Topic:
For this short video essay, think of an agency, organization, or post-graduate educational institution that would be your dream placement after graduation. It may be a criminal justice agency, non-profit organization, or grad/law school.
Imagine you have been asked to produce a short (2-minute) video essay that demonstrates your (1) proficient understanding of research in the context of how concepts are measured in social science, and (2) ability to identify practical issues of interest to individual populations and suggest ways to measure and assess those issues. Ultimately, the underlying goal of the video should be to make yourself marketable to the “dream” agency/org/institution.
In your video essay, you should address 3 primary components:
First, describe in detail the difference between dependent and independent variables and how they are used in science.
Second, you should identify two important variables that are of interest to the agency/org/institution. Explain why they are important to the agency/org/institution, and how you think they are associated with the goals of the agency.
Third, you should explain how you would conceptualize, operationalize, and measure those variables in your new aspirational position.
Feel free to be creative in your choice of agency/org/institution. The objective here is to demonstrate mastery of these key components research (i.e., conceptualization, operationalization, measurement). Remember the goal of the video is to make yourself marketable to your audience. Your choice of variables should reflect the agency/org/institution to which you are applying. You should be as precise as possible in your conceptualization, operationalization, and measurement, as each of those are distinct concepts that should be addressed separately and comprehensively. The very best video essays will be geared toward your actual plans after graduation, AND use variables that move beyond examples given in the readings.
Your video essay should be uploaded below and can be recorded in Canvas in the frame for the DB, or you can record the video on YouTube, Zoom, or any other service you are comfortable. Just be sure to post a link to your video in the DB. If you have any questions, feel free to post them in the “FAQ Discussion” thread. If your fellow students can’t help, feel free to email the professor for help.
