In a quantitative research method, surveys strategies of
inquiry can be identified by the use of descriptive trends, approaches, or
opinions of a given general population and often appear in numerical form
(Creswell, 2009). The information gathered from a survey of inquiry is often
used to make or generalize laudable claims. The basic purpose or rationale in a
survey design is usually sketched out in the proposal or plan. The best way to design
survey components in a proposal is to consider the intention of the survey
design, the nature of the survey and whether it is cross-sectional or
longitudinal. Also, it is practical to show how the results will be
interpreted, whether the procedure for sampling individuals is random or
non-random, and the scale of the contents addressed, whether items will be
collapsed into scales, and the procedure to be applied for testing the survey
(Creswell, 2009).
In a survey design, researchers reflect the purpose of the
survey and in a sampling procedure address essential aspects that are crucial
to the research being implemented. Clustering is used to when it is almost
impossible to gather information concerning the population being studied.
Stratification, a method of gathering specific characteristics like males and
females in a population may be applied so as to come up with a sample
reflecting true proportions (Creswell, 2009).
Experimental strategies of inquiry mainly deal with
“participants, materials, procedures, and measures” (Creswell, 2009; p. 155). A
selection process that is either random or non-random is used in experimental
methods. Random sampling is when individuals are representative of a given
population that is under experiment. A true experiment is a procedure used when
a pool of participants are selected randomly and divided into groups. The term
matching participants is used to identify participants sharing certain traits
or characteristics. In this pattern, individuals may be categorized as scoring
high, medium or low on the pre-test (Creswell, 2009).
There are questionnaires that require to be answered in
experimental procedures. Defining the participants in the study, the manner of
participant selection, type of variables to be applied, the kind of pilot test
to be performed, and the experimental research design to be used are a few
topics that need addressing. According to Creswell (2009), the types of
experimental procedures to be identified include “…pre-experimental designs,
true experiments, quasi-experiments, and single-subject designs” (p. 158). In
pre-experimental design, the researcher studies single groups and then provides
an intervention during experimentation. The quantitative research method
requires thorough thought and reflection and collection of numerous statistical
data.
References
Creswell, J. (2009). Research
design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (3rd ed.). Thousand
Oaks , CA
