Unit 2 Research Process and Strategy

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Deliverable Specifics

Part 1

Research methods vary and different approaches are needed. A magazine editor in a small town would like to include articles on several topics in the next issue. Decide which of the following proposed article topics are suitable for a quantitative or qualitative research, and explain why.

• Coin collections
• Favorite recipes
• Rising home costs
• Best high schools
• Carpools
• Political polls
• Parent teacher participation
• Book fairs

Part 2

An important part of beginning a research project is being able to review literature and analyze the implications of already completed research methods, data, and findings. Therefore, researchers must have a solid foundational mastery of differences between research methods, data collection, and reporting. For this discussion board, discuss the differences between quantitative and qualitative research. Specifically, you should complete the following:

• Give a definition of a hypothesis and a null hypothesis and identify the method of research that uses a hypothesis.
• Discuss what you believe are the key elements of a well-written set of hypotheses. Support your opinion with appropriate peer-reviewed sources other than the textbook.
• Give a definition of a research question or problem and identify the method of research that traditionally uses a research question or problem.

  Discuss what you believe are the key elements of a well-written research question or problem.
  Support your opinion with appropriate peer-reviewed sources (other than the textbook).

• Discuss how selecting a sample to study differs between quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Describe 2 data-collection instruments, and determine whether the instrument will be used to collect quantitative or qualitative data.
• Explain how analysis of quantitative data differs from analysis of qualitative data.

Read the posts of your classmates, and respond with constructive feedback, suggestions, questions, and additional resources as appropriate and in alignment with the AIU Discussion Board Policy. You will be graded using the Grading Rubric below.

In your own words, post a substantive response to the Discussion Board question(s) and comment on other postings. Your response should address the DB question(s) and move the conversation forward. You will be graded on the quality of your postings, including mastery of the concept as well as critical thinking. If asked for your opinion, do not simply state that it is a good or bad idea; elaborate on your reasons and argument. Include enough detail to substantiate your thinking as well as your position on the questions or comments.

Startingthe Research Process

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Starting the Research Process

The most engaging research often begins with personal interest or the

investigation of a new policy, procedure, curriculum, or learning model in a

corporate or educational institution; however, there are also other excellent

sources available for identifying topics. Consider the value of reading

educational journals, browsing the Internet, or sharing ideas and opinions

with colleagues. The number of potential subjects that emerge from

professional development activities is enormous. What, however, are you

supposed to do once you have identified an avenue for research activity? This

presentation focuses on this question by examining how to identify a

research

problem, how to specify research questions and/or hypotheses, and how to
locate research for your literature review.

Identifying the Research Problem

Once a research topic has been selected, the next step is to identify and

refine the research problem. To do this, the researcher needs to understand

that a research problem must be identified in the following manner:

stated in a clear, succinct manner that can be clearly understood by

others in the field of study

defined and delineated in a way that would allow investigation through

research

have sufficient practical value, whether to further basic research or to

immediate applications in education

posed in terms of the relationships of variables or, if it is a descriptive

study, at least clearly state the focus of the study

justified based on previous research or on the potential benefits to the
field yielded by addressing the problem

Finally, the findings based on the problem should give rise to further

questions or hypotheses and should also be repeatable by independent

researchers.

Specifying Research Questions or Hypothesis

The research question or research hypothesis is the question that directs the

focus of the literature review and drives the development of the research

methodology. It is the issue or concern that exists in the theory, literature, or

in practice that needs to be studied. It should answer the questions, “Why is

Starting the Research Process

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this study needed?” and “What problem created the need for this study?”

Research questions are most often used to guide the method of qualitative
research while hypotheses define the scope of quantitative designs.

Research questions: A research question is the fundamental

question inherent in the research topic. Such questions, normally

supplemented by a number of subquestions, are used to guide the

research much like a thesis statement guides the organization of an

essay.

Hypotheses: Hypotheses are succinct statements that usually make

predictions about future events, existing differences among groups, or

relationships among variables. There are three types of hypotheses:
directional, non-directional, and null.

The Literature Review

Once the research questions and the purpose of the research are understood,

the researcher should immediately begin to review professional sources of

information concerning problems in this area. All researchers explore

literature about their topic: first, to see what has already been done and,

second, to profit from findings, cautions, and suggestions made by other

researchers. You can benefit from browsing and examining both primary and

secondary resources. This information may be available from professional

organizations, business journals, or experts in the field. The literature should

provide an overview of current articles and materials that have examined

issues directly related to the research topic. The review of this literature

provides the foundation for the research paper; it should also provide a

comprehensive review of the benchmark studies which have been completed

in the topic area.

ResearchMethodologies
Question 1: What is quantitative research?

Response: Quantitative research is the investigation and the measurement of
quantities. This kind of research methodology is typically associated with observations
and quantitative validation. Quantitative research includes performing an experiment,
recording observations, and statistically analyzing the results.

