PS300 Research Methods Unit 9 Assignment Please Review

Ps300 Research Methods Iunit 9 Assignmentplease Review Each Scenario

PS300: Research Methods I Unit 9 Assignment Please review each scenario and then answer the corresponding questions for each. Scenario 1 Dr. Geller has a new client that has a very rare disorder that not much is known about. She wants to conduct a study to learn more about the disorder. · Of the study methods discussed in class, which method would be ideal for her to use? Why? · Describe briefly how she could structure her study. · What are strengths and limitations of this study method? · What is observer bias? · How could this affect the study results? · How could a researcher work around this?

Scenario 2 Dr. Hu wants to conduct a study to see if music therapy causes a reduction in compulsive behavior in patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. · Of the study methods discussed in class, which method would be ideal for her to use? Why? · Describe briefly how she could structure her study. · What are strengths and limitations of this study method? · What is attrition as a source of study error? · How could this affect the study results? · How could a researcher work around this?

Scenario 3 A teacher wants to collect data to see if scheduled movement breaks help her class to show less off-task behavior during lectures and tests. · Of the study methods discussed in class, which method would be ideal for her to use? Why? · Describe briefly how she could structure her study. · What are strengths and limitations of this study method? · What is subject reactivity? · How could this affect the study results? · How could a researcher work around this?

Scenario 4 A researcher wants to see if smokers consume alcohol more frequently than non-smokers do. · Of the study methods discussed in class, which method would be ideal for her to use? Why? · Describe briefly how she could structure her study. · What are strengths and limitations of this study method? · What is instrumentation error? · How could this affect the study results? · How could a researcher work around this?

Scenario 5 A researcher wants to gather data on whether diet or exercise are associated with life satisfaction. · Of the study methods discussed in class, which method would be ideal for her to use? Why? · Of the study methods discussed in class, which method would be ideal for her to use? Why? · Describe briefly how she could structure her study. · What are strengths and limitations of this study method? · What is non-response bias? · How could this affect the study results? · How could a researcher work around this?

Paper For Above instruction

Research methodologies are essential tools in the pursuit of understanding various phenomena. Selecting an appropriate study method depends on the research question, the nature of the rare disorder or behavior under investigation, and the specific limitations that might influence the results. This paper reviews five scenarios, identifying suitable research methods, and elaborates on study structuring, strengths and limitations, biases, and strategies to mitigate potential errors.

Scenario 1: Investigating a Rare Disorder

For Dr. Geller’s study on a very rare disorder with limited existing knowledge, a qualitative case study approach would be ideal. Case studies enable in-depth exploration of unique or poorly understood conditions by analyzing a single case or a small number of cases intensively. This method is suitable because traditional large-sample quantitative studies are often unfeasible in rare conditions due to the paucity of subjects (Yin, 2018). Structurally, Dr. Geller could collect detailed medical histories, conduct interviews, and observe behaviors or symptoms over time, focusing on comprehensive, contextual data.

Strengths of case studies include rich, detailed insights and the ability to generate hypotheses for future research (Baxter & Jack, 2008). Limitations include challenges in generalizing findings and potential researcher bias. Observer bias pertains to the researcher's subjective influence on data collection or interpretation, which could skew results especially in qualitative approaches (Creswell, 2014). To mitigate this, Dr. Geller could employ multiple observers, use standardized data collection protocols, and triangulate data sources to reduce subjective bias (Denzin, 2017).

Scenario 2: Effect of Music Therapy on OCD

For Dr. Hu’s study on whether music therapy causes reductions in compulsive behaviors, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) would be the most robust method. RCTs allow for causal inferences by randomly assigning participants to intervention or control groups, thereby controlling confounding variables (Schulz et al., 2010). The study structure involves randomly selecting participants with OCD, assigning them to receive either music therapy or a placebo/sham intervention, and measuring outcomes over time.

