Field Methods

Quantitative Research

The research problem calls for explanation and measuring trends.

Reviewing the Literature

The literature mostly plays a prescriptive role.

Specifying a Purpose

The purpose is specific and narrow, and the researcher asks specific, closed-ended research questions and states hypotheses.

Choosing a Research Design

The research design shapes how the data are collected, analyzed, reported, and interpreted.

Selecting Participants and Collecting Data

A quantitative research design is selected, such as a true experiment, quasi-experiment, single-subject design, correlational design, or survey design.

Analyzing Data and Reporting Results

Statistical and graphical analysis of the data is used to compare groups, relate variables, and describe trends.

Drawing Conclusions

The results are objectively compared with predictions and past studies.

True experiment

Most rigorous test to determine whether an independent treatment variable causes an effect in an outcome variable for many individuals.

Quasi-experiment

Test whether an independent treatment variable causes an effect in an outcome variable for intact groups.

Single-subject design

Test the effect of one or more treatment conditions on one or a few individual participants.

Correlational design

A design that examines the relationship between two or more variables.

Causal-comparative design

A design that seeks to identify cause-and-effect relationships by comparing groups.

Randomized controlled trial (RCT)

A type of true experiment where participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups.

N-of-1 research

A research design that focuses on the effects of an intervention on a single participant.

ABA reversal design

A single-subject design that involves a baseline phase, an intervention phase, and a return to baseline.

Multiple baseline design

A single-subject design that introduces the intervention at different times across multiple subjects or settings.

Key Procedures for True Experiment

Individual participants are randomly assigned to the different levels of the treatment variable.

Key Procedures for Quasi-experiment

Intact groups are assigned to the different levels of the treatment variable.

Key Procedures for Single-subject design

The intervention is administered to only one or a few participants and data are repeatedly measured and graphed before, during, and after the intervention.

Numeric scores

The data include numeric scores for variables from a large number of individuals, sites, or time points.

Statistical analysis

Statistical and graphical analysis of the data is used to compare groups, relate variables, and describe trends.

Predictive design

Describes the extent to which predictor variables relate to outcome variables.

Comparative design

Describes how subgroups based on categories from a measured categorical variable compare (or differ) in terms of the outcome variables.

Key Procedures for correlational design

Multiple variables are measured for each participant and statistics are used to determine the magnitude and direction of the associations among the variables.

Survey design

Describes the trends for variables in a population.

Longitudinal survey design

Describes the trends for variables over time for a population.

Cross-sectional design

A sample is selected that is representative of the population and the variables are measured at one point in time.

Descriptive research

The use of survey design procedures to select a sample that is representative of the population and measure the variables at multiple points in time.

Qualitative Research

The research problem calls for exploration and understanding.

Phenomenology

An experience.

Narrative research

The experiences of one or more individuals.

Case study

A system of people (a case) bounded by space and time.

Ethnography

The language, behaviors, and beliefs (i.e., the culture) of a group of people.

Grounded theory

A process, action, or interaction.

Key Procedures for phenomenology

Collecting data from people who have had the experience, analyzing the meaning of significant statements in the data, and describing themes about and the essence of the experience.

Key Procedures for narrative research

Collecting data as field texts in the individual's own words, analyzing the data to organize the story, and retelling the story and identifying the context and themes of the story.

Key Procedures for case study

Collecting and analyzing multiple forms of data for description, themes, and lessons learned.

Key Procedures for ethnography

Collecting data primarily through observations and analyzing the data to describe cultural patterns in the everyday language, behaviors, and attitudes of the group.

Key Procedures for grounded theory

Collecting data, identifying and relating categories in the data, developing a figure that depicts the theory, and stating predictions that follow from the theory.

Mixed Methods Research

The research problem calls for explanation and exploration.

Reviewing the Literature in Mixed Methods

The literature plays a prescriptive and/or dynamic role.

Specifying a Purpose in Mixed Methods

The purpose is both narrow and broad, and the researcher asks research questions that are both specific and open-ended.

Choosing a Research Design in Mixed Methods

A mixed methods research design is selected, such as convergent parallel, sequential explanatory, sequential exploratory, or embedded.

Mixed Methods Design Name

Convergent parallel.

Sequential explanatory

To explain the mechanisms or reasons behind quantitative results.

Sequential exploratory

To test or generalize qualitative findings.

Embedded experiment

To enhance a quantitative experimental study by including a secondary qualitative component to explore the procedures or process of the experiment.

Typical Characteristics of Convergent parallel

Concurrent timing, equal priority, merging the quantitative results and qualitative findings during analysis and/or interpretation.

Typical Characteristics of Sequential explanatory

Sequential timing, unequal priority, connecting from the quantitative results to shape the qualitative data collection.

Typical Characteristics of Sequential exploratory

Sequential timing, unequal priority, connecting from the qualitative findings to shape the quantitative data collection.

Typical Characteristics of Embedded experiment

Concurrent or sequential timing, quantitative priority, embedding a qualitative component into a quantitative experimental design.