Typically, a survey instrument or experiment is conducted providing the researcher
with the ability to analyze and assess the information collected. A couple of examples
of quantitative research are conducting a marketing survey to determine the primary
kinds of brand products that customers purchase or performing a pharmaceutical
experiment to test the effectiveness of a new drug.

Question 2: What is qualitative research?

Response: Qualitative research does not necessarily rely on measurements or
quantitative information. Qualitative research involves studying a problem and the
organization of a topic, subject, or a behavior to gain further understanding of what is
being researched.

Typically a case study design approach is used with this research
methodology. Data are gathered from documents, interviews, and observations. Two
examples of qualitative research are study of the qualities of a good leader and
studying an organization’s culture, work flows, or operations.

Question 3: What is mixed methods research?

Response: Mixed methods research typically employs both the quantitative and
qualitative research approaches. Qualitative and quantitative data are collected and
analyzed. This diverse information is used to support and validate a research question.

One example of mixed methods research is a project that provides a case study of an
organization and implements a survey instrument that can be statistically or
quantitatively analyzed. The case study documents the organization, structure, culture,
operations, and other characteristics. The survey instrument measures the productivity
of the organization’s current configuration. The data are then integrated and
triangulated to answer a research question or validate a hypothesis.

Question 4: What is action research?

Response: Action research is an iterative research process initiated to solve a situation
or problem. Action research is not a new methodology. It has been practiced within the
quality improvement and business operations areas for many years.

One example of an action research project involves trying to solve or improve a

business process that requires a cross-functional team to find a resolution. The team is
established, the problem is identified, data are collected, and changes or modifications
are made and observed. Based on the results, the process begins again to
continue optimizing the business process.

Question 5: Is one research method better than another?

Response: One methodology is not better than another. The methodology used should
be determined by the kind of problem or research question that is under examination or
being studied. Nevertheless, it is highly possible that if the wrong approach is used, it
could invalidate the research effort, the results, or prevent the subject or topic of study
from being properly analyzed.

One example of such a problem is a case study or qualitative research approach used to
determine if people buy more red shoes or blue ones. Without a survey, direct
observation, or customer interviews, the research question cannot be
positively validated.

Question 6: Is there a process or strategy that must be developed for each of the
research methodologies?

Response: Each research methodology needs to be carefully planned and
detailed. The topic or subject under study and the research question or hypothesis must
not be too broad. If the topic, subject, question, or hypothesis is too broad, the results
of the research project will be inconclusive; however, these elements must not be too
narrow, otherwise they will limit the scope and not support the intent of the research
project. It may take some time to develop and fine-tune the topic to ensure that it is
worded properly, has the appropriate scope and intent, and it is a researchable topic or
subject.

Question 7: What is an example of a research strategy and plan?

Response: Each research methodology must have a strategy and plan. The plan is the
research proposal that details how the research will be conducted, the research
methodology that will be used, the research question and hypothesis, and the analysis
and reporting approach.

The proposal must thread each of the major parts of the research project together, as
well as indicate how the research will support the research question. A way to ensure
that you have a solid plan is to create a road map or box diagram that identifies all of
the major milestones and visually illustrates the entire research process for your
research effort.

Question 8: Why is ethics an important aspect of research?

Response: Ethics reflect both the credibility and integrity of the individual and the

organization. In research, it is extremely critical because it impacts the validity of the
research as well as the results. Ethics in research touches on honesty, intellectual
property, use of human subjects, confidentiality, and social responsibility. All of these
topics must be considered for each and every research project.

The importance of ethics in the research process is illustrated by an organization that is
performing marketing research for a company that is developing a very unique
product. Improperly protecting information regarding the research could adversely
impact the profitability of that company and could even have a severe impact on the
company’s survival in the marketplace.

A way to ensure that you have identified potential ethical challenges is to create a
matrix of the issues with suggestions of how you will resolve each potential issue. If
you use this technique, make sure you cover each step in the research process of the
project.

Question 9: What is the impact of ethics on research?

Response: Ethics and ethical behavior need to be considered throughout the research
process. For example, suppose the research findings for a medical study are
exaggerated. This unethical behavior could lead to basing a critical procedure
on exaggerated research or developing a new medicine under unethical pretenses. The
exaggeration could lead to severe issues with a patient or even result in a patient’s
death.

Ethics also impact personal credibility. If unethical behavior is discovered on a
research project, it will impact you and your team’s credibility. Once lost, credibility is
very difficult to get back, and your audience, customer, or organization may lose
confidence in your ability to conduct research.

Question 10: Can the results or even the research project results be made null and
void over an ethics-related issue?

Response: This is probably one of the most serious issues. A research project
considered invalid or considered to have reached invalid results not only affects the
credibility of the researcher and the team but could also impact the customer, delay
valuable research findings, and have a severe financial impact.

All research must be carefully planned. The plan needs to be followed, and due to the
sensitivity of the results, the information gained must be carefully controlled and
protected.

Conducting periodic research reviews is a good way to help identify any ethical
research issues. If you are working on a team, you can hold a team review. If you are
the only researcher, you can ask others to review the information as you proceed
through the research process.

