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A researcher is interested in studying the relationship between physical activity and life satisfaction among college students. The researcher plans to administer a survey to a sample of college students and collect data on their physical activity levels and life satisfaction. Using this scenario, which GCU quantitative core designs do you think would be most appropriate for this research problem? Why? Create and provide two examples of research questions that could be addressed using the design you selected.

What might the advantages and challenges be of using the identified design for this scenario? Explain including references.

Paper For Above instruction

In examining the relationship between physical activity and life satisfaction among college students, a correlational research design is most appropriate. Correlational studies aim to assess the degree and direction of the relationship between two variables without manipulating either variable, making them suitable for observational research where variables naturally occur and are measured as they are (Creswell & Creswell, 2018). Given that the researcher plans to survey students to gather data on their existing levels of physical activity and perceived life satisfaction, this design aligns well with the research objectives.

Using a correlational design allows the researcher to quantify the strength and direction of the association between physical activity and life satisfaction. For instance, the researcher might hypothesize that higher physical activity levels are positively correlated with higher life satisfaction, based on previous findings suggesting health and activity are linked to psychological well-being (Reed et al., 2018). This approach does not require intervention or experimental manipulation, which is advantageous when studying naturally occurring behaviors and perceptions, especially in a college setting where ethical and logistical considerations limit experimental control.

Two example research questions suited for this correlational design include: (1) "Is there a significant positive correlation between physical activity levels and life satisfaction among college students?" and (2) "How does physical activity predict variations in life satisfaction among college students?" These questions focus on measuring and interpreting the relationship between the variables, without assuming causality, which aligns with the observational nature of correlational studies.

Considering the advantages, correlational research offers efficiency and practicality. It enables the collection of data from large samples with relative ease, especially using surveys, which enhances generalizability (Leedy & Ormrod, 2019). Furthermore, it helps identify potential variables that could be investigated further through experimental research. However, there are notable challenges. The primary limitation is that correlation does not imply causation—finding a relationship between physical activity and life satisfaction does not mean one causes the other. Other confounding variables, such as socioeconomic status, mental health, or social support, might influence both variables and need to be controlled for or acknowledged as limitations (Tabachnick & Fidell, 2019).

Another challenge is self-report bias, as participants might overestimate physical activity or life satisfaction due to social desirability or inaccurate self-assessment (Spector, 2019). Additionally, the correlational design cannot establish temporal precedence—whether increased physical activity leads to higher life satisfaction, or vice versa. Despite these challenges, the correlational design remains a practical first step for exploring the variables involved and laying the groundwork for subsequent experimental studies.

In conclusion, a correlational research design is most suitable for studying the relationship between physical activity and life satisfaction among college students. It offers valuable insights into the nature and strength of associations between variables and is feasible within the constraints of survey methodology. Recognizing its limitations, researchers should consider follow-up studies using experimental or longitudinal designs to better understand causality and temporal relationships.

References

• Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches.
• Leedy, P. D., & Ormrod, J. E. (2019). Practical research: Planning and design.
• Reed, J., et al. (2018). The influence of physical activity on mental health and life satisfaction: A review. Journal of Behavioral Health, 7(3), 125-132.
• Spector, P. E. (2019). Industrial and organizational psychology: Research and practice.
• Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2019). Using multivariate statistics.