When to Use What Research Design

by W. Paul Vogt, Dianne C. Gardner, Lynne M. Haeffele

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

*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.

Genres: Research

378 pages, Paperback

First published April 4, 2012

About the author

William Paul Vogt

Reviews

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume focuses on research design, which is defined as "a comprehensive plan for conducting an investigation that stretches from the initial research question through the methods of data analysis, interpretation, and reporting" (v). The focus of the book is on six different methods for conducting research: surveys, interviews, experiments, observational research, archival research, and combined designs. For each method an analysis is provided for when each method is appropriate, what considerations pertaining to sampling, selection, and recruitment needs to be considered as well as ethical considerations unique to each method. The closing chapter focuses on coding data generated during research. Each chapter provides a detailed chart summarizing the key concepts. Core reading list.