ResearchMethodologies

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Quantitative Research

Because it deals with specific empirical data that is gathered, measured, and
analyzed, quantitative research methodology is a powerful form of research. In
this methodology, relationships between variables are measured or quantified.
This includes both dependent variables that are observed and independent
variables or outcomes. Quantitative research can be applied to both
observational and experimental research. The focus on hypothesis testing is
really what distinguishes quantitative from qualitative research.

An example of a quantitative research project is the development of an
electronic component based on two different kinds of software. If the research
question is Which software enables the electronic component to perform faster
and more efficiently?, the hypothesis is that Software A will outperform
Software B using a specific set of criteria. The research design is to conduct an
experiment to determine the best performing and most efficient software for
the electronic component. Performance is measured based on a specific set of
criteria.

Qualitative Research

Dealing with observation and analyzing trends as well as patterns and
behaviors, qualitative research methodology is often referred to as a softer
form of research approach. Qualitative research can be considered more
exploratory in nature. Information is collected using focus groups, seminars,
surveys, interviews, and forums.

An example of a qualitative research project is the study of how work is
accomplished in an organization. A case study approach may be used as the
research strategy. Information is gathered from organizational charts,
documents, and observation of daily operational behavior. Results and
conclusions from the study may generate recommendations or even more
questions for further research.

Mixed Methods Research

Because it combines the power of quantitative and qualitative approaches,
mixed methods research methodology is often considered the most powerful.
An example of this type of research strategy is the use of both case study and
an experimental design to explore an organization’s processes. Processes are
observed, changed, measured, and the results quantitatively analyzed. Again,
this research methodology combines the qualitative (case study approach) with

Research Methodologies

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the quantitative (experimental design) approach.

Action Research

Action research methodology provides a way to approach solving a problem or
improving a process. The methodology’s iterative nature is very similar to
performing a quality process improvement effort within an organization.
Although there are a number of models, the basic approach is a spiral process
that includes identifying the problem, fact finding, planning, taking action, and
evaluating and correcting as necessary.

One example of an action research project is that of an organization that
operates a sales call center. The call center is dropping a high number of calls,
thus losing potential revenue, so a team is pulled together and data are
collected, reviewed, and an action plan developed. Corrections are continuously
implemented until the call center metrics improve.

Ethics in Research

Whether in daily life, a job, or especially in research, ethical behavior is critical
to protect personal and organizational integrity. When conducting research, the
entire research process must be monitored and carefully administered to
ensure each step of the process is following the highest standards of conduct
possible. Regardless of the research methodology used, during the entire
process, careful consideration must be given to honesty, intellectual property,
use of human subjects, confidentiality, and social responsibility.

Examples of unethical behavior are not very hard to find. In research, ethics
are crucial to maintain credibility of the researcher, the team, and even the
organization conducting the research project. Once the information, analysis,
results, and conclusions have been compromised, the value of the research is
substantially, if not irreparably, compromised.

FAQ:Research Methodology

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Question 1: What is research methodology?

Answer 1: Research methodology is a collection of techniques that is used to
explore the validity of various theories and ideas that are applicable to a
particular field of inquiry. In general, the three broad approaches to research
in business and other disciplines include qualitative, quantitative, and mixed
methodology. These approaches to research provide the framework for
scientific inquiry. Such methodologies provide a systematic and replicable
pathway to answering questions of concern within the field of inquiry. As
such, research methodologies are a means to an end; they are processes that
allow the formulation of a particular viewpoint concerning a theory of interest.

Question 2: Why is research methodology important to completing research?

Answer 2: Any attempt to answer a research question is doomed to fail
without a logical framework within which to examine that question. Research
without methodology is like a corporation without a strategy. It starts
nowhere and leads to nowhere. The methodology that is employed often
defines the direction of the research. It is fair to say that more than a few
unexpected discoveries have resulted from the research methodologies that
are employed in the inquiry.

Question 3: When is it best to use qualitative research techniques?

Answer 3: In studying any phenomenon in business research, one of the
questions that must be answered is the following: What are the behavioral
reactions of the employees or customers to a particular management
decision? These behavioral reactions are qualitative variables that reveal the
thoughts and feelings of those who are affected by the decision. Qualitative
research techniques should be employed when a decision is thought to be
potentially controversial or the business is charting new territory and is not
sure what to expect. Marketing research relies heavily on qualitative research
techniques to gauge the customer’s reaction to a change, elimination of a
product, or the introduction of a new product.

Question 4: What do qualitative research methods really measure?

Answer 4: Qualitative research methods measure emotions and the
reactions of the human element of the business equation. In this type of
research, the personal interview is often the most effective technique.

FAQ: Research Methodology

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Questions such as the following are frequently asked:

• How do you feel about the product?
• Do you enjoy using it?
• Would you recommend the product to others?

Likewise, asking employees about how they feel about a new company policy
can help management to gauge the degree of support or resistance to that
policy. The emotions of the human element can be major determinants of
how successful a firm’s strategy will be.

Question 5: When is it best to use quantitative research techniques?

