W. Paul Vogt & Dianne C. Gardner 
When to Use What Research Design [EPUB ebook] 

Systematic, practical, and accessible, this is the first book to focus on finding the most defensible design for a particular research question. Thoughtful guidelines are provided for weighing the advantages and disadvantages of various methods, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods designs. The book can be read sequentially or readers can dip into chapters on specific stages of research (basic design choices, selecting and sampling participants, addressing ethical issues) or data collection methods (surveys, interviews, experiments, observations, archival studies, and combined methods). Many chapter headings and subheadings are written as questions, helping readers quickly find the answers they need to make informed choices that will affect the later analysis and interpretation of their data.


 


Useful features include:


*Easy-to-navigate part and chapter structure.


*Engaging research examples from a variety of fields.


*End-of-chapter tables that summarize the main points covered.


*Detailed suggestions for further reading at the end of each chapter.

*Integration of data collection, sampling, and research ethics in one volume.


*Comprehensive glossary.

See also Vogt et al.’s Selecting the Right Analyses for Your Data, which addresses the next steps in coding, analyzing, and interpreting data.

Innehållsförteckning

General Introduction: Design, Sampling, and Ethics


I. Research Questions and Designs


What Is the Role of Theory in Research Questions and Designs?


1. When to Use Survey Designs


When Are Surveys Likely to Be a Wise Design Choice?


When Should You Use Which Mode of Administering Your Survey?


What Design Should You Use to Study Change over Time?


What Question Formats Can You Use in a Survey Design?


Conclusion on Survey Designs: So Many Questions, So Little Time


2. When to Use Interview Designs


Comparing Interviews with Surveys


Conclusion on Interview Designs in General


Specific Interview Types, Approaches, and Procedures


Conclusion


3. When to Use Experimental Designs


What’s Wrong with Gold-Standard Thinking?


When Is an RCT a Good Option?


When Is an Experimental Design a Good Option for Your Research?


When Should You Use the Basic Types of Experimental Design?


General Conclusion on When to Use Experimental Designs


4. When to Use Naturalistic and Participant Observational Designs


Overview of Observational Designs


When Is Observation a Good Design Choice?


Further Distinguishing between Naturalistic and Participant Observational Designs


When Should You Use a Naturalistic Observational Design?


When Should You Use Participant Observational Designs?


Conclusion: Characteristics of All Observational Designs


5. When to Use Archival Designs
: Literature Reviews and Secondary Analyses


What Kinds of Archival Data Are Available for Researchers?


When Should You Collect and Use Preexisting Data Rather Than Produce Your Own?


Types of Archival Research


Database Archives


Organizational Records


Textual Studies of Documents


New Media, Including Internet Sources


Conclusion


6. When to Use Combined Research Designs


Simple versus Multipart Research Questions


When to Combine Research Designs


Types and Qualities of Combined Designs


Logistical Considerations in Combined Research Designs


Conclusion and Summary


II. Sampling, Selection,  and  Recruitment


7. Sampling for Surveys


Probability Samples


Nonprobability Samples


When Should You Try to Improve Response Rates?


How Big Should Your Sample Be?


Conclusion


8. Identifying and Recruiting People for Interviews


How Interview Strategies Are Shaped by Research Questions


Making Basic Decisions about Interview Sampling


Conclusions on Selecting People to Interview


9. Sampling, Recruiting, and Assigning Participants in Experiments


Randomized Controlled Trials


Alternatives to RCTs


Controlling for Covariates


Conclusion: Sampling, Recruiting, and Assigning Cases in Experiments


10. Searching and Sampling for Observations


Overview of Searching and Sampling Concerns in Observational Research


Appropriateness and Relevance of the Sample


Accessing Observation Sites


Decisions Influenced by Resources and Other Practical Considerations


Four Basic Sampling Decisions


Sampling and the Five Types of Research Questions


Conclusion and Summary


11. Sampling from Archival Sources


When Do You Search and When Do You Sample?


Sampling Research Literature to Build Upon and Synthesize It


Database Archives


Organizational Records


Textual Studies of Documents


New Media, Including Various Internet Sources


Conclusion


12. Sampling and Recruiting for Combined Research Designs


When Should You Use Probability Samples in Your Combined Design Study?


When Should You Use Purposive Samples in Your Combined Design Study?


When Should You Use Both Probability and Purposive Samples in Your Study?


Conclusion and Summary


III. Research Ethics: The Responsible Conduct of Research


Responsibilities toward the Persons Being Studied


Responsibilities toward Other Researchers


Responsibilities toward the Broader Society/Community


13. Ethics in Survey Research


Consent: Informed Participants Willingly Joining the Research Project


Harm: Preventing Injury to Respondents


Privacy: Ensuring Respondents’ Anonymity and/or Confidentiality


Conclusion


14. Ethics in Interview Research


Consent: Informed Participants Willingly Agreeing to Be Interviewed


Harm: Preventing Injury to Interviewees during the Interview


Privacy: Ensuring Interviewees’ Confidentiality


Conclusion


15. Ethics in Experimental Research


Consent: Informed Participants Willingly Joining the Research Project


Harm: Preventing Injury to Experimental Participants


Privacy: Ensuring Participants’ Anonymity and/or Confidentiality


Conclusion


16. Ethics in Observational Research


Seeking and Acquiring Informed Consent to Observe


Avoiding and Minimizing Harm to Participants While Conducting the Study


Ensuring Participant Privacy


Conclusion


17. Ethical Issues in Archival Research


Ethical Practice in Reviews of the Research Literature


Ethical Practices in Employing Database Archives


Ethical Obligations When Using Institutional Records


Ethical Issues When Using Documents, Including Public Documents


Ethical Issues When Using Blogs and Other Sources Published On-line


When Might the Honest, Correct Reporting of Archival Research Cause Harm?


Conclusion


18. Ethical Considerations in Combined Research Designs


Consent


Harm


Privacy


Conclusion: Culmination of Design, Sampling, and Ethics in Valid Data Coding


When to Use Qualities or Quantities, Names or Numbers, Categories or Continua?


What Methods to Use to Code Concepts with Reliability and Validity


What Methods to Use to Improve Reliability


What Methods to Use to Enhance Validity


What to Use to Code Concepts Validly


Coding Decisions Shape Analytic Options


Glossary

 

Om författaren

W. Paul Vogt, Ph D, until his death in 2016, was Emeritus Professor of Research Methods and Evaluation at Illinois State University, where he received both teaching and research awards. Dr. Vogt’s areas of specialization included research design and data analysis, with particular emphasis on combining qualitative, quantitative, and graphic approaches. His books include
Selecting the Right Analyses for Your Data and
When to Use What Research Design.


 


Dianne C. Gardner, Ph D, is Associate Professor of Educational Administration at Illinois State University. Dr. Gardner’s research interests include assessment, organizational development, program evaluation, P20 systems, and qualitative research methodology.


 


Lynne M. Haeffele, Ph D, is Senior Research Associate in the Center for the Study of Education Policy at Illinois State University. Dr. Haeffele’s research interests include combining research designs, applying research findings to policy and practice, program evaluation, and the topical areas of college readiness, organizational performance, and school–university partnerships.