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Classification of research by methods of analysis

Classification of research by methods of analysis

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1.Descriptive research
It is the process of collecting data in order to test hypotheses or to answer questions concerning the current status of the subjects in the study. It determines and reports the way things are. It attempts to describe such things as possible behaviour, attitudes, values and characteristics.
Steps involved in descriptive research
•Formulating the objectives of a study. The first step is to define the question that is to be answered.
•Designing the methods of data collection. Descriptive data are typically collected through a questionnaire survey, an interview or by observation.
•Selecting the sample. The sample should be selected in such a way that findings based on it are likely to correspond to those that would be obtained if the whole population were to be studied. If a sample meets this criterion, we say it is representative.
•Data collection. The data should be collected by well trained assistants to avoid errors and biases. It is possible to use more than one method of collecting data depending on the objectives of the research.
•Analyzing the results. Frequency results will in many cases reveal preliminary problems that must be collected before any advanced statistical computations are done. Statistical computations which are often done in descriptive studies are frequencies, percentages, means, modes, medians, standard deviations, variances and correlations.
2.Causal-comparative research
It is used to explore relationships between variables. It determines reasons or causes for the current status of the phenomenon under study. The variables of interest cannot be manipulated unlike in experimental research. For example, one may wish to discover possible causes of a behaviour pattern in some subjects by comparing them to another group in which this behaviour pattern is not present. This approach is sometimes called ex-facto research because causes are studied after they have exerted their effect on another variable.
Steps in causal-comparative research
•Define the research question
•Select a group that possesses the characteristics, which the researcher wants to study. The group selected must be homogeneous in certain critical variables that the researcher needs to study.
•Select a comparison group which does not display the characteristics under study but which is similar to the study group in other respects.
•Collect data on relevant variables on both the experimental and control groups
•Analyze the data. The first step is to compute descriptive statistics for each comparison group in the study. Secondly carry out tests which will show whether the groups are different. Most commonly used tests are t-test and analysis of variance.
Advantages of causal-comparative study
•Allows a comparison of groups without having to manipulate the independent variables
•It can be done solely to identify variables worthy of experimental investigation
•They are relatively cheap.
Disadvantages of causal-comparative study
•Interpretations are limited because the researcher does not know whether a particular variable is a cause or result of a behaviour being studied.
•There may be a third variable which could be affecting the established relationship but which may not be established in the study.

3.Correlation Methods
The correlation method describes in quantitative terms the degree to which variables are related. The degree of relationship is expressed as a correlation coefficient (r). If variables are found are found not to be significantly correlated, these variables are removed from from further observation. If they are highly correlated, this is used as basis on which to carry out causal-comparative or experimental studies to determine if the relationship is causal. A correlational study explores relationships between variables and also tries to predict a subject’s score on one variable given his or her score on another variable.
Steps in correlational research
•Problem statement. First identify variables that appear to be omportant determinants in the behaviour pattern under study.
•Selection of subjects who provide the relevant data. The group should be reasonably varied in those characteristics that the research is interested in studying.
•Data collection. Can be collected using various techniques such as questionnaires, interviews, observations, e.t.c the data must be in quantifiable form so that it can statistically manipulated.
•Data analysis. A correlation coefficient is used to show the strength of the relationship between variables and also the direction of the relationship. The correlation coefficient assume values between -1 and +1.

Advantages of the correlational method
•Permits one to analyze inter-relationships among a large number of variables in a single study.
•Allows one to analyze how several variables either singly or in combination might affect a particular phenomenon being studied.
•The method provides information concerning the degree of relationship between variables being studied.

Disadvantages of the correlational method
•Correlation between two variables does not necessarily imply causation although researchers often tend to interpret such a relationship to mean causation.
•Since the correlation coefficient is an index, any two variables will always show a relationship even when commonsense dictates that such variables are not related.
•The correlation coefficient is very sensitive to the size of the sample.

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Titany answered the question on October 21, 2021 at 08:17

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