Discussion: Ohio Lottery

1. Detail the overall research design in the Ohio Lottery case

(See Exhibit OL1). What are the advantages and
disadvantages of this design?
The sampling design and data collection design for the qualitative MET phase
included a total of 25 interviews conducted in three major Ohio cities. The
participants represented heavy players who played at least twice a week,
occasional players who played at least once in three months, rare players
who played less than 2 times a year, and non-players. For the quantitative
study, there were 1,305 players and 200 nonplayers that were Ohio
residents, between the ages of 18 and 65 years old, an annual household
income of at least $20,000, and had no moral or religious issues to playing
the lottery. The sample was proportional to the state’s demographics based
on residence, age, gender, and ethnicity. The qualitative MET phase utilized
90 minute MET interviews and pre-interview tasks as measurement
instruments. The quantitative phase utilized 39 minute online surveys.
Advantages are that using both qualitative and quantitative methods helped
researchers compare data to better find solutions to the management
question. Questionnaires are a measurement tool that can be used in
conjunction with other measurement tools and is typically cost efficient when
gathering from a large population (Marshall, 2004). Disadvantages could be
the budget costs involved and exclusive sample design when considering
only those with at least $20,000 income.

2. Evaluate the MET process (Exhibit OL-2). What are some of

the strengths and weaknesses of the MET technique?
The MET process involves a series of phases and tasks to interview the
participant. One of the strengths of the MET process is that it is a creative
approach that may encourage the participant to engage with the interviewer.
Participants may enjoy this method when compared to an hour and a half
long standard interview. Another strength of its unorthodox approach is that
it targets the more creative side of human thought and behavior. This
approach may be able to pull more information from a different perspective.
The pretask supports the interview through visual aids and relateability. A
weakness of the MET technique is that the process is complex and long. The
interviewer needs to be trained and be able to gather the data. Another
weakness is that the participant may not be on the creative or emotional
side and have a difficult time expressing their feelings and thoughts through
visuals. In a study by Home et al. (2014), researchers conducted interviews
with stroke survivors by using interpretative phenomenological analysis to
gather data from personal examinations. The MET process does something
similar by examining a participant’s motives and behavior based on their
personal experiences.
 3. What measurement scales are used in the sample questions
provided (Exhibit OL-3)? Why might the lottery attitude and
lottery importance questions have presented the most
challenge to the professional researchers?
The measurement scale used for question 6A is a nominal scale because it
classifies the dollar amount of scratch off games. There is no particular order
since the participant is choosing the frequency or the amount of games
played. The measurement scale for the lottery importance ratings and
attitude ratings is an interval scale because there are classification, order,
and distance. The order goes from 7 extremely important to 1 not at all
important with intervals in between. The numbers in between have equal
distance and are all classifications of their own value. A study conducted by
Mendola et al. (1987) implemented the Interval Scale of Anxiety Response to
determine anxiety levels among patients using a similar interval scale. The
lottery importance and attitude questions might have been the most difficult
to develop because there were no experiences to base it off of. Therefore,
the MET interviews were needed to understand the attitudes and behaviors
of lottery participants when playing.

4. Using text Exhibit 12-2, map out the likely quantitative

instrument content.
Ayres (2007) explains that the philosophy, data collection criteria, study
objectives, and designs are the key differences between quantitative and
qualitative studies. The quantitative instrument content likely used was the
surveys. There are likely to be major differences between heavy players and
non-players when choosing answers for the questions provided. For example,
in the lottery attitude section, heavy players are more likely to agree that
chances of winning increase when more tickets are bought, that the lottery is
a recreational activity, and the lottery is easy to play. For non-players, they
are more likely to strongly agree that the lottery is a vice or a bad habit and
strongly disagree that buying lottery tickets are routine, I have a strategy
when playing the lottery, and I don’t feel bad spending $10 on lottery tickets.

5. The survey contained several questions that would alert the

researchers that the participant was not taking the research
process seriously (see case exhibit OL-3). Is this a good or a
poor idea? Why?
I believe that initially this was a good idea. Due to the length of the survey
and amount of participants chosen, is it likely there are at least a few
participants who did not take the survey seriously and just have gone
through the motions. Their results could have skewed the data. However, a
disadvantage is that the number of participants who had their results
removed was only six and their results would have had an insignificant effect
on the overall data. Therefore, having multiple alternate questions in the
survey would not have been worth it as it already makes the 39-minute
survey longer. Having longer surveys could induce participant fatigue and
boredom. A study on survey fatigue found that about 10% of participants
found that a national drug survey took too long and researchers concluded
that long surveys with complex follow-up questions could lead to additional
participant fatigue (Le et al., 2021). 1 Peter 2:1 states, “Therefore, rid
yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every
kind.” Even though the Bible teaches us to rid ourselves of deceit, there still
may participants who give false or go through the motions for compensation.
Therefore, it is important for researchers to have measures in place to
protect the overall data.

6. Evaluate the MET discussion guide for the Ohio Lottery

Research.
The MET discussion guide is an effective and creative method to collecting
data. The guide goes from a general yet detailed overview of each picture
brought by the participant. Then they narrow the interest and topic to the
study’s objective. This is effective because it helps the participant build upon
their answers to a complex problem. Furthermore, starting off with general
questions makes it easier for participants to give answers that help them feel
like they have more to contribute (Schindler, 2021). They are then able to
relate their attitudes, feelings, and opinions through the pictures selected.
Without the general questions in the earlier phases, participants may not be
able to provide accurate answers in the later phases. The guide targets the
creative and subconscious thoughts and feelings of the participant through a
structured process.