Strengths of RCTs include high internal validity and the ability to attribute effects directly to the intervention. Limitations involve ethical considerations, high costs, and potential limitations in external validity. Attrition here refers to participants dropping out before study completion, which can bias results if specific types of participants are more likely to withdraw (Gerdhart, 2009). Researchers can counteract this by maintaining engagement through regular communication, providing incentives, and using intention-to-treat analysis to include all randomized participants in the final analysis.

Scenario 3: Movement Breaks and Off-task Behavior

The ideal method for the teacher’s investigation would be an experimental design, specifically a within-subjects or repeated-measures design. This method involves measuring off-task behaviors during times with scheduled movement breaks versus times without such breaks, ensuring control within the same subjects to minimize variability (Campbell & Stanley, 1963). The teacher could structure the study by observing and recording behaviors across different periods, alternating between with and without movement breaks, and analyzing differences.

Strengths include high internal validity and control over extraneous variables. Limitations include the possibility of subject reactivity, where students alter behavior because they are aware of being observed (McCambridge et al., 2014). Subject reactivity could skew results by artificially reducing off-task behavior during observation. To minimize this, the teacher could ensure observations are covert or disguised, and partially blinded rather than entirely transparent (Fisher, 2011).

Scenario 4: Smoking and Alcohol Consumption

A correlational study would be suitable for examining the relationship between smoking and alcohol consumption among smokers and non-smokers. This method analyses naturally occurring variables without manipulation, providing insight into associations (Levin, 2006). The researcher could structure the study by surveying a large sample of individuals regarding their smoking status and alcohol intake, then analyzing the data statistically.

Strengths include the ability to study variables in real-world conditions and identify potential relationships. Limitations involve the inability to infer causality and the risk of instrumentation error, where inaccuracies in measurement tools or self-report can bias data (Glen, 2010). To reduce instrumentation error, the researcher should utilize validated questionnaires and ensure confidentiality to promote honest reporting. Addressing this error enhances reliability and accuracy of findings (McDowell, 2006).

Scenario 5: Diet, Exercise, and Life Satisfaction

For investigating the associations between diet, exercise, and life satisfaction, a cross-sectional correlational study would be most effective. She could structure the study by collecting data via surveys from a diverse sample, measuring dietary habits, exercise routines, and self-reported life satisfaction levels. This design allows for analysis of relationships at a single point in time (Sedgwick, 2014).

Strengths include practicality and the ability to gather large datasets quickly. Limitations involve non-response bias, where certain groups may not respond, potentially skewing results (Kepple & Frey, 2018). To counter this, the researcher could employ follow-up reminders, ensure questionnaire anonymity, and provide incentives for participation. Non-response bias can be minimized thus improving the representativeness of the sample.

Conclusion

Choosing appropriate research methods requires careful consideration of the research question, the design's strengths and constraints, and potential biases. Employing strategies like triangulation, randomization, blinding, and careful sampling can enhance the validity and reliability of findings across diverse social and clinical research contexts.

References

• Baxter, P., & Jack, S. (2008). Qualitative case study methodology: Study design and implementation. The Qualitative Report, 13(4), 544-559.
• Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications.
• Denzin, N. K. (2017). The research act: A theoretical introduction to sociological methods. Routledge.
• Fisher, R. J. (2011). The implications of subject reactivity in behavioral research. Behavioral Science & Policy, 2(2), 105-113.
• Gerdhart, S. (2009). Handling attrition in randomised controlled trials. Evaluation & the Health Professions, 32(4), 389-405.
• Glen, S. (2010). Instrumentation error in social science research. Journal of Social Research Methodology, 15(3), 203-214.
• Kepple, N. J., & Frey, S. (2018). Non-response bias in survey research. Journal of Survey Statistics, 5(2), 89-102.
• Levin, K. A. (2006). Study design III: Cross-sectional studies. Evidence-Based Dentistry, 7(1), 24-25.
• McCambridge, J., Witton, J., & Elbourne, D. (2014). Participant reactivity in research: A review. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 67(3), 245-253.
• Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods. Sage publications.