Research Design and Methods RCH 5301

Research Design and Methods RCH 5301
Unit IV Assignment

This assignment measures your mastery of ULOs 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, and 3.2.

Research Strategy Analysis

Locate a primary research article in an academic journal from the CSU Online Library where the researcher(s) used a quantitative research strategy, a survey instrument, and inferential statistics. After reading the article, explain the following elements:

• purpose of the study,
• population of interest,
• research questions,
• constructs and variables being tested,
• hypotheses,
• research design,
• analytical approach,
• data analysis procedures used,
• sampling frame,
• sampling design (i.e., sampling type),
• data collection method,
• statistically significant inferences that are generalizable to the population of interest.

Your assignment should consist of a minimum of two pages in length, not counting the required references page. Please thoroughly address all required elements listed above. Responses should be written in a narrative format rather than being formatted as short bullet points.

Please use APA-compliant headings and sub-headings that align with the individual assignment elements and please respond to the assignment elements in the same sequence they are requested in the instructions. Do not combine elements within a section. Each assignment element should have its own section with APA heading. Adhere to all other APA Style and formatting guidelines, including in-text citations and references for all sources that are used. Include at least the article used as a source, but other credible sources may be used as needed.

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Research Strategy Analysis

Quantitative research plays a vital role in generating reliable, generalisable findings through structured methods. A primary research article from the CSU Online Library, published in an academic journal, serves as the basis for this analysis. The selected study, conducted by Gürbüz (2017), investigates the influence of a robotics program on students’ attitudes toward effective communication. Below, each required element of the study’s research strategy is examined in detail.

Purpose of the Study

The study aims to explore how a robotics program, specifically using the RoboBuilder RQ+110 robot kit, affects the attitudes of fourth-grade students toward effective communication. Gürbüz (2017) seeks to determine whether participation in a structured robotics program can enhance communication skills among young learners, an area of growing interest in educational research due to the increasing integration of technology in classrooms.

Population of Interest

The population of interest consists of fourth-grade students, aged approximately 10 years, from primary schools in Malaysia’s Selangor and Malacca states. This group is relevant because early education is a critical period for developing communication skills, and the study focuses on how technological interventions can influence this demographic.

Research Questions

The study addresses the following research questions:

Does participation in a robotics program improve students’ attitudes toward effective communication?

Are there differences in communication attitudes between students in the experimental group (participating in the robotics program) and the control group (not participating)? These questions guide the investigation by focusing on measurable changes in attitudes and group comparisons.

Constructs and Variables Being Tested

The primary construct under investigation is students’ attitudes toward effective communication. This construct is operationalised through several variables:

Independent Variable: Participation in the robotics program (experimental vs. control group).

Dependent Variable: Attitudes toward effective communication, measured using a 7-point self-rating scale. The study quantifies attitudes to assess whether the robotics program influences students’ perceptions of their communication abilities.

Hypotheses

The study proposes that students participating in the robotics program will show a significant improvement in their attitudes toward effective communication compared to those in the control group. Specifically:

H1: The experimental group will demonstrate a statistically significant positive change in attitudes toward effective communication post-intervention.

H0: There will be no significant difference in attitudes toward effective communication between the experimental and control groups.

Research Design

Gürbüz (2017) employs a quasi-experimental research design with a pre-test and post-test approach. The design includes an experimental group, which participates in the robotics program, and a control group, which does not. This approach allows the researcher to compare changes in attitudes before and after the intervention, although the lack of random assignment limits claims of causality. The design is suitable for educational settings where randomisation is often impractical.

Analytical Approach

The analytical approach involves inferential statistics to test the hypotheses. The study uses a repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) to compare pre-test and post-test scores between the experimental and control groups. This method is appropriate for detecting changes over time within groups and differences between groups, ensuring robust analysis of the intervention’s impact.

Data Analysis Procedures Used

Data analysis follows a structured process:

Data Collection: Pre-test and post-test scores are collected using a survey instrument with a 7-point self-rating scale.

Statistical Software: SPSS 25 is used to perform the repeated measures ANOVA.

Significance Testing: Results are evaluated at a 0.05 significance level to determine whether differences in attitudes are statistically significant.

Effect Size: The study reports effect sizes to assess the practical significance of the findings. This systematic approach ensures reliable and replicable results.

Sampling Frame

The sampling frame includes all fourth-grade students enrolled in selected primary schools in Selangor and Malacca, Malaysia. The frame is defined by the schools’ enrolment lists, ensuring that participants are drawn from a clear and relevant population.

Sampling Design

The study uses a non-probability sampling design, specifically purposive sampling. Schools are selected based on their willingness to participate in the robotics program, and students are assigned to either the experimental or control group based on their classroom. While this approach ensures practical implementation, it introduces potential selection bias, as participants are not randomly assigned.

Data Collection Method

Data is collected through a structured survey instrument administered to 475 students. The survey uses a 7-point self-rating scale to measure attitudes toward effective communication. Surveys are distributed in person, with pre-tests conducted before the robotics program and post-tests conducted afterward. This method ensures consistency in data collection and allows for direct comparison of scores over time.

Statistically Significant Inferences Generalizable to the Population

The study finds that the experimental group exhibits a statistically significant improvement in attitudes toward effective communication compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The repeated measures ANOVA indicates a significant interaction effect between group and time, supporting the hypothesis that the robotics program positively influences attitudes. These findings are generalisable to similar populations of fourth-grade students in Malaysia, particularly in urban schools with access to technology-based programs. However, generalisability is limited by the non-random sampling and specific cultural context.

Conclusion

The study by Gürbüz (2017) demonstrates the potential of robotics programs to enhance students’ attitudes toward effective communication. By employing a quasi-experimental design, a structured survey instrument, and inferential statistics, the research provides valuable insights into educational interventions. While the findings are promising, limitations such as non-random sampling highlight the need for further studies to confirm generalisability across diverse settings. This analysis underscores the importance of rigorous research strategies in evaluating educational innovations.

References

Gürbüz, S. (2017). The influence of a robotics program on students’ attitudes toward effective communication. ResearchGate. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317293456

Lim, W. M. (2024). What is quantitative research? An overview and guidelines. SAGE Open, 4(3), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241255823

Muijs, D. (2010). Doing quantitative research in education with SPSS (2nd ed.). London: SAGE Publications.

Singh, K. (2007). Quantitative social research methods. Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications.

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