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Synthesis Paper
Lindsay Hayes
PSYC 255-B16
School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University
Professor Keith Miraldi
October 11th, 2021
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Synthesis Paper
Throughout our time spent in this course during the last seven weeks, I have learned
many techniques and different approaches to research at both an introductory level, and at a
spiritual level as well. Whether you believe so or not, research is actually a part of all our lives,
regardless of one’s occupational status. Coming into this class, as a beginner to psychological
research, I couldn’t even begin to tell you at all what it takes to be a researcher within the field of
Psychology, or let alone how to approach it from a Christian’s perspective. My hope with this
paper is to give a better insight to the knowledge I, as a researcher, has gained.
If I had been asked seven weeks ago to tell you the differences in all the different
methodologies available to a researcher, I would have not a clue as to where to even begin. But
after my time as a student in Professor Keith Miraldi’s Introduction to Research psychology
class, I can help in spreading my knowledge to the next introductory research learner. Knowing
the difference between Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods, what all a Case Study
entails, and how to properly use the APA Publication Manual are just a few examples of lessons
learned throughout this course.
Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods
When conducting research, there are a handful of methods available at a researcher’s
discretion. Qualitative and Quantitative are just two of those methods a researcher could go
about using in his or her studies. Though different, the two approaches should never be
overlooked by one another, as they both can help give the researcher insight in the
commonalities of the variables involved in the research (Crawford, 2020, p. 70).
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Qualitative Research
Qualitative research helps a researcher find insight through an in-depth collection of
information, with hopes of forming a new hypothesis, drawing conclusions on the basis of their
observations (Crawford, 2020, p. 69). Qualitative research is another form of scientific research.
Scientific Research is research that involves an investigation that looks to answer a question that
uses a systematically predefined set of procedures to collect evidence that are beyond the
immediate boundaries of the research study (Mack et al., 2005, p. 1). Qualitative research shares
those characteristics. It helps by revealing the “human” side of the problem. The “human” factors
include those like behaviors, beliefs, opinions, emotions, and relationships of individuals; which
are also all effective in identifying intangible factors, which include social norms,
socio-economic status, gender roles, ethnicity, and religion. This method is one to go with when
needing to use inductive logic (Crawford, 2020, p. 69). It was once said, “There is no need to
ruin a perfectly good qualitative study, by forcing it to have a quantitative piece”- J. Banning,
1998.
Quantitative Research
Quantitative research objectively seeks testable hypotheses and carefully designed
studies that draw their conclusions from data that is reportable in numbers and statistics, which
can be generalized to populations of interest (Crawford, 2020, p. 69). Through this approach,
researchers will quantify what is happening within the variables of the study. Quantitative
research methods have the tendency to be more deductive by nature, unlike those of the
qualitative spectrum.
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Case Study
Acase study is a type of research methodology that uses in-depth observation of an
individual, animal, event, or treatment method that typically would be deemed unethical to be
studied or researched under ordinary circumstances due to its rare and/or unusual events (APA
Publication Manual, 2021, p. 26). As with all other methods of research, case studies also have
its pros and cons that stand behind the methodology. Due to the situational circumstances, case
studies tend to not be commonly put to use in the research field. That is because the results are
usually not replicable due to the unusual circumstances of the participants and/or variables
involved. It is crucial for the researcher to know the case inside and out, and as well as knowing
important details about the participants who will be involved (Rashid, et al., 2019). Being fully
aware of all aspects of the case study ensures for a smooth overall process and helps build a
rapport amongst the researcher and participants.
The Benefit of Case Studies
As with all other methods of research, case studies also have its pros and cons that stand
behind the methodology. The benefits of conducting a case study would be that it helps provide
unique opportunities to gain better understanding in situations that could not be studied
experimentally (Crawford, 2020, p. 78). Case studies can also be used in court cases as well. A
report would be written up on the client’s mental health history for the client’s lawyer to present
to a judge in a legal hearing, for example.
