Research question relationship to research design

Finally, there must be a need to answer the question. A good research question foreshadows the research design. The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between the research question or hypothesis and the research design. Example of a Research Question for Quantitative Research ARQ: How does Intentional propagation of political Ideas and beliefs placed In news outlets (Internet, newspapers, magazines, television, and radio) effect political bias among community college students?

IV: Intentional propagation of political ideas and beliefs placed in news outlets (Internet, newspapers, magazines, television, and radio). The independent variable an be further divided between present or absent, control group and experimental group (Marcy, Teammate, & Festering, 2005). DVD: The political bias among community college students. The dependent variable is dependent on the independent variable because the independent variable effects or measures the dependent variable (Marcy et al, 2005).

A Directional Hypothesis Intentional propagation of political Ideas and beliefs placed In news outlets (Internet, newspapers, magazines, television, and radio) effects emotional political bias among community college students. Proposed Research Design Quantitative research wants to know what the cause and effect is for a given study (Muses, 2010, p. 11). For example, the proposed research question can be written to show cause and effect: Increasing political bias among community college students is caused by intentional propagation of political ideas and beliefs placed in news outlets.

There are three elements that must be present In an experimental research design: (I)A relationship between two variables (2) A time order between the two variables (3) The relationships found cannot be the result of a confounding variable. (Mulls, 2010, p. 20). Costive, both variables are positive. For example, if there is increased political propaganda there is increased political bias. On the other hand, negative relationships between variables will have lower values on one variable while the other value will be higher.

Time order, is explained by cause and effect. One variable precedes the other. For example, political propaganda causes political bias. The third element, confounding variables, means, ” the research question cannot be explained by a third variable” (Muses, 2010, p. 21). Experimental research design is chosen for this study using a randomized two- roof pretest-posters design. It is appropriate for this research because it satisfies the three requirements above. Experimental design maintains the most control over external elements.

The research design will measure the bias by introducing a lesson containing political material to two stratified (Pogo (2007) sample random groups: controversial group and non-controversial group. The controversial group will be given a lesson containing a highly controversial political subject, while the non- controversial group will be given a general lesson about government. Pretest: The dents will be asked to take a short survey to determine the level of political bias before the lesson begins.

Posters: After the students are exposed to lessons another test will be administered to determine the bias that occurs based on the lesson (Marcy, et al, 2005, p. 128). Quasi-experimental research design could also be used for this research. However, because the quasi-experimental design ” does not look at cause and effect relationships” (Cottrell, McKenzie, 2011, p. 9), the research would not be as effective. Conclusion It is imperative to write a detailed research question. Without a well-defined search question, the research design will be flawed and ultimately the results will not set forth a truthful outcome.