Understanding Units of Analysis and Avoiding Fallacies

Abstract

Having the research design, mode of data collection, and method of data analysis all in alignment with each other and especially with the original research questions is crucial in any scientific study. One common pitfall that often traps students of social sciences into misalignment between them is failure to identify an appropriate unit of analysis or...

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Details

Subject Area(s):

Research Methods

Resource Type(s):

Assignment

Class Level(s):

College 300

Class Size(s):

Any

Learning Goals and Assessments

Learning Goal(s):

1. To be familiar with the concept of units of analysis.
2. To practice identifying the unit of analysis in a hypothesis, data, and a statement and check for consistency across them.
3. To critically examining research conducted by others for ecological and individualistic fallacies.

Goal Assessment(s):

1. How appropriately students can identify the unit of analysis in a variable, a hypothesis, data, or a research statement.
2. How appropriately students can identify the unit of analysis in a hypothesis, data, and a statement, and assess the consistency/inconsistency across them.
3. How appropriately students can differentiate the levels of units of analysis and identify fallacies (if any) in simple research scenarios.