Research methodology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Research methodology - Essay Example This method’s main objective is to come up with general rules or principles. Examples of areas in which quantitative methods are applied include numerical methods (mathematical modeling), laboratory experiments, formal methods (econometrics) and surveys. Quantitative methods involve procedures which have to be followed to obtain expected result. First step the researcher collects variables which are then measured. The next step is to obtain the frequency distribution, measure of dispersion and location, get the probability, test the hypothesis and finally conduct statistical tests. Its advantages are that it facilitates for broad study because it involves many subjects. It also avoids bias among researchers and enhances accuracy of results. This is because it applies many cases and few variables in a study hence precise and can be compared. Quantitative method has disadvantages such as leading to wrong presentation where the researcher gives personal views instead of analyzing the data. Its results provide numerical analysis thus limited. When carried out in a laboratory, its results are artificial in contrary to the real world (Bryman, and Cramer, 1999). Qualitative method Qualitative methods emerged from social sciences. They enhance the study of cultural and social phenomena. It analyzes data according to categorization and quality of the given characteristics. Qualitative methods investigate human beings. They explore how individuals experience and see. Unlike quantitative analysis, it emphasizes on words other than quantities in the collection and examination of data. There are different types of qualitative research: interactive interviewing, written descriptions and observation. Each qualitative research is guided by its own approach of investigation. To ensure quality research, there must be maintenance of details. Its advantage is in unfolding a lot of information about people’s lives in depth. It is relatively inexpensive as it deals wit h small groups at a time. Qualitative analysis also uses cheap measurement tools. Its drawbacks are that it is not convenient because it inhibits statistical data collection. More so, this method gives limited information: it collects details from a small, selected group (Hoepfl, 1999). Mixed methods Statisticians prefer the term mixed model to mixed method. They based their argument on the fact that mixing is not just about the methods carried out in a research. Mixed method is a combination qualitative and quantitative research method. It adopts more than one research approach. It involves methods that are flexible hence appropriate for multiple studies. Mixed method may or may not contain a strategy. The method is used in mapping exercises and collection of the nation’s statistics data. Today, mixed method is widely used because of its merits. In that, mixed methods combine many research methods hence offer an extraordinary opportunity for advancement. It also allows for t he enhancement of skills. However, mixed methods can be tedious especially in the application of many research methods (Bazeley, 2003). Action research It is also known as participatory action research. It originated from social psychology. Action research involves a process which is reflective of progressively solving problems led by persons working together as a team. The process entails being actively involved in an organization’

What has been learned about the effectiveness, and limitations, of Essay

What has been learned about the effectiveness, and limitations, of parent training programmes for helping children with externalizing behavior problems What needs to be learned - Essay Example ith this behavioral problem with ample knowledge gained through three categories of Incredible Years Parent Training Programmes: (i)Babies and toddlers (0-3 years); BASIC Early Childhood (3-6 years) and ADVANCE (4-12 years) (Incredible Years, 2009). The goals of these programmes are to treat children aggressive behavior and ADHD and to build a robust parent-child interaction that would help in raising children that would be socially competent, emotionally strong and enjoy mental alacrity (Incredible Years, 2009). While there have been some improvements in the social behaviors of children in countries where Webster-Stratton Model has been applied, but it had also been discovered that not all of these programmes have been successful or effective: they face some unavoidable limitations due to the process of implementation that worth investigating and proposing better approaches that would be able to withstand both the internalizing and externalizing problems in children. There are some observable indications that the idea of parent training programmes for helping children with externalizing behaviour problems has been effective: surveys of trial or randomized group control evaluations indicate that there has been improvement in the way parents discipline their children, shunning harsh discipline or spanking that could have made grow into unruly adolescents (Incredible Years, 2009). This action has encouraged children to look up to their parents as problem-solvers, and by engaging them in fruitful communication, instead of resulting to violent outburst. Over the period of the training, the parents’ attitude to interaction with their children has improved, with parents using more positive words or praises to supply the needed encouragement for their children to act well in the society. Webster-Stratton and Hammond (1990) recognized that researchers have previously discovered that the state of parental mental health largely contributes to how th eir children’s social