Research Designs & Methodologies: A Comparative Analysis
Classified in Psychology and Sociology
Written on in 
English with a size of 5.29 KB
Research Design Types
Cross-Sectional Design
- A cross-sectional design is used for research that collects data on relevant variables one time only from a variety of people, subjects, or phenomena.
- A cross-sectional design provides a snapshot of the variables included in the study at one particular point in time.
- Cross-sectional designs generally use survey techniques to gather data, for example, the U.S. Census.
Advantages
- Data on many variables
- Data from a large number of subjects
- Data from dispersed subjects
- Data on attitudes and behaviors
- Good for exploratory research
- Generates hypotheses for future research
- Data useful to many different researchers
Disadvantages
- Increased chances of error
- Increased cost with more subjects and each location
- Cannot measure change
- Cannot establish cause and effect
- No control of independent variable
- Difficult to rule out rival hypotheses
- Static
Longitudinal Design
- A longitudinal design collects data over long periods of time.
- Measurements are taken on each variable over two or more distinct time periods.
- This allows the researcher to measure change in variables over time.
Time Series Design
- A time series design collects data on the same variable at regular intervals in the form of aggregate measures of a population.
- Time series designs are useful for:
- Establishing a baseline measure
- Describing changes over time
- Keeping track of trends
- Forecasting future (short-term) trends
Advantages
- Data easy to collect
- Easy to present in graphs
- Easy to interpret
- Can forecast short-term trends
Disadvantages
- Data collection method may change over time
- Difficult to show more than one variable at a time
- Needs qualitative research to explain fluctuations
- Assumes present trends will continue unchanged
Panel Designs
- Panel designs collect repeated measurements from the same people or subjects over time.
- Panel studies reveal changes at the individual level.
Advantages
- Reveals individual-level changes
- Establishes time order of variables
- Can show how relationships emerge
Disadvantages
- Difficult to obtain initial sample of subjects
- Difficult to keep the same subjects over time
- Repeated measures may influence subjects' behavior
Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research Methods
Methods | ||
QUANTITATIVE | QUALITATIVE | |
OBJECTIVES | Aims to ascertain objective facts, depicting common characteristics, origins, and consequences. | Aims to study social phenomena in their natural environment, prioritizing subjective aspects of human behavior and exploring their meaning. |
RESULTS | These techniques require numbers, indices, ratios, tables, etc., to describe social facts. | These techniques require descriptions based on lived experiences. |
FEATURES | Objectivity Neutrality Precision Replicability | Subjectivity Empathy Richness Proximity |
TECHNIQUES | Survey Sociometry Scales | In-depth interview Direct observation Focus Groups Documents |
Techniques | ||
ENVIRONMENT | Can be developed in natural environments or labs. | Conducted in direct contact with the object of study, in its natural environment. |
RESEARCH DESIGN | Requires a previously fixed design; everything is determined a priori. | Often features a flexible or emergent design. |
TECHNICAL FLEXIBILITY | Techniques are fixed. | Allows techniques to change and be flexible based on daily life realities. |
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK | Theoretical framework and pre-formulated hypotheses. | Theoretical framework and pre-formulated hypotheses. |
SAMPLING | Uses representative sampling, typically random. | Sampling aims to be representative of the studied context or universe. |
INTERPRETATION | Interpretation requires generalization, extrapolation, and universalization. | Interpretation involves generalizing discourses. |