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Qualitative
and Quantitative Methods
Using the databases and the Research Methods research guide in the Ashford University Library, locate and read peer-reviewed articles about the features of qualitative research and quantitative research. Also read the full text of the study you selected in Week One. Differentiate between qualitative and quantitative research methods and terminology. Specify which approach is used in the study. Explain whether the study is qualitative or quantitative by citing specific clues from the article, such as sample size, data collection techniques, the nature of the data collected, or the data analysis techniques used. Using information in the instructor guidance and Chapter 2 of the textbook, determine whether the research study you selected is non-experimental or experimental. Explain your reasoning.
Your paper must be a minimum of four pages (excluding title page) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. All sources must be documented in APA style, as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. For more information about APA style, please see the Ashford Writing Center.
Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.
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Running head:
PSY326 RESEARCH BASICS
1
PSY326 RESEARCH BASICS 17
PSY326 RESEARCH BASICS
Name: Pamela Jackson
Professor: Mirella. Brooks
Institution: Ashford University
Course: Research Methods
Date: 1/4/18
Compare and contrast the characteristics of non-experimental (descriptive and correlational) and experimental research designs.
Scientific research mainly makes use of quantitative, qualitative, or utilize both approaches to get, carry out analysis and interpret facts through bot the experimental and non-experimental designs. The
Non-experimental
research design is classified as either being correlational or descriptive and both the approaches usually take into account the behaviors, thoughts and feelings. Non-experimental research aids in describing feelings, behaviors and thoughts whereas experimental research helps the researchers to understand the relationships between behaviors, thoughts and feelings therefore enabling the researcher to make estimates of their chemistry and results. Just as important is realizing that correlational approach simply predicts, without establishing the cause-effect correlation as exhibited in experimental approach (Newman, 2011, Ch. 2).
In as much as non-experimental approach gives a brief overview of the sample population behaviors, thoughts and feelings at a particular point in time, experimental approach always provide a casual statement by expounding on the behaviors, thoughts and feelings that emerge in a regulated environment (Newman, 2011, Ch. 2). In addition to that, researchers are able to alter the variables in order to settle at conclusions based on the empirical annotations which are commonly steered in a four steps process (Newman, 2011, Ch. 1).
State your research question, and Specify whether the aim of the implied research question is to describe, predict, or explain.
Is there an effective way to treat PTSD?
The implied research question would aim to predict the effectiveness of a new medication (A) for the treatment of Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); therefore a qualitative research experiment will be designed to ascertain if the new medication is more effective than that of the current prescribed medication (B). However, before the research commences an approval from the IRB is required since the subjects in the experiment are humans. Additionally, other approvals maybe required from the ethics committee of proposed institutions where the experiment will conducted.
Provide a brief overview of the study you would design.
An observational study examining the effectiveness of a new drug utilized to treat Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) will be conducted in a hospital setting. The participants also referred to as samples, will be randomly chosen from a group of volunteers currently diagnosed with Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and whose treatment with medication B is deemed successful by the treating physician. There will be two similar groups created where each will be consisting of 300 males and female partakers. The initial group will be labeled T to represents the victims who are receiving their current medication and the other group C will be the control group getting the new medication.
Medication will be distributed to both groups at approximately the same time every morning after which their vital statistics will be taken and documented. Additionally, there will be daily recording of the partakers behavioral changes as observed, interviews will also be steered with the partakers twice daily as well as questionnaires which will be administered on weekly bases throughout the experiment’s stipulated time frame. The Data gathered will be examined and the final results delivered accordingly.
Reference
s:
CATIE compares old and new medications for Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment (2005). Brown University Child & Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update. Nov2005, Vol. 7 Issue 11, pp.1-4. Retrieved from EBSCOhost database
Delost, M. E., & Nadder, T. S. (2014). Guidelines for Initiating a Research Agenda: Research Design and Dissemination of Results. Clinical Laboratory Science, 27(4), p. 237-244. Retrieved from EBSCOhost database
Mass, R., Schoemig, T., Hitschfeld, K., Wall, E., & Haasen, C. (2000). Psychopathological syndromes of Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Evaluation of the dimensional structure of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); Bulletin, 26(1), 167-177.
