Hypothetical Research Designs - Term Paper Example

Hypothetical Research Designs Hypothetical Research Designs Quantitative Research Design The Elements of the Design The research problem in this review aims at determining whether adult sex offenders have ever had childhood sexual abuse. Therefore, the underlying age and the sext abuse relationship between these ages of the sex offenders. Numerous was can be used to collected quantitative data including extracting the same data from court files and contacting the rehabilitation centers for patient or persons with similar relationship as the research problems (Thomas, 2003). There are series of interviews that will be conducted to justify the validity of the underlying concerns (Taylor, 2005). However, numerous decisions will be made in sieving the data to establish a normal distribution and to evade clearly avoidable errors in the data. In this case, several sex offence culprits will be considered for interview during data collection. Methods for Preparing Data Collection Process The source or the origin of the problem will be revised to understand the problem efficiently in order to understand the nature of data to be collected. The main concern of the research topic lies in the establishment if there is any relationship between childhood abuse and adulthood sex offense. Therefore, understanding the literature of the nature of relationship in the abuse will help in determining and formulating the research questions. Establishing factors delimiting the research problem: these are essential in determining the quality of the problem. In other words, if the hypothesis turns positive then, there will a clear ground to eradicate or minimize the problem by first eradicating the related sex abuse on the children and other young offenders. Establishing the significance of the research problem - the significance of the research problem herein is to determine the fueling factor of the sex abuse in adults. Therefore, some factors including family relationships, petrographic materials, and early sexual abuse, in relation to the offender shall be vital in data collection (Taylor, 2005). This research will take different forms of qualitative design since different elements or sources of data and information will be targeted. The main purpose of the study is to understand the relationship between the adult sex offenders and their childhood sexual life (haRwell, n.d.). Therefore, there will be a lot of concern in the accuracy of data; thus, there is need for structuring the research questions in simple, unambiguous, and effective manner to enable the respondents to provide direct, correct, and relevant answers (Creswell, 2003). The understanding of the research subject is critical in this area since it will help in exploring, descripting, and or testing the hypothesis even before analysis and drafting the conclusion (Thomas, 2003). Therefore, the methodological sophistication and rigor will increase as the research moves from explanatory to hypothesis testing. Nature of the Study The nature of study is vital for this study since it will help in the decision-making. Notably, this research is vast and the nature it is designed will help in exhaustiveness of data collection (haRwell, n.d.). Therefore, the underlying factors in determining the nature of the study are the objectives, goals and the available resources for the study. These factors also determine ramification and implementation of the research results. This research will follow descriptive study; one of the methods used in the quantitative studies. The Descriptive Study Method The descriptive study will be used to define variable. The main variable in this research work is age, social, and psychological factors that might be contributing to the sex offense in adults. The age factor will be considered independent variable while social and psychological that may vary depending on sex, family and societal relationship, and other offense co-factors such as use of drugs will be treated as dependent variable. These factors or variables will be used for hypothesis testing (haRwell, n.d.). Hypothesis Testing Hypothesis testing may be either analytical or predictive both of which will be applied in this study. Nonetheless, they are all designed in the “cause leads effect” nature. The analytical study will be used to understand the nature of relation among or between the variables (Creswell, 2003). For instance, the analytical study will be used to explain factors in the sex offenders’ childhood experiences that might have contributed to their adulthood offense. The analytical studies will not only describe variable but will also explain them. Moreover, using analytical study tool, specific relationship among variables will be analyzed to solve specific problem or to arrive at specific solution (Taylor, 2005). For instance, the same tools will be used to investigate whether those who are bodily abused at their tender ages are the majority of the abusers in their adulthood ages. Additionally, the study will be extended beyond the analytical studies by applying predictive studies. The predictive studies will be used to arrive at informed conclusions thereby drafting effective recommendations. The predictive study must be included since the research must explain reasons that lead to cause and eventual effects (haRwell, n.d.). Predictive studies will provide a perfect avenue for analyzing some of adult sex abusers without any relationships with the