- Identify a research question in a journal article and discuss what approach would be best to study the question and why.
- Take a topic that you would like to study, and using the four combinations of worldviews, designs, and research methods in Figure 1.1, discuss a project that brings together a worldview, designs, and methods. Identify whether this would be quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods research. Use the typical scenarios that we have advanced in this chapter as a guide.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
1. Research Question from a Journal Article
A sample research question from a journal article could be: “What impact does social media usage have on the mental health of teenagers?”
To study this, a quantitative research approach would be best suited. This approach would allow the collection and analysis of numerical data, such as surveys or questionnaires assessing social media usage and mental health indicators. A survey could be conducted to measure the frequency of social media use and score mental health based on predefined psychological scales. Using statistical analysis, the relationship between social media usage and mental health can be measured and conclusions can be drawn about the degree of impact social media has on mental well-being. This method is preferred because it can generalize findings to a larger population through the use of standardized measures and statistical significance.
2. Topic and Research Design Combination
For the second part, let’s say the topic I would like to study is: “The effectiveness of mindfulness programs on stress reduction in corporate employees.”
Now, considering the four combinations of worldviews, designs, and research methods from Figure 1.1, here’s how I would approach this research:
- Worldview: Post-positivism
- Post-positivism focuses on understanding reality through observation and measurement while acknowledging that all research is subject to limitations and bias. In this case, we can hypothesize that mindfulness programs will reduce stress, and we can measure this with standardized tools.
- Research Design: Experimental design
- In this design, employees will be randomly assigned to either a treatment group (those who participate in mindfulness programs) or a control group (those who do not participate). The impact of the intervention (mindfulness program) on stress reduction will be measured before and after the program using valid, reliable stress measurement scales.
- Research Methods: Quantitative methods
- This is a quantitative study because it relies on measurable data such as stress scores, comparing them across groups (mindfulness vs. control). Statistical analysis (e.g., t-tests or ANOVA) would be used to assess whether the mindfulness program led to a statistically significant reduction in stress levels among participants.
This would be a quantitative study because it focuses on quantifiable data related to stress reduction and uses statistical analysis to evaluate the effects of an intervention.
Let me generate the image related to the study design combinations. I will create a visual based on the provided figure for better understanding.
Here is an educational diagram illustrating the four combinations of worldviews, designs, and research methods. It visually connects the concepts to help guide your understanding of different research approaches. Let me know if you’d like further clarification!