Newman, M. (2011). Research Methods in Psychology. Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
Singam, A. P., Mamarde, A., & Behere, P. B. (2011). A Single Blind Comparative Clinical Study of the Effects of Chlorpromazine and Risperidone on Positive and Negative Symptoms in Patients of Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD);. Indian Journal Of Psychological Medicine, 33(2), 134-140. doi:10.4103/0253-7176.92061 Retrieved from EBSCOhost database
Peer Responses
I like your experiment method. I agree with your participants, I agree with the different groups and observing in different areas to draw your conclusion. People must be monitored when taking a new drug to see how the drug is affecting them. I think giving the medicine to everyone at the same time every day will have a good impact on your drug testing. That will make you the researcher in control when the medicine is distributed to each participant.(Kimberly Mclean)
Hi tutorfavour@gm,
I liked your post explaining the experimental and non-experimental procedures in research. However I am having a bit of confusion understanding which would be your control group. The way I understand your post your group being administered the new medication would be your control group. According to Newman in a control condition a group within the experiment does not receive the experimental treatment while the control group is the group that provides a basis for the comparison for the experimental group (Newman, M., 2011). I am totally confused in these explanations. (
Judi
th Tallmon)
Reference
Newman, M, (2011), Research Methods in Psychology, San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
Compare and Contrast Non-experimental and
Experimental
So—in non experimental research, if the purpose is to analyze efficacy of the mercurial significance in the population, segment parallels support well founded data, thus, ought to be included in the analysis. On the other hand, in experimental research—independent variables that’ve been influenced and are categorized, subjects can be assigned to conditions in such a way that independent variables stay uncorrelated (Myers & Well, 1995).
Non-experimental
Strives for more expansive insights of phenomenons external of unearthing their causes. Basically, fact finding—or simply put—the pulse of a population in the here and now. When determining cause and effect, non experimental designs are the weakest, but for descriptive, it is the strongest (Glassman & Hadad, 2004, p. 440). Non-experimental research can make predictions by comparing other similar research then identifying trends (Hill, 1993).
Experimental
An independent variable’s casual nexus with a dependent variable. In other words, establishing cause and effect between two variables via researchers manipulating an independent variable (treatment) then measures how it’ll affect behaviors or reactions of subjects (dependent variable) (MacPhee, et al., 2000). Evidence is collected to show such a thing. To whereas a non experiment research submits to identifying trends to make predictions, experimental research has to be designed in such a way which logic and reason confirms or refutes whatever predicted effects of the independent variable (Hill).
Describe, Predict, or Explain?
Predict. It’s not so much that the treatment research ought to be described or explained but instead the research question has to predict an outcome, then test against it in order to uphold whether or not the new drug is more or less effective.
Research Design/ Overview of Design
I’ve been wracking my head over how to answer this part of the discussion question. Inquiring designs for new drug treatments research, I came across double blind placebo experimental research. While more difficult to execute, the double blind makes an attempt to mitigate both experimenter and subject bias—more so that two medications, one new and the other, is already in use. I get the ethical concerns, i.e., balance of benefits and harms to subjects (Weijer & Anderson, 2001) and if the treatment works—the subjects taking the placebo might be/could be worse off for having done so or the inverse, the subjects taking the treatment might be/could be worse off (Boomgaarden, Louhiala, & Wiesing, 2003). Having said that, in the realm of positive, negative, and neutral—the research conducted is married to benefitting those suffering from Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD and so long as there is informed consent within the parameters of ‘double blind placebo’ research, the design ought to be ethically reasonable. (Jefferson Harris)
References:
Boomgaarden, J., Louhiala, P., & Wiesing, U. (Eds.). (2003). Issues in Medical Research Ethics. New York: Berghahn Books.
Glassman, W. E., & Hadad, M. (2004). Approaches to Psychology. Maidenhead, England: Open University Press.
Hill, F. M. (1993). Research Methodology and the Management Disciplines: The Need for Heterogeneity. IBAR, 14(2), 46.
Myers, J. L., & Well, A. D. (1995). Research Design and Statistical Analysis. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Weijer, C., & Anderson, J. A. (2001). The Ethics Wars: Disputes over International Research. The Hastings Center Report, 31(3).
Compare and contrast the characteristics of non-experimental (descriptive and correlational) and experimental research designs.