Answer 5: Quantitative research is aimed at finding out what the degree of
reaction is to some phenomenon. This research measures numerical data
such as revenue or expense numbers from an income statement as a gauge
of the success or failure of a business strategy. A researcher may use this
type of approach to answering a business question when the qualitative
response to a product or decision is already known or is considered less
important, such as in an inelastic demand response caused by a price
increase in a product that the consumer must buy. A good example of this
situation is the price increases in gasoline. Nobody wants to pay $4.00 a
gallon when the price was less than $3.00 just a few short years ago, but
most consumers have no choice but to pay the higher price because they
need gas to drive their cars to work and school. This could be verified using a
demand analysis showing the inelastic nature of demand when the price of
gasoline is changed.

Question 6: What do quantitative research methods really measure?

Answer 6: Quantitative research measures numbers such as from a profit
and loss statement. The increase or decrease in profit is the gauge of the
degree of success or failure of the firm’s strategy. Thus, this measurement
reveals the degree of reaction to the phenomenon that is being studied.
Based on the theory of demand, an argument could be made that all
quantitative studies are an indirect way of evaluating the customer’s
emotional reaction to changes in the marketplace. If the customer has a
positive emotional reaction to a price change, he or she is likely to increase
his or her purchases, which are reflected in the profit and loss statement.
Regardless of what is measured, quantitative research is the easiest to

FAQ: Research Methodology

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conduct.

Question 7: When should mixed research methodology be used?

Answer 7: Mixed research, as the name implies, is a combination of both
qualitative and quantitative research techniques. When entering a new
regional or international market, it is desirable to measure both the
behavioral reaction and also the degree of that reaction in quantitative terms.
Another opportunity to conduct mixed research occurs when a new product is
introduced either in an existing marketplace or a new geographic location.
Doing mixed research can often lead to a broader understanding of the
phenomenon being studied. Mixed research is more costly than quantitative
research and is more time-consuming than either qualitative or quantitative
research because both qualitative and quantitative research techniques are
employed.

Question 8: How does a mixed research methodology approach facilitate
business decision making?

Answer 8: To optimize business decision making, it is desirable to reach the
most thorough level of understanding of the phenomenon upon which is being
decided. Although both qualitative and quantitative research methods offer a
lot of insight into the subject that being studied, only mixed research
optimizes that insight. By measuring both the behavioral reaction and the
quantitative degree of that reaction, the most comprehensive business
decision can be formulated. In this sense, mixed research should facilitate
sound business decision making to an even greater extent than qualitative or
quantitative research alone.

Question 9: How do you select the data that you will use for your research?

Answer 9: Selecting data upon which to base research is the most crucial
step after the determination of the methodology that is to be employed. The
methodology dictates the type of data to be used. If the data are not
available to the researcher, then a change in methodology might be needed.
In qualitative research, the key source of data is from customers or
employees, so access to these two groups and the opportunity to interview
them or to administer surveys is essential. A case study technique might be
used, but access to people and numbers would be required. In a quantitative
study, raw numerical data are needed. If the data are available to the public
through the corporation’s Web site or the company’s Security and Exchange

FAQ: Research Methodology

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Commission filings, then the research can go forward. If the researcher has
access to additional information directly from the company, then the research
process is aided even further.

Question 10: Does your research need to include statistical analysis?

Answer 10: Almost every research project can be aided by the inclusion of
statistical analysis at some level; however, the inclusion of a significant
amount of statistical analysis in any research project is dependent upon the
nature of that research. There is no benefit in including unnecessary
statistical analysis simply because you can do so. In many respects, the
amount of statistical analysis used in the research will be determined by what
is needed to prove or disprove the hypothesis in the study.

Methodsof Data Collection

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A necessary step in applying statistical methods is to collect data. Data can be
considered the raw numbers, which are then analyzed and turned into
information. Recommendations are then made based on the information.

There are three basic ways to collect data.

The first way to collect data is formal research, usually in the form of a survey.
This, along with the next collection method, is one of the most common ways
to collect data. Not everybody has designed a survey, but most people have at
least taken one. It is important to give the survey to a large enough and
representative sample of the people whose opinions you want to gather.
Surveys are used to gather data about the following:

• Attitudes (How do you feel about this?)
• Preferences (Which do you prefer? Which is better or worse?)
• Stated behavior (How often do you do this? How likely would you be to

purchase this product?)

Many surveys contain some unstructured, unforced-response questions (to
which respondents can answer anything they want), but the structured, forced-
response questions (that only allow the respondent to choose from among
predetermined answers) provide the vast majority of data that can be further
analyzed using statistical methods.

