Research and Design Methodology: Strengths and Weakness
Research and Design Methodology
Alison S. Campana
Excelsior College
Research and Design Methodology There are many different methods and designs that are used to study human development. In this essay we will explore the methods commonly used and learn the strengths and weakness that each method entails. The commonly used research designs used include general designs such as correlation and experimental design and development designs such as longitudinal, cross-sectional, and sequential designs (Berk, 2010). Under the correlational design researchers gather data on individuals, usually in natural daily environments, and without altering any experiences (Berk, 2010). The strength of this design is that it allows for conditions to be studied as they occur, as these conditions and situations cannot be controlled. The one major weakness of correlation design is that it does not allow us to determine cause and effect (Berk, 2010). Many variables to the situation that can potentially alter an outcome that has nothing to do with the behavior that is being studied (Berk, 2010) Under experimental design it allows researchers to introduce variables and examine the effects of these variables in either a laboratory setting or in the subjects natural environment (Berk, 2010). This method has a major strength in which it allows for the interpretation of cause and effect to the situation. The weakness of this method is that the different settings may reduce the accuracy of any findings. If conducted in a laboratory, findings may be different than if conducted in a real world setting (Berk, 2010). In the developmental research designs which include longitudinal, cross-sectional, and sequential methods it involves the study of groups using varying time methods. In longitudinal research the same group of subjects is studied repeatedly and changes are recorded as the participant of the group age. These studies may occur over a few months or last several years
Alison S. Campana
Excelsior College
Research and Design Methodology There are many different methods and designs that are used to study human development. In this essay we will explore the methods commonly used and learn the strengths and weakness that each method entails. The commonly used research designs used include general designs such as correlation and experimental design and development designs such as longitudinal, cross-sectional, and sequential designs (Berk, 2010). Under the correlational design researchers gather data on individuals, usually in natural daily environments, and without altering any experiences (Berk, 2010). The strength of this design is that it allows for conditions to be studied as they occur, as these conditions and situations cannot be controlled. The one major weakness of correlation design is that it does not allow us to determine cause and effect (Berk, 2010). Many variables to the situation that can potentially alter an outcome that has nothing to do with the behavior that is being studied (Berk, 2010) Under experimental design it allows researchers to introduce variables and examine the effects of these variables in either a laboratory setting or in the subjects natural environment (Berk, 2010). This method has a major strength in which it allows for the interpretation of cause and effect to the situation. The weakness of this method is that the different settings may reduce the accuracy of any findings. If conducted in a laboratory, findings may be different than if conducted in a real world setting (Berk, 2010). In the developmental research designs which include longitudinal, cross-sectional, and sequential methods it involves the study of groups using varying time methods. In longitudinal research the same group of subjects is studied repeatedly and changes are recorded as the participant of the group age. These studies may occur over a few months or last several years
References: Berk, L. E. (2010). Development Through the Lifespan, Fifth Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.