Educational Research. Correlational Research From Other Types Of Research - Assignment Example

Critical Thinking Questions Locate an example of published survey research in a reputable journal. Compare and contrast it with the article that appears in its entirety in Chapter 11 The article chosen for comparison with that in the text is Identity Formation in Adolescence: Change or Stability by Klimstra et al. The aims or purposes of both studies were similar: the study in the textbook sought to fill a void left by earlier researchers. Klimstra et al. also sought to clarify several inconsistencies that had been found by other studies before, but not researched (Klimstra et al. 150). This study sought to examine the manner in which formation of identity in adolescents can be described best using self-report surveys. The study by Klimstra et al. follows almost the exact organization as that in the survey research from the text. First, the study has a purpose statement discussed above, it also has a problem statement, which is whether the formation of identity in adolescents is best characterized by stability or change; as well it has an abstract in the beginning. The collection of data in the two studies was similar in that the participants were asked to fill out questionnaires that would be analyzed later. In addition, the analysis of data involved the use of scales, although the scales were different in both studies. While the sample study in the text used the Likert Scale, the Identity Formation in Adolescence: Change or Stability research study used the Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale. 2. What differentiates correlational research from other types of research? A common thing among all the correlational research studies is the fact that they are involved in the exploration of relationships between different variables. This differs from the descriptive research, since the descriptive research only describes what happens or what is going on. The correlational research, on the other hand, talks about what links different issues or variables. What is important to note is that, unlike other types of research studies, the correlational research does not indicate that one variable leads to another or causes a change in another, but that one variable is somehow related to another one. The correlational research also differs from the causal-comparative research, as the correlational researcher is attempting to measure the nature of variable relationships, rather than a cause and effect relationship (Mertler & Charles 256). For instance, a correlational research study could conclude that there was a correlation between violence among family members and ice-skating. While this may seem strange, it is true that there is a correlation, rather than a relation. As more individuals are involved in ice-skating in the United States, there is more violence among family members. The question, however, that this research poses is whether these findings are indicative of the fact that ice-skating causes violence among family members, for instance, whether people who have some bad time on the ice rink take it out on family members. In addition, could it be that violence with a family member caused one to feel the need to go out and skate the whole day? The truth is that none of these variables leads to the other; they are simply correlated. Every time that people go out to skate, there is an increase in violence among family members. On the other hand, it is also possible to predict that every time violence among family members goes down, it will lead that there will be fewer people at the local ice skating rink. What exists is a hidden link that binds these two variables together; which itself is a third variable, which, in this case, is winter. As people spend more time at home in winter, violence among family members goes up while more people also tend to go ice-skating in winter. 3. What are the principal data sources in experimental and quasi-experimental research? Quasi-experimental and experimental research designs are used for systematic observation of the effects of a specific treatment on a specific population by the use of a representative sample. The two designs have a number of similarities: they both allow for causal claims, directional claims, an investigation of a specific treatment’s effects, and the use of both control and experimental treatment groups. The main difference is the manner in which they generate hypothetical counterfactuals. Experimental and quasi-experimental research designs are normally associated with four fundamental factors that include the groups to be measured and how to measure them, the time at which measurements or observations of the DV occur, the extent to which IV can be manipulated, and the assignment for comparison groups of individual subjects. Some of the principal data sources for these research studies are raw scores; for example, from test scores, judgments made of involved subjects, and measures made as averages of grade points (Mertler & Charles 290). Data in true and quasi-experimental designs are obtained under controlled situations or conditions concerning experiences and leisure attitudes that possess virtual reality. The subjects also need to be assigned randomly to various experiences and tests before the assessment through standardized scales or observations. Tools that are essential in experimental and quasi-experimental research include structured interviews, surveys, and standardized tests. Another means through which data can be sourced in experimental and quasi-experimental research studies is via past research on the same topic. 4. Suppose you wanted to study a community’s satisfaction with its schools. Describe how you might plan your study. First, the study should have a purpose that is clearly described with well laid out hypotheses and research questions. One should also first do a literature review during their planning stage in order to come up with the major areas that require to be studied as well as gaps and voids in the earlier research. Following this, a written summary should be made of the reviewed literature with regards to how it relates to the research proposal. In addition, most of the research on school satisfaction in the area must be recent, unless one is dealing with hallmark studies that may have been carried out in that community or a similar community on their satisfaction with the school system. The researcher must also come up with some of the information that he/she expects to find from the study, which will be later used to formulate a hypothesis. In addition, it is important to select the major groups that satisfaction will be measured in, and how the study will be conducted, in this case, through survey research. The section on what one expects to find from the research should be used for providing the questions asked in the questionnaires. In addition, one should seek out permission from the relevant authorities such as school principals and parents in order to get some of the students to participate in the survey research study. Works Cited Klimstra, Theo, Hale, William, Raaijmakers, Quinten, Branje, Susan, and Meeus Wim. "Identity Formation in Adolescence: Change or Stability?" Journal of Youth and Adolescence 2010: 150-162. Print. Mertler, Craig A., and Charles, C. M. Introduction to Educational Research. Boston : Pearson, 2011. Print. Read More