Surveys can be conducted in a variety of ways, each having pros and cons:

• By telephone
• In person
• On paper
• Over the Internet

The second way to collect data is as a by-product of day-to-day operations.
Data are often automatically collected as a result of processes that occur during
the operation of the business. This is the other common way of collecting data.
Examples include the following:

• Sales figures
• Machine output
• Web site usage statistics
• Hours worked by workers clocking in
• Bank deposits and withdrawals

Methods of Data Collection

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The third way to collect data is by observations made directly by people. This is
used when it is not possible to conduct a survey, and the data are not
otherwise available. Examples include the following:

• Sampling every nth product as it comes off the assembly line and
observing whether there are any defects

• Counting the number of empty spaces in a parking lot every hour
• Observing whether it rained on a particular day

Keep in mind that many characteristics about people (or other things) are not
naturally represented by numbers. A good example of this is gender—
male and female. This question appears on virtually all consumer
surveys and can be analyzed statistically by arbitrarily assigning the
value 0 for male and 1 for female (or vice versa). This technique is also
used to analyze survey questions that have a yes-or-no response. Yes is
usually coded as 1, whereas no is coded as 0.

FAQ:Gathering and Analyzing Data

1

Question 1: Describe the two categories of types of sampling methods.

Answer 1: There are many different types of sampling methods within two
different categories. There are probability sampling methods and non-
probability sampling methods. Probability sampling methods include random
sampling, stratified sampling, cluster sampling, and systematic sampling.
Nonprobability sampling methods include convenience sampling, judgmental
sampling, snowball sampling, and quota sampling.

Question 2: How is narrative data gathered and analyzed?

Answer 2: Narrative data can be gathered by methods including content
analysis, focus groups, interviews, historical analysis, ethnography, case
studies, and observations. The analysis of narrative data is completed by
identifying segments of narrative content that create patterns or trends when
compared and contrasted to similar narrative content.

Question 3: How is numeric data gathered and analyzed?

Answer 3: Numeric data, or data that is presented in the form of numbers, is
gathered via a number of different methods including surveys, quasi-
experimental, numerical data analysis, and empirical testing. Numeric data is
analyzed using statistical analysis processes.

Question 4: Provide an example of different applications of qualitative and
quantitative research.

Answer 4: Qualitative research is based on the analysis of narrative data.
Quantitative research is based on the analysis of numerical data. An example
of qualitative research would be a historical content analysis of policies
related to the development of the No Child Left Behind Act. In the process of
this study, a researcher would analyze narrative data from documents
searching for patterns or themes in the narrative content from each data
source. An example of quantitative research would be the use of a survey to
examine the relationship between the use of PowerPoint as an instructional
tool and student learning outcomes. The researcher would use the numeric
data from the student test scores to compare and contrast the outcomes from
the control group versus the testing group.

Question 5: Can a researcher use both qualitative and quantitative methods

FAQ: Gathering and Analyzing Data

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in the same research project?

Answer 5: Yes, a researcher can use both qualitative and quantitative
methods in the same research project. This is called a mixed methods
approach. Often, a mixed methods approach is used to provide a full or
comprehensive examination of a research topic. For example, a researcher
may use a focus group, which is a qualitative methodology, to examine the
impact of a new policy within a school district. Based on the findings of the
focus group, the researcher would then develop a survey to distribute to a
larger sample population. The combination of these two research
methodologies would provide a full and comprehensive examination of this
new policy both from a narrow qualitative perspective as well as a large scale
quantitative perspective.

Question 6: What is meant by the phrase “statistically significant
difference?”

Answer 6: When the phrases “statistically significant” and “significant
difference” have made it into conversation in the general public, they are
used to identify a product or issue that is “different” in some way from other
products or issues. The phrase has a similar meaning in research, but its
definition is much more precise.

When researchers test an idea which involves a hypothesis, they try to
determine if changing variables produces an effect which is dramatic enough
that it could not be caused by chance. For example, if a researcher was
measuring productivity each day for a week, differences in production each
day would be expected by chance. These normal variations would not be
considered statistically significant differences.

For a result to be statistically significant, it would have to be a great enough
difference so a “chance” result could be ruled out. When this occurs, the
results are identified as being either “statistically significant” or that a
“significant difference” exists between the two conditions under study (normal
temperature and five degree colder temperature).

Question 7: What are some issues to consider when designing a data
collection instrument?

Answer 7: Some of the factors and the questions that impact the design and

FAQ: Gathering and Analyzing Data

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roll out of the data collection instrument include the following:

• Level of Language: The interview form, survey, or questionnaire
must be designed to match the language level of the target
population.

• Question Structure: The types of questions and their arrangement
must be considered. Will the demographic section be completed first
or last? Will questions that contain potentially strong emotional
reactions be included, and if so, will these be placed at the end so as
not to influence other responses? Can some questions be excluded
because they are not related to the core purpose of the instrument?

• Questionnaire Instructions: Will instructions and background be
provided to participants at the beginning of the process so the full
purpose of the study is revealed before the questionnaire is
completed? If not, does this make a difference? If so, how?

• Response Alternatives: Will completion of open-ended questions be
required? Is there time for open-ended questions? Will this negatively
impact the response rate? Will a checklist of answers be provided
which forces a decision? Will rankings be used such as “agree” or
“strongly agree”? Does using yes/no responses compromise data
collection?

