Research Methods, Designs, Scope, and Delimitations

Vocabulary flashcards covering quantitative and qualitative research designs, research methods, and parameters for scope, delimitation, and limitation.

What (Research Parameter)

The research parameter that identifies the topic of investigation and the specific variables included in the study.

Where (Research Parameter)

The research parameter that specifies the venue or setting where the research is conducted.

When (Research Parameter)

The research parameter that indicates the time frame during which the study was conducted.

Why (Research Parameter)

The research parameter that explains the general objectives and main purpose of conducting the research.

Who (Research Parameter)

The research parameter that describes the subject of the study, including the population and sampling.

How (Research Parameter)

The research parameter that explains the methodology, research design, instruments used, and why certain variables were excluded.

Research Methods

The particular strategies researchers use to collect the evidence necessary for building and testing theories (Frey, Botan, Friedman, & Kreps 1991).

Research Design

The arrangement of conditions for collection and analysis of data in a fashion that guides decisions pertaining to what, where, when, how much, and by what means a study is conducted.

Research Design Classification Structure

A schematic diagram categorizing research methods into quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods, and organizing quantitative designs by number of contacts, reference period, and nature of investigation.

Scope of the Study

The domain and coverage of a research project, specifying what is included in terms of concept, number of subjects or population, and timeline.

Delimitation

Boundaries of the research study arising from the researcher's conscious decisions of what factors, variables, participants, or time frames to exclude.

Limitation

Uncontrollable factors associated with qualitative studies in natural settings that affect validity and reliability and are difficult for the researcher to control or replicate.

Cross-Sectional Study Design

A quantitative design commonly used in the social sciences to determine the prevalence of a phenomenon, situation, problem, or attitude by taking a cross-section of the population at one point in time.

Before and After Design

Also known as the pre-test/post-test design, a design that measures changes in a variable by comparing two sets of cross-sectional data collected on the same population before and after an intervention.

Longitudinal Study Design

A quantitative design used to determine the pattern and extent of change in a phenomenon over time by visiting the study population at regular intervals over an extended period.

Retrospective Study Design

A research design used to investigate a phenomenon, situation, problem, or issue that happened in the past, based on available past data or respondent recall.

Prospective Study Design

A research design that attempts to establish future outcomes or what is likely to happen, commonly used in experiments where researchers wait for an intervention to register its effect.

Retrospective-Prospective Study Design

A study design wherein available historical data are analyzed and used as bases for future projection without involving a control group, such as in trend studies.

Experimental Design

A quantitative research design based on the assumption of a cause-and-effect relationship, where the researcher introduces an intervention and waits for it to produce change.

Non-Experimental Design

A research design where the researcher observes an existing phenomenon or outcome and attempts to establish what caused it retrospectively without manipulating an intervention.

Survey Design

A quantitative research design aimed at obtaining a general picture of the population under investigation in terms of their social and economic characteristics.

Research Methods

The particular strategies researchers use to collect the evidence necessary for building and testing theories (Frey, Botan, Friedman, & Kreps 1991).

Research Design

Decisions pertaining to what, where, when, how much, and by what means with regards to a study, forming the arrangement of conditions for collection and analysis of data.

Taxonomy of Research Methods

A classification structure dividing research methods into quantitative designs (categorized by number of contacts, reference period, and nature of investigation) and qualitative designs (case study, grounded theory, phenomenology, ethnography, and mixed methods).

Scope

The domain of research specifying what is covered in terms of concept, number of subjects or population included in the study, and timeline when the study was conducted.

Delimitation

Boundaries of the research study arising from the researcher's decisions of what to exclude, such as specific variables, time frames, or participants.

Limitation

Constraints associated with qualitative study related to validity and reliability that arise because qualitative research occurs in a natural setting over which the researcher has little control.

Scope and Delimitation

The section of a study that sets boundaries and parameters of the problem inquiry and narrows down the scope of the inquiry.

Factors Influencing Choice of Study Design

According to Almeida, Gaerlan and Manly (2016), the choice of study design depends on philosophical perspective, objective of the study, inquiry mode, and applicability of research findings.

Cross-Sectional Studies

A quantitative study design based on the number of contacts, commonly used in the social sciences to determine the prevalence of a phenomenon, situation, problem, attitude, or issue by taking a cross section of the population.

Before and After Design (Pre-Test/Post-Test Design)

A quantitative study design based on the number of contacts that measures change in a variable between two points in time by comparing data before and after an intervention on the same population.

Longitudinal Study Design

A quantitative study design based on the number of contacts used to determine the pattern of extent of change in a phenomenon by visiting the study population at regular intervals over a long period.

Retrospective Study Design

A quantitative study design based on the reference period used to investigate a phenomenon, situation, problem, or issue that has happened in the past based on available data or respondent recall.

Prospective Study Design

A quantitative study design based on the reference period that attempts to establish the outcome of an event or what is likely to happen in the future, such as experiments.

Retrospective-Prospective Study Design

A quantitative study design based on the reference period wherein available data are analyzed and used as bases of future projection without involving a control group (such as trend studies).

Experimental Design

A quantitative study design based on the nature of investigation that assumes a cause-and-effect relationship, where the researcher introduces an intervention and waits until it produces change.

Non-Experimental Design

A quantitative study design based on the nature of investigation where the researcher observes a phenomenon, starting from the effect or outcome, and attempts to determine causation.

Survey

A quantitative study design under the nature of investigation aimed at seeing a general picture of the population under investigation in terms of their social and economic characteristics.

Parameter Question: What

A basic research parameter question specifying the topic of investigation and the variables included in the study.

Parameter Question: Where

A basic research parameter question specifying the venue or setting of the research.

Parameter Question: When

A basic research parameter question specifying the time frame by which the study was conducted.

Parameter Question: Why

A basic research parameter question specifying the general objectives of the research.

Parameter Question: Who

A research parameter question specifying the subject of the study, population, and sampling.

Parameter Question: How

A research parameter question specifying the methodology of the research, including research design, methodology, research instrument, and reasons why certain variables were excluded.