Exam Question : Research Methods and Statistics
The question in this category requires to demonstrate an understanding of and ability to employ research methods utilized. Students are expected to critique research methodologies that are used by scholar-practitioners and compose responses that identify best practices in research in their field of study.
Required Examination Format:
Use APA format when responding to the question.
Alignment to Course Learning Outcomes:
1.0 Compose a theoretically sound and conceptually rich essay that demonstrates knowledge of the fundamental subject areas of the student's academic discipline and specialization.
2.0 Critique existing research and design a methodologically sound approach to research in the student's academic specialization(s).
3.0 Apply relevant theory and research from the student's specialization coursework to real life situations to solve specific problems and discuss implications.
4.0 Integrate knowledge of ethical practices with principles of professional practice as they apply to specific scenarios within the student's academic discipline and specialization.
Following successful completion of the comprehension examination, you will begin to develop your proposal for your dissertation research. Part of this proposal will require you to develop a problem statement, purpose statement, research questions, and a method section where you describe the method by which you will collect data and the statistical design you will develop to test the research questions.
Question Three requires you to apply what you have learned regarding research methodology in psychology.
Note: You may find textbooks and readings from your research sequence courses helpful to you in preparing your response to this question.
Books & Resources:
American Psychological Association (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (Sixth Edition). Washington, D.C.: Author. ISBN 9781433805615
Statistical Decision Tree
Supplemental Readings
When to use WHAT statistic?
Assignment Part One: Research Problem
For Question ,provided you with a general topic. The topic is: Gender confusion is more prevalent among urban adolescents. Your task now is to use that topic (Gender confusion is more prevalent among urban adolescents) to develop research questions, research method section, and statistical design. You may choose either a quantitative or qualitative perspective.
1. Develop a Problem Statement using the subject area.
In your problem statement, you will
• Explain the research topic behavior regarding the subject area provided by your faculty.
• Define the construct you are interested in researching related to the subject area provided by your faculty.
• Include the theory you would test related to the subject area provided by your faculty.
• Support your problem statement with at least 5-10 peer-reviewed articles.
2. Develop a brief Purpose Statement.
• Working from your problem statement, you now will write a purpose statement using the subject area provided by your faculty.
3. Develop two Research Questions using the subject area provided by your faculty.
• Referring to both your problem and purpose statements, you will now develop two research questions using the subject area provided by your faculty.
4. Develop the Research Hypothesis for this topic based upon just one of the research questions you have crafted.
5. Briefly describe how the Research Problem, Purpose, Research Questions, and Hypothesis are connected.
Assignment: Part Two: Research Methods
Using the same topic you addressed in Section One of this question, (Gender confusion is more prevalent among urban adolescents), you will now prepare a Research Methods section.
In the method section you should have all the headings and subheadings outlined by APA. Please feel free to use the APA manual. Keep in mind that a reader should be able to read an author's research method section and be able to run the experiment by him/herself.
Specifically, this section needs to address:
1. Participants
Briefly determine the demographics of the participants you would seek for the proposed study. You will address ethical considerations related to this mock project.
2. Research design
A. The research design (quantitative or qualitative) you would use to test the research questions you have developed for this topic. NOTE: You may want to use the decision tree resource to help you decide which quantitative statistical method is a best fit to test the research questions.
B. Justify the research design.
C. Describe any limitations this design may have.
D. Describe any advantages and/or disadvantages this design may have.
E. If you have chosen a quantitative design, what would be the qualitative equivalent design for this mock study? If you have chosen a qualitative design, what is the quantitative equivalent design for this mock study? As part of this section, be sure to indicate which statistics would be used to analyze the data.
F. Under what conditions would you opt for the alternative design you have discussed in Item E?
This is a final comprehensive exam question and must be free of plagiarism and very thorough. Each section must be completed as detailed above.
Length: 10-15 pages