4 discussions due in 48 hours

Quantitative Research Designs

A research design is like a blueprint for conducting research. It guides the researcher in determining when and how often the data will be collected, what data will be collected and from whom, and how the collected data will be analyzed. While there are several research designs available, the most common designs associated with quantitative research include true experiments, quasi- experiments, pre-experiments and correlations.

Instructions:

First, select one quasi-experimental design and develop an example of a study that would require that design. Identify the independent and dependent variables, and discuss the necessary conditions required for that design.

Then, answer the following questions:

· How could you change this study to make it a true experiment?

· What would be the advantages of using a true experimental design over a quasi-experimental design?

· In what situations might a quasi-experimental design be preferred over a true experimental design?

Your post should be at least 300 words. 

Experimental Validity

Experimental validity refers to the manner that variables influence the results of the research and the generalizability of the results to the population at large. The two types of validity that are relevant to experimental designs include internal validity and external validity.

Instructions:

Using a topic of interest to yourself, briefly describe a proposed research study you would like to conduct.

· Provide a detailed discussion regarding some of the potential threats that could occur to the internal validity of your study.

· Examine how these threats could reduce the validity of your study and possibly make the study invalid.

· What are some ways you could increase the internal validity?

· What is the importance of external validity for your study?

· Is internal validity or external validity more important for your study?

· What do you find most difficult about the idea of validity?

· What aspects of evaluating it or integrating it into research desin are the most challenging and why?

· What questions do you still have about experimental validity after this exercise?

Your post should be at least 300 words.

Questionnaire Design

Using the textbook, required articles and recommended resources, construct a 5-6 item questionnaire on a topic of your choice. Your questionnaire can include either open-ended or closed-ended (fixed format) questions. Submit your completed questionnaire to this discussion forum.

Be sure to consider the following when responding:

1. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the questionnaire overall?

2. Consider how the items are worded and the response choices, if applicable, are provided.

a. Are the questions clear and concise?

b. Are there any questions that are vague or unclear?

c. If applicable, are the response choices effective?

d. Is there only one correct response choice?

e. Are there any unintentional cues to the correct answer?

f. Do the items appear to be a good measure of what the student is wanting to assess?

3. How could the questionnaire be improved?

Sampling

In qualitative and quantitative studies, sampling refers to selecting a particular sample of individuals from a larger population. This process is often called participant selection. Qualitative research collects rich data from fewer sources, while quantitative research attempts to collect a larger, more representative sample from the population as a whole. Selection criteria for eligibility in a study is similar for both quantitative and qualitative studies, however, there are some differences with respect to the procedures used and the size of the samples.

Instructions:

Consider a particular topic (this can be the topic from one of your previous discussions or assignments), and a particular qualitative or quantitative research design and state the factors you would consider in choosing participants for the study. Be sure to answer the following in your discussion:

· What sampling method would you use?

· How would you go about deciding how many participants to select given a particular methodology?

· What factors should be considered regarding sample size, representativeness, and apparent biases in the selection of the sample?

Your post should be at least 300 words. 

Qualitative and Quantitative Comparison

As we have learned throughout this course, quantitative techniques focus on breadth and generalizability, while qualitative techniques focus on depth and targeting specific and sometimes limited populations.

Instructions:

Using the articles you found throughout this course, compare and contrast the overall Methods section format of quantitative studies versus qualitative studies in general.

· How is the write-up of qualitative studies the same or different from the write-up of quantitative studies with respect to the data collection and data analyses sections?

· How are the write-ups the same or different with respect to the participant selection sections?

· Be sure to support your discussion with specific examples.

· Which style do you find yourself drawn to most and why?

Your post should be at least 300 words.

Required Texts

You can find more helpful items for Constellation at the following site:  https://content.rockies.edu/support/tutorials/ (Links to an external site.)

Constellation : Malec, T. & Newman, M. (2013). Research methods: Building a knowledge base. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Required References

American Psychological Association. (2010). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct: 2010 amendment. Standard 8: Research and Publication. Available at  http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/ (Links to an external site.)

Anderson, J. D. (2006). Qualitative and quantitative research. Available at  http://web20kmg.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/82037432/QualitativeandQuantitativeEvaluationResearch.pdf (Links to an external site.)

Benedict K (2014, April 11). Correlation - The Basic Idea Explained [Video file]. Retrieved from Correlation - The Basic Idea Explained (Links to an external site.)

Conway, A. (2014). Circuit court involved youth in Virginia: A descriptive, cross-sectional, quantitative research study. London: SAGE Publications Ltd. doi: 10.4135/978144627305014535709

Diem, K. G. (2002). A step-by-step guide to developing effective questionnaires and survey procedures for program evaluation & research. Available at  http://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/publication.asp?pid=FS995 (Links to an external site.)

Edwards, K. & Dardis, C. (2014).Conducting mixed-methodological dating violence research: Integrating quantitative survey and qualitative data. London: SAGE Publications Ltd. doi: 10.4135/978144627305013516582

Explorable (2010). Experimental research. Available at  https://explorable.com/experimental-research (Links to an external site.)

Explorable (2010).  The scientific method.  Available at  https://explorable.com/scientific-method (Links to an external site.)

Frank, G., & Polkinghorne, D. (2010). Qualitative research in occupational therapy: From the first to the second generation. OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health, 30(2), 51-57. doi:10.3928/15394492-20100325-02

Freeman, M., deMarrais, K.,  Preissle, J.,  Roulston, K., &  St Pierre, E. A. (2007). Standards of evidence in qualitative research:  An incitement to discourse. Educational Researcher, 36(1), 25-32. doi: 10.3102/0013189X06298009.

Ijalba, E. (2014). Using qualitative and quantitative methods to conduct research in parent education with immigrant families of children with autism spectrum disorders. London: SAGE Publications Ltd. doi: 10.4135/978144627305014533926

Mariampolski, H. (2001). Qualitative vs. quantitative. Qualitative Market Research, 22-25. SAGE Publications Ltd doi: 10.4135/9781412985529.n13

Onwuegbuzie, A. & Leech, N. L. (2005). On becoming a pragmatic researcher: The importance of combining quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 8(5), 375-387. doi: 10.1080/13645570500402447

Park, J., & Park, M. (2016).  Qualitative versus quantitative research methods: Discovery or justification?   download Journal Of Marketing Thought, 3(1), 1-7.

Polkinghorne, D. E. (2005). Language and meaning: Data collection in qualitative research. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52(2), 137-145. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.52.2.137

Rice, G. T. (2005). Developing high quality multiple-choice test questions. Available at  http://circle.adventist.org/files/jae/en/jae200567043006.pdf (Links to an external site.)

Shenton, A.K. (2004). Strategies for ensuring trustworthiness in qualitative research projects. Education for Information, 22(2), 63-75.

Smith, Lara (2013, November 18). Correlation Basics [Video file]. Retrieved from Correlation Basics (Links to an external site.)

Stoltenberg, C. D., & Pace, T. M. (2007). The scientist-practitioner model: Now more than ever. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 37(4), 195-203. doi:10.1007/s10879-007-9054-0

Svensson, C. (2014). Qualitative methodology in unfamiliar cultures: Relational and ethical aspects of fieldwork in Malaysia. London: SAGE Publications Ltd doi: 10.4135/978144627305014533923

Trochim, W. M. K. (2006). Research methods: Knowledge base. Available at  http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/ (Links to an external site.)

Tsene, L. (2016). Qualitative multi-method research: Media social responsibility. London: SAGE Publications Ltd. doi: 10.4135/978144627305015595393