Entry 2

Research Design and Collection of Data This gives insights into quantitative study, distinguishing associational from experimental study; associational study shows the relationship that exists when a variable exists in the presence of the other(s) while experimental research will have the researcher intentionally manipulate an independent variable and observe changes on dependent variables to determine their causal relationship. This manipulation of variables is referred to as treatment. Experimental research design would be commonly used in survey research to explore or describe characteristics, behaviors or phenomena.
In both qualitative and quantitative research designs, data would be collected from the responses on research questions hence the need for questions motivated by up-to-date literature, suiting the study, focused on the objectives and have a logical layout. The research questions could be answered in researcher’s own words or from selected optional responses, referred to as open or closed responses respectively, and could be combined in a data collection instrument, including a questionnaire and interview.
This learning helps appreciate research design as an important tool in answering the research questions appropriately. This has been achieved through the application of the two major research designs including the true experimental design where subjects would be randomly assigned, and in cases where the researcher needs to focus on an intact group from a population, referred to as quasi experimental design. Their strengths lie in pre-test confirmation of equivalence on linguistic form, post-test examination on development of linguistic form being targeted and control group that solves logical problems.