Term Paper on "Scientific Study"

Term Paper 10 pages (3245 words) Sources: 4

[EXCERPT] . . . .

At this stage in the research, professional development choices will be generally defined as a group phenomenon that is influenced by members of the group.

Question 4

How any of us determine what we think of a person is dependent on our observations of them. How they look and act all influence how we think they are. This is the similar for qualitative research as well, since it focuses on using abstract social and behavioral data in order to try to make actual scientific based assumptions about that person and/or group. In fact, observations are a crucial part in qualitative research. The act of observing is the central foundation for collecting data in the field. It provides data and evidence which then can be tested in order to generate meaningful assumptions about the phenomenon being tested. Observations are crucial for all types of empirical research, both quantitative and qualitative. From a quantitative perspective, observations help provide the number for later statistical data. Qualitative data, however, it much harder to collect because how fluid and flexible the types of data needed for the various research methods are.

Qualitative data is incredible diverse. It can include numerical data, like quantitative data to a certain extent; yet it is primarily more abstract. It deals more with social phenomena, and thus is much more flexible, depending really on the methodological perspective with is driving the research. Thus, qualitative data is focused on social interaction, communication, and experiences. The way a person experiences his or her social surroundings and how those experiences influences their beliefs is a huge element to labeling what type of person that is. Moreover, how individuals communicate and interpret other social phenomenon can alter the way they believe in certain social concepts. All of this can thus be tracked using a myriad of qualitative research methods.

Understanding that people and social groups are complex, qualitative research digs deeper into understanding the beliefs, experiences, and communication in order to make assumptions about either a single individual or a larger group. Ultimately, this provides a way to test theories and create new, alternative theories based on very abstract and fluid data which cannot be tested by traditional statistical methodologies.

Question 5

Interviews

Researcher Observations

Documents

Artifacts

Audio-visual material

Participant Observations

II

IIII

III

II

Question 6

Michael Moore tends to make large conclusions on his own and to over use every day participants he meets on the streets or in other public spheres to try to make his point, but this is actually some of the weaker strategies he uses to present his argument. This type of data is often seen as controversial because it is not based on true facts or actual empirical research, but rather is put into the film primarily for shock and awe value to entice the audience into over-believing what Moore is trying to say within the context of his film. Some of the audio and visual evidence used also plays into the same theme. It is visually compelling, where it captivates the audience much more and can leave a lasting impression on those who watch the film. Yet, it does not hold the type of validity that real empirical research does.

Some of the more convincing methods for disseminating data through the film are the use of real statistical data, empirical research studies, and interviews with professionals in the field. Moore does use a number of strong statistics taken from empirical studies conducted by accredited and professional research organizations. Often time, he uses data from non-profit and government sources, which a greater validity than the other types of data has presented in the context of the film. Moreover, the interviews with professionals in the field also present a much stronger foundation for Moore's argument. First, Moore has a number of well-respected professionals in field providing clear and logical argument for his points. Moore also interviews people who would oppose his perspective, which does show that he is trying to efficiently counter the primary oppositional argument against his main claims. Still, Moore could have rebutted this opposition more effectively, as he typically only used visual imagery or his own research perspective to refute the evidence provided by the opposition.

Question 7

The article "In Conversation: High School Students Talk to Students about Tobacco Use and Prevention Strategies" by Clark et al. (2002) explored how teenagers talk with one another about the use of tobacco. In order to explore this further, four high schools featured interviews with groups of teenagers. The interviews then provided the foundation for the study to make assumptions regarding how teens talk about smoking and influence one another. It also helped the researchers understand the way teenagers created the meaning behind being seen as a smoker. They discovered that this is a multi-faceted layer of influence that can create the situation where teenagers pick up a cigarette.

The study did have some very clear elements. For example, the research questions were clearly marked with special headings; however, these questions were not made clear until much later in the study in the findings section. Although this was a little confusing at first, it was very clear once they were uncovered. They were then directly followed by the findings which answered those particular questions, which made it easy to read and understand the complicated findings. Overall, the method of data collection was appropriate. The researchers wanted to understand the intimate conversations teenagers had about smoking between one another. Thus, the use of focus groups helped facilitate a conversation between the teenage participants in order to provide the needed data, being the talk between the teens, thus the data collected was appropriate. Moreover, the research methods were outlined in great detail. It described the subjects, locations of schools, and the types of engagement the leaders of the focus groups would be using during the course of the focus group interviews. Overall, I believe that the study could be replicated based on the information presented. However, the results may vary depending on the location of the schools used in the study or the socio-demographic statuses of the students participating in the study.

The article "A Front Row Seat" by Cornett-DeVito & Worley (2005) explores communication with students with learning disabilities. The study wanted to test current interventions attempting to increase communication with students with learning disorders. The study focused on using 21 college students in a phenomenological research design. Based on the notion that phenomenological research is based on personal experiences and how they develop to formulate behavior and belief structures, the study was right to use focus groups as its primary mode for collecting data. This allowed the students to express their own experiences which would the later be analyzed to generate common core categories shared between the participants involved in the study. There are two primary research questions that are clearly marked in the appropriate spot, right above the methodology section which flows well into how the researchers were going to describe how to answer those specific questions. Overall, the methodology was very thoroughly defined, which helps because of the very abstract type of research method being used in the context of the study. In fact, it first gives a detail description of phenomenological methods before describing the specific methods to be used in the study itself. The study could be repeated if given the right resources.

Question 8

One of the most valuable lenses used by the researcher is member checking. The research describes this as "the validity procedure shifts from the researchers to participants in study" (Creswell & Miller, 2000, 127). This is important because it helps ensure that other members in the study will also find the methods used in the study appropriate. It also helps determine the methods based on what is considered the norm in the field the study is being conducted. Straying too far from what is accepted in members often arises suspicions and can create controversy which may ultimately distract from the primary findings of the study. Thus, working within the set parameters of what is accepted in the professional field as well as the participants is a good source of proving a sense of validity within the context of the study.

Moreover, the notion of triangulation is also a very strong way for providing validity within a study. Triangulation requires a three-tiered approach to the study and "where researchers search for convergence among multiple and different sources of information to form themes or categories of study" (Creswell & Miller, 2000, 126). When the same result is found from very different testing methods, the validity is increased dramatically. As such, triangulation is one of the strongest methods for proving great validity within a study.

These strong sources of validity are greatly contrasted with some of the weaker ones. Using disconfirming evidence can often create confusion and work against the primary aim of the… READ MORE

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