After these and other questions are considered, the instrument is often tested
or “piloted” to ensure that participants are not confused with any aspect of
the process and that the entire process can be viewed, refined, and readied
for implementation.

What the researcher is trying to do with the survey or questionnaire is collect
information without biasing the participants in responding one way or
another. For example, the wording that is used becomes important if you
provide examples or give choices that do not fully represent all possible
answers. Consider this question about an education budget item:

“Would you be willing to reduce student extracurricular activities to bring the
school budget in line?”

Potentially, the answer to this question could be used to support a “hidden
agenda” to say that “the majority of respondents agreed that extracurricular
activities should be reduced.” A more realistic, unbiased approach would be
to provide a list of possible items to consider for reduction, including

FAQ: Gathering and Analyzing Data

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extracurricular activities.

Question 8: What is an annotated bibliography, and how can it fit into a
research project?

Answer 8: An annotated bibliography is a list of sources that apply to a
particular topic, along with brief explanation for the content of each source.
The annotated bibliography can serve as a start for a literature review, which
is a major stage in development of a research project. The annotated
bibliography differs from the format and purpose of a literature review.
However, the bibliography is a quick way to begin collecting relevant sources,
so that you can work from this information when generating the full literature
review.

Each item, such as a book or journal article, in an annotated bibliography is
formatted according to American Psychological Association (APA) reference
format guidelines. Beneath each item, is an original explanation, about a
paragraph, to describe the content and relevance of the item. Make sure,
when writing these “annotations,” to create original statements, or quote
accurately from the source, with proper identification of direct quotations.
Since most annotations are brief, they are usually in the project author’s own
words.

Qualitative & Quantitative Research Design

Students in their freshman year complained that the Composition 101 class should be
eliminated because they already knew how to write.

Organizations
Organizations are faced with various problems and issues on a daily basis.

Sometimes, the problems are complex and require further inquiry. To solve these

problems, research often is necessary. The research process involves developing

questions that help collect data to make an informed decision.

Quantitative
numeric standards, closed-ended ques-
tions

“On a scale of one to five, with one being
the least important, how important do
you think Composition 101 is for incoming
freshmen at this university?”

Qualitative
surveys, interviews, open-ended questions

“Why do you think Composition 101 is
important for incoming freshmen at this
university?”

“How can Composition 101 be improved
for incoming freshmen?”

Research
On a scale of one to
five, how important

do you think this
class is?

31What type of research would
you conduct to answer if
Composition 101 should be
required for incoming freshmen?

Quantitative Tips
• Make sure to tabulate your findings. For example, if seventy students answered
with a three on a survey asking how important Composition 101 is for their
college careers, these would be tabulated accordingly. Also, if yes or no answers
are found, these are tabulated based on how many respondents replied.

• Compute ratings and rankings by averaging each question. From the current
scenario, the survey could show that fifty students ranked Composition 101 at a
three, meaning that they believe it is somewhat important.

Qualitative Tips

• Read all of the data.

• Organize any comments from the interviews or surveys into similar categories.
For example, if fifty students reported that the class helped them improve their
grammar skills, this would be one category.

• Make sure to label the categories. In this case, one category could be labeled as
Grammar Improvement.

• Find any trends or patterns in the data. In this scenario, a pattern might show that
most students learned something from the course.

Analysis, Assessment, Technology, EDU-602-1904D-01

Mary Moore

Unit 2 Discussion Board

 

Deana Plaskon 

Part 1

 

1: Coin collections: The assumption for coin collecting would be that it is a “quantitative study because money is involved.  However, what if the person wants to collect only silver coins, rare pennies, Indian head pieces, or just the newest quarters from all fifty states?  This would involve a “qualitative study.”  Information provided by Arghode, (2012), states that there are distinct “ontological, epistemological, and methodological” differences in qualitative and quantitative research and statistical gathering of information.  However, coin collecting goes much deeper than a mere hobby.   According to a non-profit known as the “American Numismatic Association” (2020), a collector must take a serious amount of time learning how to collect coins.  This non-profit has annual conference that teaches collectors how to begin coin collecting.  The qualitative research becomes key in this type of collection when a person chooses to collect specific coins.  

2: Favorite recipes: Choosing, creating or looking up favorite recipes can be both qualitative and quantitative research.  Recipes can be handed down for generations.  Research conducted by Graebner, Martin., & Roundy (2012), show that recipes can be used creatively.  When an individual decides to make a dish even the simplest of ingredients can be adjusted.  However, this will change the entire taste of the recipe.  Favorite dishes call for specific measures of each ingredient.  This makes the favorite recipes quantitative.”  The ingredients are added in a certain order which is qualitative.  Recipes cooked in specific order and measure turn out beautiful and tasty.  When a person makes a dish without using a clear measured amount of ingredients not in a specific order the food might taste bad or turn out wrong (Graebner, Martin., & Roundy (2012).

