Read the example below, which provides different options for how to do research to help support homeless veterans:
Kendrick works with veterans and has recently noticed that there seem to be more homeless veterans. He wants to conduct a survey of homeless veterans to determine their needs and to document the extent of the problem so that he can apply for funding. He isn’t really sure, however, how to get a sample of homeless veterans to interview. He talks to his colleagues, and they identify three possibilities:
Evelyn reminds him that there are several large homeless shelters downtown and suggests he get a client list from the shelter and randomly select potential interviewees from the list.
Drew points out that some homeless individuals do not stay in shelters and that they are likely to need services as well. He suggests that Kendrick visit soup kitchens and other meal programs and select interviewees from people eating there.
Spencer notes that there are individuals who neither sleep in shelters nor eat congregate meals and those individuals may be especially in need of services. He suggests that Kendrick start with one of the homeless vets he already knows, asks that vet to link him to other homeless vets by providing directions to where they usually stay, asks those vets to link him to others in the same way, and so on.
In your initial post, please do the following:
Select an approach and explain why you have chosen it. Provide a brief rationale or description of your selection – what are the benefits of this approach?
Reply to at least two of your peers. In your replies, please do the following:
Review your peer’s selection and their rationale for choosing it. What are the drawbacks to their approach? What or who might it exclude?
