RLS 360 questions and assessment topics

¶ … Communication is the exchange of information between two people. Ti represents an agreement as to what the meaning and context of words and phrases mean. Language is imprecise and there are many differences in what a particular word means. Some words and phrases change meaning depending on the situation. Others are misused and after some time lose there meaning altogether. Empirical research depends on the ability to isolate that which is being studied. In order to do this it is important to know what is being studied in the first place. Operational definitions clear up any ambiguity in terminology and help to clearly define the hypothesis and parameters of the research study.

Question 2. Quantitative research is the traditional accepted research method. It is used when the data can be easily transformed into a numerical form. Quantitative research gives the researcher better control over the research environment. The end result is dependent upon a decision that is based on statistical analysis and the ability to meet certain criterion. Quantitative research follows a rigid structure that places an emphasis on isolation of the independent and dependent variables (Creswell, 2003). However, the results of quantitative studies may be limited to sample populations that resemble the study population.

This type of research is good for questions that begin, "Is there..." Or "Does." However, they often do not give the insight needed to solve a particular problem. For instance, if one wishes to explore the reasons why someone makes a decision, the data often cannot be assigned a numerical value. Human actions are based on too many variables to allow for quantitative methods to be applied (Berg, 2004). This is where the qualitative study comes into play. The qualitative study takes away some of the control that the researcher has on the project, but it provides more in-depth knowledge. The process typically involves a well-defined observation or coding of essay type answers to look for patterns. Qualitative studies are often more able to be generalized to the population at large because they measure the subject in a real-world setting (Creswell, 2003).

Question 3.

Historical.

This research design has the advantage that it reflects a real-world scenario. One of the key disadvantages is that the researcher has absolutely no control over the experimental process or variables. The researcher must be careful in validity issues. They must carefully consider the effects of second-hand interpretation on the data (Roth, 2005).

Longitudinal. This type of study has the advantage of being able to measure change over time. It is an excellent way to measure cause and effect over a period of time. It has the advantage of being more predictive in nature than other research types. The researcher may or may not have control over the study, depending on the subject matter. Often the researcher cannot control variables as precisely as with the true experimental model.

Case and Field. This type of study has the advantage of observing the subject matter in a real-world situation (Roth, 2005). The researcher often does not have any control over the subject, and simply acts as an observer. However, this study provides the most in-depth information of all of the study methods.

True Experimental. This study model has the advantage of giving the research the greatest amount of control over the variables and study parameters. It has the advantage of being able to give definitive answers based on statistical evidences. It has the disadvantage that it may not reflect a real-world setting.

Question 4.

The purpose of research is to answer some question so that the information can be used by others. In order to make the information useful it must be rendered into t form that can be understood by those that wish to access it. The research community has developed a standard format that is used to present formal research findings, whether they are in the form of a report, article, or other published format. There are slight variations on basic format, but in general all of them contain the same sections. The following will explore the most common sections of a research article and explain their purpose.

A dissertation typically contains some type of front matter before the formal introduction begins. One can find many variations on front matter and each university typically has a preferred format. Front matter can include: a signature page, title page, copyright statement, acknowledgements, abstract, table of contents, and a list of tables and figures found in the study.

The first Chapter is the Introduction. The Introduction introduces the reader to the problem. It sets forth the purpose of the study and lays down the theoretical context of the problem. It describes the present state of research on the problem and the impact that the study will have on the field of study. The Introduction gives the reader a roadmap to follow so that they can understand the remainder of the research report. It fills in gaps in knowledge that the reader may have and prepares them to understand the topic at hand.

The next formal section of the Research study is the Literature Review. This section reviews previous work on the topic area, critiques it and attempts to consolidate it into a form that represents the body of research available. This section places the present study within the context of research already in existence. It explores gaps in present knowledge of the subject and relates the literature to the research questions. It explores the relationships of previous findings on the topic.

The third section of the research report is the Methodology section. This section lays out the specific research techniques that will be employed in the study. It examines the sample population, instruments tools, and general plan for conducting the study. This section examines validity issues, and how they will be addressed.