childhood sex offense related cases. In fact, this study and hypothesis testing will analyze if these unexplained actions are just acts of broad generalizability. Field Research The data collection strategies that will be employed in this study include interviews and document reviews (Thomas, 2003). Psychologist will be interviewed about what they know and think might contribute to adulthood sexual abuse in relation to an individual’s childhood sex history. Some areas under this section will include ethical consideration and scientific truth about sex abuse and abusers. Control The main concern in this section is to prevent or limiting effects on the dependent variable that might in turn interfere with the quality of data and subsequent results (Hartas, 2010). Main goals and objectives of the study are to reveal the true relationship between independent and dependent variables. To achieve this, the events shall be allowed to flow naturally without any internal or external influences. External factors Minimizing situation control – being consistent with data collection conditions Environmental controls Time factor – the criterion variables may be affected or influenced by time Protocol – all situation must be treated with constancy Controlling Intrinsic Factors This can only be done through extraneous variables including: Randomization Blocking Analyzing covariance Homogeneity Matching Validity Threats to the internal validity Selection History Mortality Maturation Best design – the best design that shall be used to evade these threats is the quasi – experimental External validity – generalizability Qualitative Research Design The main feature of qualitative projects is that they often target to create understanding of the data even as the analysis proceeds. Therefore, the qualitative design often differs from the intended actual study that usually starts with understanding parameters to be tested. Additionally, forms of these variables are often dictated by the hypothesis, scope, and quality of data (Creswell, 2003). Notably, qualitative research designs are never preemptive, that is, all the data, quantities, methods, indication of form, and scope must be obtained through questions, (Hartas, 2010) chosen method, selected topics and goals, on going process, and the data. Hence, the qualitative research design is often complicated; however, it is equally necessary and vital tool in any research work. The research design for this research problem will follow the following qualitative design (Thomas, 2003): The Scope of the Project This will include definition of relevant concepts and theories in relation to the research topic or problem. The main concept of this study is sexual abuse and there is need for its exhaustive understanding (Newman and Benz, 2006). The targeted group is the adult sexual abusers and they form the domain of the study. The theoretical sampling will be employed toward quality selection to evade avoidable errors during data collection. Designing the Scope or the Phenomenology Has had been stated, the research is vast; therefore, data from different quarters will be compare towards drafting conclusion and recommendations. Notably, individual abusers will not be targeted but records from courts and structured interview with the psychologists and psychiatrists. The Nature of the Data The study will use different structured questions towards data collection. The data shall be collected from both secondary and primary sources (Creswell, 2003). All the data obtained from documents shall be treated as secondary while data obtained from interviews shall be treated as primary (Newman and Benz, 2006). To ensure quality data, the research questions shall focus on the end especially on the claims that might be realized during data collection period. Historical Research Discussion of the results often depends on the understanding of the literature of the research problems especially the underlying theories and concepts of the topic (haRwell, n.d.). Therefore, there is need to understand all possible and relevant literature concerning sex abuse. Additionally, it is through this understanding that a researcher can develop leading and effective research questions towards extracting quality and accurate data from the participants. Thinking ahead This is involves the understanding the usefulness of the study and thinking on how people will believe on the conclusion and recommendations (Hartas, 2010). Achieving these claims will require extensive and robust data and subsequent thorough data analysis that leads to constructive and effective conclusions and recommendation. Reference Creswell, J. W. (2003). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Thousand Oaks, Calif. [u.a.: Sage Publ. Hartas, D. (2010). Educational research and inquiry: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. London: Continuum. haRwell, M. R. (n.d.). ReseaRch Design in Qualitative/Quantitative/MixeD MethoDs. University of Minnesot. Retrieved December 30, 2012, from http://www.sagepub.com/upm-data/41165_10.pdf Newman, I., & Benz, C. R. (2006). Qualitative-quantitative research methodology: Exploring the interactive continuum. Carbondale, Ill. [u.a.: Southern Illinois Univ. Press. Taylor, G. R. (2005). Integrating quantitative and qualitative methods in research. Lanham, Md: University Press of America. Thomas, R. M. (2003). Blending qualitative & quantitative research methods in theses and dissertations. Thousand Oaks, Calif: Corwin Press. Read More