Scaling Study

Scaling Study
Understanding the complexities of developing a proper measurement process required a sample survey project. Analyzing the responses from the sample survey project “Financial Peace,” provided the information needed to assess the validity, reliability, and practicality of the survey. The most important factor in the development of a survey is the management question. This question is the predicament. Managers need answers to assist in resolving managerial problems or to provide guidance for a future trend. The sample survey stems from a management question, is there a market for financial peace management classes? Before examining the responses, the explanation of the survey development provides the foundation to the scaling study.
What is measured?
The development of the survey required understanding the difference between objects and properties. Variables studied in research are classified as an object or property. Objects include the concepts of ordinary experience, such as tangible items like furniture, laundry detergent, people, or automobiles (Cooper & Schindler, 2011, p. 272). The properties of the objects are the characteristics, if we asked questions concerning a piece of furniture than the description of the furniture, such as color, height, and designs are the characteristics. A survey depends on different concepts but the quality depends on what measures are selected and how they fit the circumstance (Borland Jr., 2001). In the “Financial Peace” survey, measuring psychological properties is the intent. The use of money is inescapable. People’s attitude toward money and their desire to improve their financial situation is measured. The measurement requires three major criteria, validity, reliability, and practicality to form good characteristics of measurement. Examining the validity of the survey provides the starting point.
Validity
Designing a survey to measure a targeted audience requires validation. Three major forms of accepted classification of validity exist for scientific measurement, content validity, criterion-related, and construct validity (Cooper & Schindler, 2011). Content validity requires agreement of what elements create adequate coverage. The survey “Financial Peace” is a test-run, or an exploratory survey. Designing an elaborate or a more comprehensive survey from the test-run requires validity or it is of no use to management. The content of the survey consisted of 10 questions concerning personal finances, financial attitude, and financial education. The content validity is in question because with only a limited amount of questions it is likely that adequate coverage was not achieved.
Because this is an exploratory survey, the inadequate content coverage is easily fixed in a more extensive survey. Accomplishing more content coverage through the grouping of the questions may provide a better survey. Asking too many questions concerning personal finances might distract the surveyed. Again the question from management is the predicament, people already know their situation and the survey’s design is to analyze possible new financial education markets. The next form of validity, criterion-related is delicate. This type of validation stems from a prediction of a possible outcome. The successful measurement of criterion-related validity provides the researcher with a prediction or estimate, any criterion is judged in terms of four qualities (Cooper & Schindler, 2011). Relevance for the “Financial Peace” survey is difficult to measure properly because financial stability is different for each person. The purpose of the survey is to judge adequately the responses for a potential financial educational market. Many people with six figure incomes are cannot manage their money better than a person earning an annual income just above the poverty line. The second quality is freedom from bias. The researcher developed the survey with no affiliations to a financial industry. The reliability quality pertains to variances in data from month to month. The possibility of an individual’s income changing month to month but the underlying intent of the survey still stands. Education of the management of money still exists no matter the situation of the individual. The last quality is availability. The information from the survey is available to compare data from previous case studies. The last form of validity to review is construct validity.
To evaluate construct validity, consideration of the theory and measuring device is required (Cooper & Schindler, 2011). The theory that a solid financial position provides “peace” is considered. In the construct of the survey the researcher might believe that financial peace is one definition and yet previous studies believe the theory is something else. This form of validity is looking for a convergence from previous data to validate. In evaluating the “Financial Peace” survey the validity requires improvement. Examining the existing questions and eliminating ones with no credibility to the research is required. One particular question is irrelevant to the need of financial education, what is your approximate average household income? The purpose of validity is to ensure the survey measures what the designer claims. To further the scaling study an examination of reliability is required. Reliability
Consistent data from the measurement of financial peace is required for the reliability of the survey. If the data results reflect wide variances the likelihood the survey is unreliable and therefore invalid is probable. The researcher delivered the survey to a demographic of college students. The reliability of the survey is evident because no wide variances were detected from the results. Distributing the survey to different groups might eliminate a market targeted toward a certain age group. The survey indicated reliability only because of the size and target population. Projects have scientific requirements in assessing a process. These requirements are validity and reliability but without an operational requirement of practicality the survey would falter.
Practicality
The consideration of the project budget is essential to ensure the research continues until the targeted population numbers are achieved. In reflection of the survey “Financial Peace,” the low target population requirement did not require any expenditure of monies. The choice of the distribution method also tied into convenience. Modern technology allowed the development of the survey through an online survey development company. Using this technology is convenient for the researcher and the participant. The technology allows the researcher to deliver the survey five different ways, E-mail, Facebook, embedded, twitter, and through a web link (Survey Monkey, 2013). The survey development site also provides the collection of data and provides statistics in different formats. As the researcher needs to examine the data to provide a conclusion, this examination must also close. Understanding the complexities of developing a proper measurement process required the development of a sample survey project. Analyzing the survey and responses provided the information needed to assess the validity, reliability, and practicality of the survey. The most important factor in the development of a survey is the management question. This question is the predicament. Given the small sample size of the survey along with examining the validity, reliability, and the practicality, the conclusive evidence dictates the requirement of rebuilding a better survey.

Citations
Borland Jr., K. W. (2001). Qualitative and Quantitative Research: A Complementary Balance. New Directions for Institutional Research, 2001(112), 5. Retrieved August 15, 2013, from http://av4kc7fg4g.search.serialssolutions.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info%3Aofi%2Fenc%3AUTF-8&rfr_id=info:sid/summon.serialssolutions.com&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Qualitative+and
Cooper, D. R., & Schindler, P. S. (2011). In D. R. Cooper, & P. S. Schindler, Business Research Methods (11 ed.). McGraw-Hill Company. Retrieved August 30, 2013
Survey Monkey. (2013, September 1). Home. Retrieved from www.surveymonkey.com: https://www.surveymonkey.com/home/

I included the collected data. If I included the link you would only be able to see the survey.