Research Design: GCU Core Designs

1 Research Design The study's research design refers to the overall strategy applied to facilitate the integration of the different components of the research coherently and logically. The goal of the research design is to integrate the elements of the study in a logical manner. The selected research design intended for the current research is a quantitative study using a correlational approach. The approach is among GCU core designs for research studies. It is a nonexperimental study that examines the empirical relationship between two or more variables on a single group of participants to predict or define the existing relationship (Curtis et al., 2016). A quantitative correlational study is the GCU core design intended for the dissertation and a research-supported justification is provided for the choice of study approach selected for the intended research.

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2 The GCU Core Design Most appropriate for the Intended Dissertation The GCU core designs for a study include qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods, even though the latter is not recommended. In relation to the intended study, the GCU core design that is most appropriate for the intended dissertation is a quantitative study with a correlational design. The quantitative correlational study is non-experimental and its goal is to demonstrate associative relationships between variables but does not attempt to generate an unambiguous cause and effect explanation (Curtis et al., 2016). The correlational design entails the determination of an empirical relationship between two or more variables on a single group of participants to predict or define the existing relationship.

The study will entail observation of relationships between variables in a setting where it occurs naturally. The study will include two or more variables that can be measured quantitatively. On the other hand, the approach entails valid approaches to data collection such as validated surveys and a database with a theoretical or logical explanation that is applied to predict a correlation. The study requires ordinal or interval level data for the variables on interest.

The study will be a quantitative, non-experimental correlation study, that will utilize two Likerttype scale survey instruments to measure the related variables being studied (Curtis et al., 2016).

The study will be conducted using surveys to collect data to establish the correlation between the studied variables.

The correlational coefficient will indicate the correlation between the featured variables.

Therefore, a correlation coefficient will be applied as a statistical measure to establish the strength of the variables that exist between them. In general, a quantitative correlational study is comprised of two or more quantitative variables that have been drawn from the same group

3 (Bloomfield & Fisher, 2019). Therefore, the study is undertaken so that the researcher tries to determine if a relationship or covariation exists between the two variables. The correlation study will be undertaken to determine whether there is a similarity between them, and not a difference noted in their means.

Research-Supported Rationale for the Chosen Design A correlational research study describes what exists between variables and systematically investigates the relationship between one or more variables of interest. According to Bloomfield and Fisher (2019), quantitative research methods are ideal as they are generally better suited for large sample groups, ?? as it will be the case of the intended study, whereby the goal of recruiting a larger sample is to enhance the generalizability of the study to the overall population.

Further, quantitative research generates numerical data that is easily communicated to the audience with minimal explanation. The position arises from the fact that the data is highly analyzed and represented statistically; thus inferences can be quickly derived from it. Further, results from an objective study will be generated objectively and this is essential since results generated through the approach facilitate reproduction of the research with similar outcomes even when the context is changed. The goal of the correlational study is to establish the relationship between the studied variables. Therefore, a quantitative research approach using a survey design is selected as the most ideal research for the study.

Quantitative methodologies are adopted as a way of evaluating a situation from a wide perspective to determine if and to what extent correlated variables exist. A correlational quantitative study is selected as the researcher will not be justifying variables, but rather evaluating if and to what extent relationships exist (Seeram, 2019). The study will be more impactful in determining if and to what extent there’re are statistically significant correlations

4 between variables. Using a quantitative correlational methodology will be significant in establishing the perceived relationship between the variables.

A Research-Supported Discussion of Why the Other GCU Core Designs Are Not as Appropriate as the Chosen Design Given the Intended Dissertation Research A quantitative research approach is considered the most appropriate method for the study compared to a qualitative research approach or a mixed-methods design. A qualitative research design would not be ideal as it requires data interpretation, which does not allow the researcher to compare variables or group participants on a statistics basis (Seeram, 2019). Besides, qualitative data is drawn from multiple sources in addition to numerical sources. The researcher understands that data collected from qualitative design could be ideal in facilitating a deeper understanding of the opinion and feelings of the research participant. However, results from a qualitative study would only be unique to the organization studied and would not be generalizable to similar organizations in the industry featured as the results would not be credible or feasible. Further, any challenges associated with the subjective nature of the qualitative research approach and succeeding interpretation of the results derived by the researcher are addressed.

The GCU recommended core research designs include quantitative and qualitative studies. Although the mixed methods approach is available, it is not recommended. The available quantitative methods include experimental, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental designs which incorporate descriptive studies in the form of surveys, correlation studies, and casual comparative studies (Seeram, 2019). The qualitative approach includes descriptive studies, phenomenology studies, narrative, case study, grounded, and theory. Qualitative research would not be ideal for the intended study; thus, a correlational quantitative study is preferred.

5 A qualitative research design would not be ideal in the current context because it does not include statistically representatives form of data collection, which would be obtained through quantitative research (Curtis et al., 2016). A qualitative study is also based on the individual experience, therefore the results may not be easily generalizable to the entire population. The study may also require multiple sessions and the results may not be easily replicated to the population of the study. Since qualitative research is based upon the experience of the researcher, it can result in misleading conclusions.

References

Bloomfield, J., & Fisher, M. J. (2019). Quantitative research design. Journal of the Australasian Rehabilitation Nurses Association, 22(2), 27-30.

Curtis, E. A., Comiskey, C., & Dempsey, O. (2016). Importance and use of correlational research. Nurse Researcher, 23(6).

Seeram, E. (2019). An overview of correlational research. Radiologic Technology, 91(2), 176179.

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