Research paper
9
Chapter 3: Proposed Methodology, Anticipated Outcome, and Recommendations
Participants
The population for this proposed investigation will ideally be comprised of __________ [who are your participants, where does the data come from, etc]. The total available population will be approximately ______________ [describe quantity and background demographics]. Approximately ________ percent of the leaders would be male and ___ % would likely be female. Participation will be entirely voluntary. Therefore, the method of convenience sampling, whereby only those actually willing to participate in the study are available for inclusion, best describes this investigation’s proposed selection approach.
Instruments
Two instruments will be used to collect data for this study. __________________ will be used to answer Research Question 1. __________________ will be used to answer Research Question 2. [here is where you need to describe the nature of the instrument, scale, etc… background on who developed it, when else has it been used in scholarly research, what items, questions does it contain, etc… be as specific and detailed as possible… recommended that you examine the Prof’s Dissertation document for comparative analysis between what you will write here as well…]
__________________ (instrument #2) will be used to measure and quantify _________ [the problem/dependent variable from research question #2]. The ______ items of the scale are (a) ________, (b) ________, (c) _________, (d) _____________, and (e) ________. [you can use this list format for scales that have 10 or fewer questions… for those with more than 10 items, select 5 or so that you believe best represent the assessment characteristics, etc.] Each item of the ________ is assessed using a five-point Likert scale anchored by an agree-disagree format as follows: 1 (strongly disagree), 2 (disagree), 3 (neither agree nor disagree), 4 (agree), and 5 (strongly agree). [You’ll need to modify this format as applicable to your scale and how the data is measured/assessed, but it’s left here for illustrative purposes]. The _______ was first designed and utilized by __________ to assess _______________ [again, this is a background sentence that helps to provide context of the instruments historical usage and development].
Instrument Reliability and Validity
Instrument number one title (ABREVIATION). Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient scores for the instrument, on average, range from .63 to .92. [you’ll need to modify this to reflect the scores for the specific instrument, left in here for illustration]. This indicates that the _____________ has a substantially high level of reliability and validity as a test instrument of ________________ [what is the instrument measuring again?].
Instrument number two title (ABREVIATION). ___________ found that the Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient score for the _______ in their original investigation was .90. Furthermore, direct replications and slight adaptations of ______________ have been utilized in more recent research in government, business, and healthcare or human services settings (_______________), and have subsequently received similarly strong TIS reliability measures ranging from ___ to ____. Overall, this indicates that the instrument has an excellent level of internal consistency and generalizability. With regard to construct validity, or the extent to which the ______ adequately measures the theme of ___________, utilizing the ______ has historically corresponded well to actual problem in question.
Research Design
This proposed investigation will be quantitative in nature, and will employ a correlational explanatory design. A correlational explanatory research design is utilized in an attempt to determine the nature and extent of an association between at least two variables. This study will examine the degree to which ____________ [influencing/causal factor] may relate to _____________ [dependent/problem variable]. Due to potential concerns regarding participant confidentiality, this method will examine the relationship between these two variables without collecting any other identifying information, such as specific organizational title or position, tenure time, particular facility location, or education. [Think and propose an authentic level of protections you may put in place to increase response and/or enhance participation… if there are data sets you don’t NEED but are just curious in, perhaps they don’t have to be included in selection processes…. Identify what you need and what you will leave out here.]
The cornerstones of the correlational explanatory research design will serve as the model for this investigation. The respective data collection instruments will be completed privately and individually at each participant’s convenience. Additionally, separate quantitative scores will be collected for each respective variable. Then, the relationship between the two research variable scores, (a) _____________ [influencing/causal factor], and (b) ____________ [dependent/problem variable], will be analyzed utilizing correlational statistics. Finally, as outlined by Creswell, although not seeking to establish a causal relationship given the lack of an experimental control design, this correlational explanatory investigation will attempt to draw conclusions and make relevant interpretations regarding the degree of association between (a) _____________ [influencing/causal factor], and (b) ____________ [dependent/problem variable], at the _________-based [location] healthcare services organization [adjust according to your setting].
Procedures
Data collection. The researcher will ideally provide the testing instruments electronically via secure and anonymous Internet-based hyperlinks. Once completed online, scoring and tabulation was conducted by each instruments’ respective electronic platform. Results to the instruments will be coupled per respondent, compiled with all participants’ answers, and then downloaded as a complete data set by the researcher.
Respondent protections. Each of the approximately _____ respondents will be assigned a respondent control number from a random number table that will be used to redact their name and completely mask their identity when completing the investigation’s survey instruments. Participants’ specific random control numbers will not be maintained by the researcher, but rather will only serve to couple respondents’ answers to the different survey instruments. Additionally, basic descriptive statistics typically included regarding respondents’ gender, age, tenure time, and education level will not collected in order to provide participants with an increased sense of security, confidentiality, and anonymity. [This sentence regarding protections may or not be necessary]. Acquisition of such private, identifiable information may decrease participation and authenticity by increasing perceived or actual vulnerability of participants. [same with this one…] Therefore, complete anonymity was granted in favor of respondents’ emotional wellbeing. [Think and propose an authentic level of protections you may put in place to increase response and/or enhance participation… if there are data sets you don’t NEED but are just curious in, perhaps they don’t have to be included in selection processes]
Statistical analysis. In order to assess the extent to which ____________ [influencing/causal factor] may relate to _____________ [dependent/problem variable], the following statistical tools will be used in data analysis:
1. ______________ will be calculated to quantify each respondent’s individual level of _______________ [causal factor].
