SOCW 6301 Week 5 Discussions

SOCW 6301 Week 5 Discussions

Discussion 1: Group Research Designs

There are several different types of research designs. Each design is intended to respond to a particular type of research question. The type of research design depends on the type of research questions asked. For this Discussion, select one of the articles from the reading list and consider several classifications of group research designs.

Post your response to the following: Describe which groups are compared in the research. Then, classify the research design as follows:

1.       By explaining whether the study is pre-experimental (cross-sectional, one-shot case study, and longitudinal), experimental (control group with pretest and posttest, posttest only, or four-group design), or quasi-experimental (comparing one group to itself at different times or comparing two different groups)
2.       By indicating what the researchers report about limitations of the study
3.       By explaining concerns you have regarding internal validity and the ability of the study to draw conclusions about causality
4.       By explaining any concerns you have about the generalizability of the study (external validity) and what aspect of the research design might limit generalizability

Please use the resources to support your answer.

SAMPLE ANSWER

Explain Group Research Designs

Group research is a type of research that focuses on studying groups of people. It is often used in social and behavioral sciences, as well as in marketing and advertising. There are three main types of group research designs: – Survey – Focus Group – Experimental

Purpose of Group Research Designs

Group research designs are used to study a phenomenon within a group of individuals. This type of design is often used in the social sciences and allows researchers to observe how a group interacts with one another. Group research designs can be used to study phenomena such as communication, decision-making, and socialization.

Types of Group Research Designs

There are three types of group research designs:

1. Cross-sectional designs compare groups of subjects at a single point in time. For example, a researcher may want to compare the attitudes of men and women on a particular issue.

2. Longitudinal designs follow the same subjects over time. For example, a researcher may want to track changes in attitudes toward a particular issue over the course of several years.

3. Experimental designs test causal relationships between variables by manipulating one variable and measuring the effect on another variable. For example, a researcher may want to test whether exposure to a particular message will change people’s attitudes on an issue.

How to Conduct Group Research Designs

There are a few key things to keep in mind when conducting group research designs:

1. Establish clear objectives for the research. What are you trying to learn or accomplish?

2. Keep the groups small, with no more than 10 participants per group.

3. Make sure the groups are homogeneous, meaning that they are similar in terms of demographics, interests, etc. This will help to ensure that any results are not due to differences between the groups.

4. Make sure the groups are independent from each other; that is, they should not be aware of or influenced by each other’s responses or data.

5. Conduct the same research procedures with all groups so that results can be compared accurately.

6. Pay close attention to detail and be sure to document everything thoroughly. This is especially important with qualitative data (such as interviews or focus groups) which can be difficult to interpret later on.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are three main types of group research designs: explanatory, exploratory, and descriptive. Each type has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it is important to choose the right design for your particular research project. Keep in mind that no research design is perfect, and you may need to adapt your design as you collect and analyze your data. With a little planning and creativity, you can create a group research design that will help you answer your research questions.