3: Rising home costs: When doing research on rising costs of buying, owning, and taking care of homes, there are several aspects to include.  According to Myers (1985), in the 1970’s there was a huge increase in the purchase of homes by young married couples.  The department of Housing and Urban Development reported that due to wives going to work buying increased and costs decreased.   However, this boost in buying homes began to decline in the mid 80’s.  In an article from “Monthly Labor Review” (2009), the recent increase in home costs and decline in purchases is due to several elements.  These are mainly quantitative in basis.  The economic downfall of American lenders, high increase in loan rates, trusts, and credit markets all have their fault in the high cost of the housing market.   The interest rates became so high that many homeowners lost the ability to pay and many were forced out.  This caused the rate of homelessness to increase expeditiously.  The early 2000’s brought about a small decrease in the cost of housing.  This was short-lived according to the United States Housing and Urban Development (Productivity’s role in housing booms and busts, 2009). 

4: Best high schools: The method for rating best high schools in America could be done through both quantitative and qualitative methods.  The most effective measures for predicting success in a high school are the quantitative testing such as, “ACT/SAT and GPA.”  This research would show results from testing, assessment and evaluation.  However, these reveal only a small amount of (25%) the learner’s academic accomplishments.   These testing standards are used for admission into college.  This are best for admissions, but there are other predicters for college course planning that have produced successful and reliable results.  There must be quantitative studies related to motivational outcomes such as, “separation, transition, adjustment, difficulty, incongruence, isolation, incorporation, finances, learning, and external obligations for commitments” (Sparkman, Maulding, & Roberts, 2012).

5: Carpools: Carpooling is designed for one or more people to save on gas, preserve air quality, time and form relationships.  The research conducted on this subject is mostly quantitative.  While there are “monetary benefits, since sharing in a carpool can save a person thousands of dollars each year.  Rideshare reports that each car on the highway releases what it weighs in carbon dioxide annually.  This is significantly decreased with carpooling.  Congestion on the freeway is also decreased with carpools.  Lanes have been created just for vehicles having more than two people which reduce travel time.  Driving takes complete attention to the road.  Carpools allow riders to check emails, read the morning news, check bank accounts, or maybe close your eyes just for a second before beginning the day.  Carpools save on gas and some states like Georgia have a “cash for gas” program that gives rewards because of the “Clean Air Campaign” (Planetsave, nd). 

6: Political polls:  The research of political polls required qualitative and quantitative research.  This brought about searching the perspective views of President Trump from 2106 to 2018.   The poll included Every American: favorability roughly 41%, Republicans: about 81%, White Evangelical: approximately 68%, Whites no college: 55%.  White Americans seem to favor Trump over non-whites.  Americans with college degrees seem to approve more of the president than those with no degree.  It is not clear why education matters.  Only 35% Hispanic Catholics and seven % African Americans support Trump (Najle & Jones, 2019).  

7: Parent teacher participation: The studies conducted on this subject are qualitative.  Parents and teachers work together for the common goal of student success.  According to Feuerstein (2000), there are many elements that increase student interests in school activities.  These aspects seem to focus on family, personal background, ethnicity, family make-up, and socioeconomic status (SES).  Several studies suggest that parent involvement increases the attitude of learners toward “school, homework habits, school attendance, and general level of academic achievement.”  This normally begins when the teacher or instructor contacts the parents (Feuerstein, 2000).

8: Book fairs:  Research concerning book fairs is qualitative.  The state of Kentucky has an annual Book Fair in Lexington.  This year will be the 39th.  The fair will have several vendors including “University Press of Kentucky, Kentucky Monthly, Larkspur Press, and Butler Books, University of Cincinnati Press, and Reformation Publishing.” There will also be exhibitions by “Kentucky Humanities, Friends of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington Public Library, Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning, Kentucky Historical Society, BCTC, Eastern Kentucky University MFA, and Spalding University MFA. Concession stands are also available for opening.   Books on all topics, subject matter and source will be available.  Concessions available for purchase on-site.  These books can be purchased after the fair as well.  School book fairs help to support the education of students.  Furthermore, book fairs offer support for the many colleges and schools that provide these books (Kentucky Humanities, 2019).

 

References

American Numismatic Association (2020). Coin dealer directory Retrieved from https://www.money.org/

Arghode, V. (2012). Qualitative and Quantitative Research: Paradigmatic Differences. Global Education Journal, 2012(4), 155–163. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy.cecybrary.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=85678192&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Feuerstein, A. (2000). School characteristics and parent involvement: Influences on participation in children’s schools. Journal of Educational Research, 94(1), 29–40. Retrieved from https://doi-org.proxy.cecybrary.com/10.1080/00220670009598740

Graebner, M., Martin., J., & Roundy, P. (2012). Qualitative data: Cooking without a recipe Roundy, Strategic Organization10(3) 276–284Retrieved from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1476127012452821

Kentucky Humanities (2019). 2019 Kentucky Book Fair Retrieved from https://www.kyhumanities.org/programs/kentucky-book-festival/2019-kentucky-book-festival-schedule-of-events/2019-kentucky-book-fair

Myers, D. (1985). Wives’ earnings and rising costs of homeownership. Social Science Quarterly (University of Texas Press), 66(2), 319–329. 

