Individual Activity: Research Design

Objective: This activity is to assess the student’s application of knowledge of the different research designs and how it can be used for different types of studies.
Instruction: Fill out the matrix below using the questions found on the top most row. You must be able to analyse and examine each type of research design (e.g. Explanatory, Grounded Theory and Phenomonological) using the questions
on the top most row. The first part has been filled out as an example/guide.

How many samples are

How many variables
required for this research What is an appropriate
are needed to
What are the strengths and design? analysis for this research Generate a research
How is this design What is the goal of this implement the
Research Design weaknesses of this research design? Qualitative or scenario to illustrate
classified? research design? research design?
design? Are the samples Quantitative – explain and this research design.
comprised of the same or justify.
Identify the variables.
different individuals?

A psychiatrist studied the

Strength: A case study can
suggest new variables for study
and thereby generate new
An in-depth study and hypotheses for future study
Descriptive
Case Study detailed description of a
single individual. Weaknesses: Does not attempt
to explain behavior, lacks
internal validity, limited
generalizability
Typically, this method of
research does not utilize
Varies – depends on what single subject - one individual
inferential statistical techniques,
the study’s objective/s is studied in depth over time
however deviant-case analysis
is/are
can be used to compare similar
cases that differ in outcome
middle-age male - "K.P.",
who suffers from alcohol-
induced memory loss
resulting in Korsakoff's
Syndrome. A comparison of
this case with a middle-
aged male who did not
abuse alcohol suggested
that long term alcoholism
was a causal factor in the
memory loss of K.P.

A.Explanatory
B.Grounded Theory

C.Phenomenological