Weekly Assignments

Initial post

I think identifying the type of research is a crucial step in the research process. Social sciences require that the researcher must choose the type of research method according to the topic. Quantitative research is a commonly used method in social sciences because it provides better insights into the views and perceptions of the targeted population. this is because the method relies on a survey technique that means a direct examination of the respondents. In the survey method the researcher use questionnaires that include close-ended or open-ended questions. I intend to conduct quantitative research because the method offers many benefits. The most prominent advantage of the research is that it includes a set of questions that can easily be understood by the participants. In this method, the researcher can save time by adding close-ended questions.

Another reason for me to choose the quantitative research type is the fact that it allows better interpretation of the results. The obtained results are presented in a numeric form that is easy to interpret. This method allows the construction of frequency distribution and tables in a more appropriate manner. Quantitative research is more practical in social sciences because it focuses on studying the perceptions of the targeted population. For my research, I will choose a quantitative approach is selected according to the research objectives. I will choose a quantitative methodology because it will be easy to quantify the answers of the respondents. A practical tool for conducting quantitative research is through a close-ended questionnaire. A 3-point Likert scale is used for assessing the responses of the participants. The options available on the scale are; agree, disagree and don’t know CITATION Isa \l 1033 (Mulango, Atashili, Gaynes, & Njim, 2018). The computational and statistical tools will be employed for evaluating the findings of the survey. The common analytical tools include sample t-test, correlations, and descriptive statistics. A questionnaire is also a practical tool for determining the feelings of the participants associated different set of options. I will choose the methodology because it will be easy for the participants of the research to easily pick the most suitable option. A quantitative method is an effective tool for uncovering the attributes of participants that reveals the information about their awareness and level of competency.

An important step in the conduction of quantitative research is to fulfil the ethical conditions. In inquiring participants, the primary step would be to take consent by explaining them the purpose of the research. They are assured that their information is not shared with the third person. Also, they are informed that the information is only used for the purpose of research. The method provides a better approach to the representation of the research. It is important for the researcher to avoid biases during the process of collecting data. By maintaining neutrality better results can be attained.

Replies

I like the post of Riley S Odams because he provides a clear explanation of the research and its type. I agree that the primary step in conducting research is to identify the type of research. Data mining is an important step in conducting research. Other important aspects of research include communication and evaluation of the data. This process is useful because it allows the researcher to find the most appropriate data that can be used for the selected research topic. I agree with Odams that provision of evidentiary support is crucial for proving the hypothesis of the research. He chose quantitative data for his research because it is easy to examine the results of the collected sample through numerical digits. I agree that the computation of the quantitative data is simple because it provides a numerical representation of the responses. Communicating information is another important step in the conduction of research. I agree that the narrative-focused approach is more effective in sharing the results collected through the survey. The data collected from the research is also used for providing support to the thesis statement. The results are also used for building an association with the literature. The selection of the research type also affects the results.

I like the post of Rebecca A Biancci who provides an in-depth view of social science research. I agree that the conduction of the survey is a crucial step in the research. The researcher must be able to choose the right research method that depends on the topic and research questions. another important point mentioned by Biancci is of ethical standards. The research must ensure that he follows the ethical standards during the conduction of research. To follow the ethics he needs to take consent from the participants of the research. It is also informed to them their information will only be used for the purpose of research. I agree that the research targeting prisoners or medical population results in the vulnerability of the minorities. Proper ethics and protocols must be established that assures that the information will be kept in safe hands. This is part of the ethical responsibility of the researcher. When a researcher exhibits bias by neglecting the vulnerable populations he fails to meet the ethical standards. It is also proved that the minority populations are neglected in the research that undermines the overall quality of research. Neutrality is thus an important attribute that must be acquired by the researcher throughout the process.

Reference

Mulango, I. D., Atashili, J., Gaynes, B. N., & Njim, T. (2018). Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding depression among primary health care providers in Fako division, Cameroon. BMC Psychiatry, 18 (66).