Non-experimental designs
· Has a descriptive design in meaning, means describe characteristics
· Has a correlational design, which means that it can predict the behavior through the relationship
· The variables not purposely manipulated
· The data is collected without experiments on no changes and or no treatments
· The phenomenon is to be observed and occur as natural
Experimental designs
· It has independent designs which means, that means that the participants are grouped into separate groups
· It has repeated measures in turn means that the research would be repeated more than once in able to obtain more significant scores
· Has control of the variables that are extraneous
· It can manipulate the treatment
· It is able to measure the out comes
Specify whether the aim of the implied research question is to describe, predict, or explain.
The propose is to find out whether or not the new drug would be more effective than the
old drug. Both drugs are for Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD. The right and the appropriate way for research design is the experimental research design. This would help to explain the effects it would have at reducing the symptoms one has with Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD such as auditor, delusions, visual hallucinations, and as well as the withdrawal from society. (Piotrowski and Tischauser, 2013). The experimental design will also help allow the researchers to do a more effective measurement on the relationships that are between the DV and the IV. This also enables the researchers to be able to control the whole research study. (Stocia, 2008).
Choose a research design to evaluate the relative effectiveness of the two drugs.
Sample
· The sample size will be 429 people that will be separated into three groups which each consist of 143 people
· These participants will have been diagnosed with the Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD disorder through a licensed psychiatrist
· The participants must also have been getting their treatment for their Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD by using their anti-psychotic medications and their usage of these medications for a year or more
· The participants will be chosen randomly from two different health facilities that help treat people with Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD
Provide a brief overview of the study you would design.
Procedure
· The participants will be divided into three separate groups of 143 randomly
First group-is going to receive the new drug
Second group-is going to receive the old drug
Third group- is going to receive Placebo
Data collection
The data will be collected through interviewing each participants for maybe about
Twenty minutes for each day that this study is conducted which will be several days. This would be to see any effects of the medication working or not.
Data analysis
This data can also be analyzed when comparing the behavior and actions of the participants from the three groups.
Reference:
Piotrowski, N.D., and Tischauser, L.D. (2013). Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD Magill’s Medical Guide
(Online Edition)
Stoica, I, (2008). Experimental Research. Research Starter’s Education. (Online Edition)
Newman, M. (2011). Research Methods in Psychology. San Diego, CA. Bridge Point Education,
Inc.
Michelle,
Recognizing the different categories you listed; how would you convenience the drug company that you have the most effective research design. In other words, how is your design more effective than your classmates Tracy or Robert’s design?
You did a good job engaging in the experimental and non-experimental research topics. The experimental method has two distinctive characteristics, such as the manipulation of one or more independent variables, and the influence it has on the dependent variable (Bordens & Abbott, 2011).The treatment group is exposed to a treatment or intervention and the control group does not receive any treatment. (Dr. Nowlin)
How would you test the internal validity of the cause-and-effect relationship in the study?
Bordens, K. S., & Abbott, B. B. (2011). Research design and methods: A process approach (8th ed.). New York: NY: McGraw-Hill.
Instructor Rozzy,
I have used more people in this study and also cut it down into smaller groups which I should have noted. The smaller groups did go by age and also male and females. This would be better because it was well thought out and planned and also has a 99% more effective with leaving only 1% room for a chance.
Michelle, being that you decided to utilize three groups of people whom have been diagnosed with Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD I have several questions I would like to ask of you. First, do you think that the proposed research would meet the approval of the IRB? Why or why not? What are your reasons for introducing a Placebo group? How would you propose limiting the risk for those participants in the group taking the Placebo? While there are numerous other questions infiltrating my mind at the present I will end with thanking you for engaging my mind in this discussion.
Judi
The primary goal of non-experimental research designs (descriptive and correlative) is to describe thoughts, feelings and behaviors (descriptive) and understand them (correlative). In a descriptive and correlative research designs, we can provide a complete picture of an occurrence and make predictions, but we cannot draw conclusions on a causal relationship. One of the biggest differences in non-experimental and experimental designs are that experimental designs allow for the researcher to control every aspect of the research, correlational designs are less powerful but allows the researcher to maintain aspects of the data (setting and choice of measures), and descriptive designs are the least powerful as it is hard to control the outside influences on data collection. Nevertheless, although non-experimental research designs are not the most powerful, they are very useful in the beginning stages of a research program; it is important to know how commonly a situation occurs before we think about the causes for the occurrence (Newman, 2011).
