Research Approaches and Designs
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Research Approaches and Designs

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What is the purpose of a literature review in a research study?

  • To test the research hypothesis
  • To select the research participants
  • To identify gaps in existing research (correct)
  • To collect data for the study
  • Which of the following is a characteristic of a quantitative research theory?

  • It is used to develop a typology
  • It is used to generate themes
  • It is used to explore a phenomenon
  • It is used to test causal claims (correct)
  • What is the primary focus of a mixed methods research approach?

  • To test a hypothesis through quantitative data
  • To develop a theory through qualitative data
  • To explore a phenomenon through qualitative data
  • To combine qualitative and quantitative data (correct)
  • What is the purpose of abstracting studies in a literature review?

    <p>To summarize the findings of the study</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a criterion for selecting a research approach?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of a theoretical perspective in a research study?

    <p>To provide an explanation for the research findings</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a step in conducting a literature review?

    <p>Searching computerized databases</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of defining terms in a research study?

    <p>To clarify the meaning of key concepts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What influences the choice of approach in a research study?

    <p>The research problem or issue being studied, the personal experiences of the researcher, and the audience for whom the researcher writes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the key distinction between a quantitative and a qualitative study?

    <p>The type of data collected</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a characteristic of a qualitative study?

    <p>Data is collected through interviews or observations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main idea of Cherryholmes's version of pragmatism?

    <p>Pragmatism is driven by anticipated consequences, reluctance to tell a true story, and the idea that there is an external world independent of our minds</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the focus of Crotty's framework for social research?

    <p>Tying together epistemological issues, theoretical perspectives, methodology, and methods</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the writing exercise that asks you to identify a research question in a journal article?

    <p>To discuss what approach would be best to study the question and why</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main difference between a mixed methods study and a single-method study?

    <p>The use of both quantitative and qualitative methods</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of using the four combinations of worldviews, designs, and research methods in Figure 1.1?

    <p>To guide the development of a research project</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of phenomenological research?

    <p>To describe the lived experiences of individuals</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which research design primarily derives theory based on participant views?

    <p>Grounded theory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key characteristic of an ethnographic study?

    <p>It studies shared patterns within a cultural group</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common method of data collection in case studies?

    <p>Detailed, varied data collection over time</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which philosophical background is primarily associated with grounded theory?

    <p>Sociology</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In phenomenological research, what is the outcome of describing experiences?

    <p>The essence of the participants' experiences</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which research design is narrative chronology often used?

    <p>Phenomenology</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What methods are often used in ethnographic research?

    <p>Interviews and observations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the relationship between research approaches, designs, and methods?

    <p>They represent different perspectives of research from broad to narrow.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What factors should inform the decision on which research approach to use?

    <p>Philosophical assumptions of the researcher.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about qualitative and quantitative approaches is correct?

    <p>They should be viewed as ends on a continuum of research approaches.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the initial focus when embarking on a research study?

    <p>Establishing good writing and ethical practices.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which approach combines elements of both qualitative and quantitative methods?

    <p>Mixed methods.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key consideration when reviewing literature for a proposed study?

    <p>To position the study within the existing literature.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When selecting a research approach, what aspect related to the research problem is important?

    <p>The nature of the research problem or issue.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what way can qualitative and quantitative approaches influence research outcomes?

    <p>They provide different perspectives and insights into the study.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main reason why some researchers prefer quantitative research?

    <p>Quantitative research is more widely accepted and familiar.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an advantage of using qualitative research methods?

    <p>Qualitative research allows for a deeper understanding of complex phenomena.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a potential challenge for researchers using qualitative methods?

    <p>Qualitative research is often criticized for being unscientific.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key characteristic of a mixed methods researcher?

    <p>A mixed methods researcher is comfortable with both quantitative and qualitative research.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key factor to consider when choosing a research approach?

    <p>The specific research question being addressed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a reason why a researcher might choose a mixed methods approach?

    <p>To strengthen the validity and reliability of research findings.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the importance of considering the audience when planning a research project?

    <p>The audience's expectations can influence the research design.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main takeaway regarding the choice of research approach?

    <p>The choice of approach should be based on a combination of factors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Research Approaches

    • Research approaches are plans and procedures for research that span from broad assumptions to detailed methods of data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
    • Three key terms in research: research approaches, research designs, and research methods.

    The Three Approaches to Research

    • Three research approaches: (a) qualitative, (b) quantitative, and (c) mixed methods.
    • Qualitative and quantitative approaches are not discrete and should not be viewed as rigid, distinct categories, or dichotomies.
    • Research approaches represent different ends on a continuum.

    Research Designs

    • Phenomenological research: describes lived experiences of individuals about a phenomenon as described by participants.
    • Grounded theory: derives a general, abstract theory of a process, action, or interaction grounded in the views of participants.
    • Ethnography: studies shared patterns of behaviors, language, and actions of an intact cultural group in a natural setting over a prolonged period.
    • Case studies: develops an in-depth analysis of a case, often a program, event, activity, process, or one or more individuals.

    Criteria for Selecting a Research Approach

    • Research problem or issue being addressed
    • Researchers' personal experiences
    • Audience for the study

    The Role of Theory in Research

    • Quantitative theory use: testing causal claims, defining a theory, forms of theories, and writing a theoretical perspective.
    • Qualitative theory use: variation in theory use, definition of a theory, and writing a theoretical perspective.

    Review of the Literature

    • The literature review: uses the literature to position the proposed study within the existing literature.
    • Steps in conducting a literature review: searching computerized databases, prioritizing literature material, and abstracting studies.

    Writing Exercises

    • Identify a research question and discuss the best approach to study it and why.
    • Take a topic and discuss a project that brings together a worldview, designs, and methods, identifying whether it is quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods research.

    Additional Readings

    • Cherryholmes (1992): discusses pragmatism as a contrasting perspective from scientific realism.
    • Crotty (1998): offers a useful framework for tying together epistemological issues, theoretical perspectives, methodology, and methods of social research.

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    Description

    This quiz covers different research approaches, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods designs. It also touches on criteria for selecting a research approach and the importance of considering the research problem, personal experiences, and audience.

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