Najle, M., & Jones, R., (2019). American democracy in crisis: The fate of pluralism in a divided nation Retrieved from https://www.prri.org/research/american-democracy-in-crisis-the-fate-of-pluralism-in-a-divided-nation/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2pS84Pbs5gIViobACh2MCAx_EAAYASAAEgIihPD_BwE

Productivity’s role in housing booms and busts. (2009). Monthly Labor Review, 132(8), 45. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy.cecybrary.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=48323461&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Sparkman, L., Maulding, W. & Roberts, J. (2012). Non-Cognitive predictors of student success in college. College student Journal, 46(3), 642–652. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy.cecybrary.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=79547321&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Planetsave (nd). Five benefits of carpooling: How to reduce your carbon footprint Retrieved from https://planetsave.com/2012/11/08/five-unexpected-benefits-of-carpooling-how-to-reduce-your-carbon-footprint/

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Unit 2

Part 1

Qualitative research is a process that focuses on words, its exploratory and seeks to unearth the opinions, thoughts, and feelings of respondents. Quantitative research is numerical, its the approach used during which numerical data is collected. Both quantitative and qualitative methods could be used for many of the given scenarios because they are such broad topics. As a magazine editor, I decided to make some of these topics “my own”.

Coin collections; Starting a coin collection: knowledge is the key to success in coin collecting as with any hobby. You must take the time to educate yourself about coin collecting. There are books on the subject and The American Numismatic Association holds seminars each summer for beginners starting a coin collection. Qualitative research would be used as it is used to uncover trends in thoughts and opinions. The type of qualitative method that could be used is ethnographic as its goal is to understand the characteristics of cultural variations.

Favorite recipes; How cooking favorite family recipes can help families become closer: As families create dishes together this can be a time of fun, a time to share experiences, and start new traditions. Preparing favorite family recipes has the potential to strengthen family bonds. It is stated in the March 30th edition of Family Dinner Statistics that 74% agree that cooking together promotes happy families (Braider). The type of research used would be quantitative research as it uses quantifiable data to articulate facts. The type of quantitative method that could be used is called experimental research as it uses a scientific method to establish cause-effect relationships.

Rising home costs; Homeownership has declined: House prices seem to rise quicker than wages do, which means homes have become less affordable. Homeownership rates have declined from its peak in 2004. According to The Washington Post, the overall level remains 13 % below the historical average. The research method would be quantitative research as it is used to quantify the problem by way of generating numerical data or data that can be transformed into useable statistics. The quantitative method used would be descriptive research as it aims to describe the current status of a variable or phenomenon.

Best High Schools; Best High Schools in the U.S.: A great high school educates all students exposing them to challenging coursework. The highest-ranked U.S. public schools in the U.S. News & World Report 2019 Best High Schools rankings are those whose students demonstrated outstanding outcomes in math and reading state assessments, passed college-level exams, and graduated in high proportions. Because of the rankings, quantitative research would be used as it is numerical. The researcher transforms what is collected and observed in numerical data. Answering the “what” and”how many”. The type of quantitative method to be used is called descriptive research because it focuses on the “what” of the subject.

Carpools; How does carpooling work: A carpool is an arrangement between two or more people to make a regular journey in a single car. Having fewer cars on the road means improved air quality and is a great way to make new friends. Qualitative research would be used as it is a process of real-life inquiry that aims to understand social phenomena. The qualitative method that could be used is narrative research because it gathers information as it happens, it uses a sequence of events from one or two individuals to form a consistent story.

Political polls: When it is time to vote people are usually bombarded with statistics. Political polling is a social science with rules about sample size and a random selection of participants. Quantitative research would be used because it is more scientific, objective, fast and acceptable. Because large amounts of data are gathered and then analyzed statistically it almost erases bias. Quantitative research ends with conclusions or recommendations as it tries to quantify and understand by looking for results that can be projected to a larger population. It can help you see the big picture.

Parent-teacher participation; Why it is important: When teachers and parents work together it can significantly impact a student’s success. Qualitative research would be used because it focuses on words. Its methods are exploratory they seek to unearth the opinions of respondents. It is used to inform new concepts. The qualitative research method used would be grounded theory as it seeks to provide an explanation or theory by understanding how a community performs.

Bookfairs: Give students motivation to read by offering a wide selection of books. It is also a great way to support your school. Qualitative research would be used as its data is descriptive in nature. through observation, it relies on adjectives and other descriptive words to indicate qualities. The qualitative research method used would be a case study as it involves deep understanding through multiple data sources. It is used in business marketing.

Retrieved from:

The American Numismatic Association 

https://www.money.org

Home prices are rising https:// 

www.housingwire.com/articles

 47878.80& of U.S. markets.

A Rhode, v. (2012). Qualitative and Quantitative Research: Paradigmatic Differences. Global Education Journal, 2012 (4), 155-163 https:// search 

ebscohost.com

 

proxy.cecbrary.com

Qualitative and Quantitative. 

https://www.typesof

 

research.org