2. Descriptive statistics (i.e., means and standard deviations) will be used to quantitatively describe the group’s collective level of ____________ [causal factor].
3. Descriptive statistics (i.e., means and standard deviations) will be used to quantitatively describe the group’s collective ____________ [influencing factor].
4. A correlation coefficient will be calculated to determine the extent to which ____________ [influencing/causal factor] may relate to _____________ [dependent/problem variable].
Research hypotheses. Calculating a correlation coefficient will test the following null and alternate hypotheses:
1. Null: There is no statistically significant correlation between (a) ______________ [influencing/causal factor], and (b) _____________ [dependent/problem variable].
2. Alternate: There is a statistically significant correlation between (a) ______________ [influencing/causal factor], and (b) _____________ [dependent/problem variable].
Anticipated Results
Your takeaway regarding the collective level of the influencing factor when assessed. Relative to Research Question 1, the collective level of _________________ is anticipated to be relatively ____ (M = .926 … give an average score you anticipate based on the structure of the instrument). [Here, provide a narrative explanation of what the score implies… if it’s low, mid, high, how do you know and what does that say about the factor?]
Your takeaway regarding the outcome/problem variable when assessed. Relative to Research Question 2, the level of _________________ is anticipated to be relatively ____ (M = .926 … give an average score you anticipate based on the structure of the instrument). [Here, provide a narrative explanation of what the score implies… if it’s low, mid, high, how do you know and what does that say about the factor?]
Statistical analysis of the correlation coefficient. In a correlational statistical analysis, a positive relationship indicates that as one variable changes, the other variable moves in the same direction. This is known as a high-high, low-low direct/positive correlation. Conversely, a negative relationship indicates that as one variable changes, the other variable will move in the opposite direction. Huck refers to this as a high-low, low-high indirect/negative correlation. A designation of a positive or negative correlation does not comment on the strength of the relationship. Neither is better or worse than the other. Instead, they are simply indicative of the directionality of the correlational association. Strength and statistical significance of a correlational relationship is determined based on the number of participants, or pairs of data in the analysis, and the correlation coefficient’s proximity to 1, for a positive correlation, or -1, for a negative correlation.
Anchored by Likert scales [touch base w/ professor if the instruments you use don’t use weighted/point Likert scales], the two instruments proposed for utilized in this study constitute interval scales of measurement. They capture a range of response positions along a continuum of five presumably equidistant points of differing descriptive categories. Advantageously for purposes of this investigation, when averaged, statistical comparisons and practical interpretations can be made regarding varying degrees of difference discovered across each scale’s respective response band. Interval scale data are best analyzed utilizing a parametric statistical tool such as Pearson’s r, a correlation coefficient. Accordingly, it will be chosen as the appropriate statistical tool to address this study’s primary investigative charge regarding the determination of an association between __________ and _____________ [influencing factor & problem variable].
Pearson’s r to be calculated to quantify the relationship between ____________ and ______________. In order to answer Research Question 3 and test the investigation’s null and alternate hypotheses, Pearson’s r will be interpreted to determine the extent to which ____________ [influencing/causal factor] may relate to _____________ [dependent/problem variable].
A direct, strong correlational association is anticipated to emerge. The direction and strength of the relationship between ____________ [influencing/causal factor] and _____________ [dependent/problem variable] is expected to be positive (high-high, low-low direct) and strong. Pearson’s correlation coefficient is anticipated to indicate that as ____________ [influencing/causal factor] increases, so will _____________ [dependent/problem variable]. Also, as ____________ [influencing/causal factor] decreases, _____________ [dependent/problem variable] will also decrease. As a statistically significant result is anticipated, the null hypothesis would be rejected, and the alternate hypothesis would therefore accepted. An analysis of the data collected is projected to yield a statisically significant direct, positve correlation between ____________ [influencing/causal factor] and _____________ [dependent/problem variable].
Interpretation of Research
[Here, you will provide a narrative takeaway on – if you find what you anticipate you will find in the research – what does this actually indicate about the problem? Specifically, that when one variable goes up (cause), the problem also goes up. You should be making a strong hypothetical case that these two variables, although not linked in a causal fashion definitively, if found to relate to each other so strongly, should be managed accordingly to help minimize the damage.]
Applied Organizational Practice Recommendations
[Here, you will provide a narrative takeaway on – if you find what you anticipate you will find in the research – what should HCOs, HSAs, policy makers, clinicians, patients, actually do differently with this information. You’ve foreshadowed in the previous paragraph that these factors need to be “managed” accordingly, but now you have to provide actual recommendations – practically – as to what needs to change, who’s responsible and WHY it’s in their best interest to do it. Some of you have found this project frustrating because you’ve been HERE in this spot since the beginning… that’s understandable. NOW, assuming you would be able to conduct the research and make a compelling data-based case that what you think the problem is, actually is, and what you think is contributing to it, actually is, here you can be as detailed as you like about what we need to do in order to shift the tide and make a difference.]
Summary and Financial Implications
[Here, you will provide an overview of what those changes you’ve just presented above will cost… organizations, HSAs, clinicians, patients, policy-makers, tax-payers, etc… You all were very successful at sourcing price and data points in the final project for your Long Term Care course, so utilize that same investigative ability to estimate the cost of your changes. Then, close with a component that briefly addresses HOW we may find a way to pay for the needed revisions, with some way to offset the cost or realize some savings. This does not have to be dead-even like a budget variance, but should comment on the cost of NOT addressing the problem, en route to realizing cost-savings when we do fix it.]
References