- To prepare:
- Review the information in the course texton quantitative research designs. Focus on the information in Box 9.1, “Guidelines for Critiquing Research Designs in Quantitative Studies” located on page 210 of the course text.
- Select a topic from the list below and search the Walden Library to find two different quantitative research studies addressing that issue:
- Caregiver stress
- Anxiety in children
- Sleep apnea
- Depression in college freshmen
- Rural health care issues
- Post-traumatic stress syndrome
- Traumatic brain injury in veterans
- Health effects of environmental contaminants
- Bipolar disorder
- End-of-life ethical issues
- Alternative medicine
- For each of the sources that you select, identify the type of quantitative research design used, and evaluate whether it is the most appropriate approach to the research.
- Consider the ramifications of choosing an inappropriate design for a research study.
My Question
Post the topic you selected, references for the two sources you identified, and the quantitative research design used in each. Critique the appropriateness of the design used and justify your comments with information from the Learning Resources. Discuss the ramifications of choosing an inappropriate design for a research study.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
As a medical professor, it is crucial to evaluate the appropriateness of research designs in quantitative studies. In this assignment, I selected the topic “Depression in college freshmen” and selected two sources from the Walden Library to evaluate the research design used and discuss the ramifications of choosing an inappropriate design for a research study.
Topic:
Depression in college freshmen
References:
1. Ye, L., & Wong, D. F. K. (2016). Resilience and Social Support: Protective Factors Against Depression and Anxiety Among Chinese Mainland College Students. Journal of College Counseling, 19(1), 27-40. doi:10.1002/jocc.12015
2. Shacham, S., & Roditi, Y. (2016). A Dyadic Longitudinal Study of Body Image, Marital Satisfaction, and Sexual Satisfaction Among Hebrew Couples in Israel. Family Relations, 65(1), 56-66. doi:10.1111/fare.12174
Quantitative Research Designs:
The first study by Ye and Wong (2016) uses a quantitative research design, specifically cross-sectional design involving surveys to identify patterns and associations. The second study by Shacham and Roditi (2016) uses a longitudinal research design involving a two-wave panel survey.
Critique of the Design Used:
Although Ye and Wong (2016) used a quantitative research design appropriately, it is necessary to note that cross-sectional designs cannot establish causal relationships. On the other hand, Shacham and Roditi (2016) used a longitudinal design, which is appropriate for studies that aim to establish temporal relationships. Still, the study did not directly address the selected topic of “Depression in college freshmen.”
Ramifications of Choosing an Inappropriate Research Design:
Choosing an inappropriate research design could significantly affect the validity and reliability of the research outcomes. For instance, if a researcher incorrectly chooses a design that does not fit their research objectives, it might lead to incorrect conclusions or inaccurate data interpretation. This, in turn, can he harmful to patient care, clinical practice, or policymaking based on the research findings. It is therefore essential for researchers to ensure that they use the most appropriate design based on their research objectives.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, selecting the appropriate research design is essential in quantitative studies. The two studies I reviewed above highlighted quantitative research designs and used them appropriately. However, researchers should be careful when choosing designs that may not adequately suit their research objectives. By doing so, they put their research at risk of not achieving its goals, leading to incorrect results that have adverse effects on their research outcomes’ validity and reliability.
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