The aim of this specified research question is to explain. Explaining is an aspect of the experimental research design. This design is best for this ‘question’ because it offers for a more controlled environment. In order to be able to evaluate the relative effectiveness of the two drugs and conclude whether or not the newly developed drug will be more effective, I would need to have two separate groups of Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients in a controlled environment. I would need to decide how many participants I need to recruit, qualifications of each recruit and where to find the participants (Murphy, 2013). One group would be given the newly developed drug while the second group would be given the drug being currently produced. There would need to be a set amount of time to monitor both groups and be able to determine the significant differences if any between the drugs. (Rheakesha Vaughn)
Murphy, P. (2013). PSY326 research design template. College of Health, Human Services, and Science. Ashford University, Clinton, IA
Newman, M. (2011). Research methods in psychology: San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education Inc.
Rheakesha, you did a nice job on the discussion post. Although I agree with your comparison on experimental and non-experimental research designs, I perceived the aim of the study differently. I believed the aim of the study was to predict an outcome and established a hypothesis to prove the new drug to be more effective. Would you mind enlightening me as to why you chose explain over the other choices? In an attempt to gain a better understand as to your perspective, I will review you second discussion thread to see how you formulated your hypothesis. I am anxious to compare our research proposals even though we do not share the same perspective for I designed a similar study.
Judi
Experimental research designs occur when a researcher is generally able to manipulate the predictor variable as well as the subjects to identify causal relationships. For this type of approach the researcher or the individual conducting the experiment has complete control and reliability measures over the subjects and atmosphere. In contrast, a non-experimental approach, which involves a descriptive and/or correlation design, is oftentimes a study where a researcher is unable to control or manipulate the experiment. As the text states, descriptive research studies are “difficult to translate into a controlled experimental setting” (Newman, 2011), meaning the variables or subjects involved rely on a more broad overview of what people are experiencing emotionally during a given period.
The research question given for this week’s discussion focuses on whether a new drug developed to treat Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD would be more effective than the pharmaceuticals current drug that they are producing. In order to determine the effectiveness of the drug, a researcher cannot use the correlation design because a prediction of the question regarding whether Drug A is more effective than Drug B will essentially be useless in determining its capability. A descriptive approach might be useful in describing the behavioral aspect of the selected subjects on each drug, but the determination of the overall cause and effect relationship between the two drugs and the subjects may need to take a stronger and more complete approach. Therefore, the design that can explain the effects of Drug A in comparison to the increased effectiveness of the new Drug B would be the experimental approach.
In order to have a conclusive experimental study the researcher would have to be able to manipulate the independent variable – which is essentially the drugs involved and measure the outcome of the subjects – which are the dependent variable. Having the ability to control the experiment and the setting is vital to such a delicate experiment in determining the overall health and treatment of a very severe disorder such as Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD.
The study I would design would involve a quantitative approach where I would select a sample of clinically diagnosed schizophrenics and split them into two control groups using a nominal scale indicating Drug A and new Drug B. Over the duration of a month, my research will involve giving Group 1 the old Drug A and Group 2 the new Drug B then measure the clinical diagnostic levels for Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD which consist of delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech and behavior, coma-like dazes, extreme hyperactive behavior, and many other tangible symptoms (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2016). Due to the cumulative decrease in schizophrenic behavior in Group 2 as opposed to minimal therapeutic results in Group 1, the research will determine conclusively that the new drug is indeed more effective than the old one. (Scott Burkett)
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2016). Diseases and Conditions Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD: Test and diagnosis. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ Posttraumatic Stress Disorder /basics/tests-diagnosis/con-20021077
Newman, M. (2011). Research methods in psychology: San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
Scott, I really enjoyed your discussion post and want to commend you on your composition. I could not seem to compose my discussion post in a coherent manner; therefore, I submitted it according to the outlined discussion prompts. I had a bit of difficulty with this discussion post and found it necessary to rereading Chapter 2 for a better understanding. Upon reading your post, it appears that you comprehended the material much better than I did. Although I proposed a similar experiment and assume to understand your proposed experiment, I feel the need to point out a possible oversight in your design overview. You had mentioned that you proposed to establish two control groups; however, you failed to mention a treatment group. According Newman (2011), the control group is the group that provides a basis for the comparison for the experimental group and a group within the experiment does not receive the experimental treatment. Am I correct in assuming you meant to state that there would be two groups, a control group and a treatment group? Judi
