculate the number of tickets that will be available for each of the 200 concerts. Thus, collectively, you will know the number of possible attendees for each type of music.  From attendance research conducted at concerts held by the Glacier Symphony during the previous two years, you can obtain gender data on attendees by type of music.  How would you conduct a reasonably reliable nonprobability sample?”

            First, it is important to understand the concept of sampling.  “Sampling is selecting some of the elements in a population; we may draw conclusions about the entire population.”  For example, depending on what specific area you are researching is the type of population you will include in the sampling.  If you were to research about the most popular toys sold then you would be sampling children as the population.  Based on the sampling then you will be able to determine what is the most popular toy.  There are many great benefits to conducting sampling as it lowers the cost on events and also it provide better data for accurate results.  For instance, for the toy store example it helps the store owners to know what exact product to supply in the store.  Also it is important that the sample provide accurate results.  Once the sample information has been collected it then provides a means to help improve the situation. 

            Well, first it is important to know that we have available data from the previous two years about the attendance.  For example, say that the attendance is much smaller for opera concerts in comparison to classical rock concerts.  This already helps provide a lot of data that will help which concerts to plan for desired attendance.  Whereas it may be helpful to know the gender it will not affect tickets sales.  It does not matter if the concert attendance is all men or women.  The true objective that matters is the number of tickets sales, as conducting the sampling help provide the strategic system for obtaining these results. 

            The reason nonprobability sample is conducted is because I do not have all of the facts.  For instance, I am not sure what the population overall preference in music is?  Also I am not sure where this location is for the concert so I am unaware of weather patterns and what the area most popular music is.  For instance, if the concerts were held in an area where county music was popular that would be helpful information to know.  Since most information is not available this is why it is best to choose a nonprobability sample.

            Once, I start to review the results all then gather a random population of people in order to survey what is the more popular music choice.  For example, if classical and opera music score low in terms of popularity then I will know to have those for concerts designed for smaller attendance.  Also it works in term of popularity, if I know that country and classic rocks will be high attendance this will help me plan accordingly.  However, if that one particular type of music such as movie soundtracks score very low.  Then I probably will not host a concert of this type of genre since overall most people would not want to attend.  It is important understand what the population desires and then to plan accordingly.

            From a Biblical integration perspective the story that came to mind was the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand.  In Matthew 14:13-21, the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand is an incredible miracle.  Jesus understood the crowds’ needs and helps provide food for the entire population.  In a way Jesus took a survey of the population needs and was able to provide food for them even when there were only five loaves and two fish.  This is also a good reminder that we should help others who are in need.