Quantitative Research Designs

1.) Descriptive

• surveys an unknown/ under investigated phenomenon

• “What are”, “How many”

2.) Correlational

• Relationship between two variables

• “Is there”, “what is the relationship”

3.) Experimental

• Strong causal relationship

• Total control of variables (laboratory)

4.) Quasi-experimental

• Causal relationship

• Limited control of variables

• Pre-existing conditions

• Social aspect

5.) Ex post facto

• Casual-comparative

• Factors or Possible causes

• “After the fact”

• Pre-existing conditions

• Ethical considerations

Qualitative Research Designs

1.) Ethnography

• Immersion (6 Months)

• Observe and Participate

• Covert or Overt

• Anthropology > Orientalism > us/them, self/other

2.) Grounded Theory

• Theory or Concept Formulation

• Based on the ground (experience)

• Inductive

3.) Phenomenology

• Lived experiences

• Vivid descriptions

• Personal

• Through the eyes of the participant

• Interviews

4.) Historical (Narrative)

• Document Analysis

• At least 1 person

• Weave historical events to offer a story

• Historical events are a narrative device

5.) Case Study

• A specific group, person, or institute

• Observation, interviews, document analysis

• Develops or progress over time

• Through the eyes of the researcher

6.) Digital Ethnnography

• Internet culture

Mixed Methods

1.) Convergent Parallel

• Simultaneous data collection

• Separate data analysis

• Create mutually exclusive sets of data that inform each other

2.) Embedded

• Simultaneous data collection

• Qualitative data is embedded within quantitative data

• Focuses on quantitative data that is further explained by qualitative data

3.) Explanatory Sequential

• Collection of quantitative data before qualitative

• Separate data analysis

• Further explain quantitative data with additional qualitative data

4.) Exploratory Sequential

• Collection of qualitative data before quantitative

• Separate data analysis

• Explore a topic before collecting quantitative data

Types of Variables

• Quantitative Variables

  • Discrete -positive whole numbers only

  • Continuous or Interval - positive, negative numbers, no true zero, can be decimal (Ex: temperature)

  • Ratio - positive numbers with true zero, can be decimal

• Qualitative or Categorical Variables

  • Dichotomous - binary options

  • Nominal (name) - no specific order, more than 2 options

  • Ordinal - ranking or order (Ex: letter grades)

• Based on Role or Function

  • Independent - variable that stands alone and isn't changed by the other variables

  • Dependent - changes

  • Extraneous - undesirable but controllable

  • Confounding - undesirable and uncontrollable