Case Studies Limitations
With the good, always not too far behind it comes along the bad in anything. With that
being said, there are, of course, limitations with any given case study. One of the most obvious
limitations might be the fact that, we may not always know the specific reason and/or cause of
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the odd and/or unusual behavior in the case that is being studied (Crawford, 2020, p. 79). That is
why the study is in need of research in the first place. You may also run into a stand still, due to
the fact that the events involved not having the same effect on everybody due to a freak accident
(APA Publication Manual, 2021, p. 26), for example. When that is the issue, the protocol,
usually, calls for the case study to be done over a long period of time, which is another downfall
in itself.
Research From a Biblical Perspective
From a Biblical perspective, research is nothing more but a gift given to us from the Man
upstairs. God wants us to seek the answers of the mysterious wonders of the world, in an attempt
to gain a closer bond with Him. “By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is
established” (Proverbs 24:3, NKJV). In a study done by the Barna Studies (2009) group, it found
that out of 2033 adults in America, only four percent of the study participants have a biblical
worldview in terms of decision-making. For the sake of research, a worldview is a belief that
absolute moral truths exist, that such truth which is defined by the Holy Bible, and firm belief in
the six specific religious views. Those six views were that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life; God is
the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator of the universe, and He stills rules it today; salvation is
a gift from God and cannot be earned; Satan is real; a Christian has a responsibility to share their
faith in Christ with other people; and the Bible is accurate in all of its teachings ( ,Barna Studies
2009).
The Bible basically tells us to provide truth in our knowledge, without the evidential
truth, it is nothing more than lies and deception, “whoever speaks the truth gives honest
evidence, but a false witness utters deceit” (Proverbs 12:17, NKJV). That fits right in with the
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topic of this synthesis paper. In research, if your findings are not from those with credible
sources, then in the world of research, they might as well be considered false.
Conclusions
Without a doubt, I gained a wealth of new knowledge during my time in PSYC 255:
Introduction to Research. When conducting research, a researcher has a limited number of
methods at his or her disposal. Qualitative and quantitative research are just two of the methods a
researcher can employ. Both can aid the researcher in identifying commonalities among the
variables in the study. A case study is a type of research methodology in which an individual,
animal, event, or treatment method is observed in detail. Under normal circumstances, it would
be considered unethical to study or research. Conducting a case study has the advantage of
providing unique opportunities for greater understanding. Case studies can also be used in legal
proceedings. A report on a client's mental health history would be compiled for the client's
lawyer to present to a judge. Naturally, any case study has limitations, such as a lack of a specific
cause and/or a cause of odd behavior. If your findings are not based on credible sources, they
may as well be considered false in the world of research. The Bible essentially instructs us to
provide evidential truth in our knowledge; without evidential truth, it is merely lies and
deception.
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References
APA Publishers Manual of the American Psychological Association. (2020).
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000
Barna Studies the Research, Offers a Year-in-Review Perspective. (2009).
https://www.barna.com/research/barna-studies-the-research-offers-a-year-in-review-persp
ective
Crawford, Ph.D., R. (2020). Introduction to Research: Less Fright, More Insight.
Kendall Hunt Publishing Co. libertyonline.vitalsource.com
Mack, N., Woodsong, C., MacQueen, K. M., Guest, C. & Namey, E. (2005). Qualitative
Research Methods: A DATA COLLECTOR’S FIELD GUIDE. Family Health
International.
https://www.fhi360.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/Qualitative%20Research%20
Methods%20-%20A%20Data%20Collector’s%20Field%20Guide.pdf
Rashid, Y., Rashid, A., Warraich, M. A., Sabir, S. S. & Waseem, A. (2019). Case Study Method:
A Step-by-Step Guide for Business Researchers.18, 160940691986242.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406919862424
Thomas Nelson, T. (2006). NKJV, Open Bible. Thomas Nelson Incorporated.
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/[SITE_ID]/detail.action?docID=6654065
