9538.1 |
Assessment |
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Research Question (Clear, unambiguous) |
"In the United States, does race affect
choice of college major/type of degree conferred?" Okay, this is a reasonable question,
although it will require considerable specification to become meaningful. |
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Relevant
Literature |
The hodgepodge of things
mentioned do not really represent what we mean by the relevant
literature. This should point to the
scholarly work that informs us about the research question. |
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Causal Interpretations (clear, all
parts defined, mechanisms, controls, plausible) |
By invoking "perception", the first
causal interpretation becomes obscure and the second one seems irrelevant
(obviously, other things influence choice of major, but simply choosing one
does not make much sense). |
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Data
(variables, sample, comparison) |
The NCES data will allow
you to look at the distribution of graduates by major and "race"
(crudely coded) across American colleges.
It will not, however, get you far in explaining people's choices of
majors, as that would require individual level data. (The two additional bullet points you
supply make no apparent sense.) |
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Research Value |
To the degree that the research contributes new
findings, which depends on past research, it would seem inherently
valuable. The reasons specified for
the project's value seem rather weak, however. |
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Overall |
The general goal of the
project seems good. Its prospective
value depends on what past research has already accomplished and the
availability of data to pursue the project's intended goals. |
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