Designing and Reporting Research Studies

This unit guides students through advanced design choices and practical skills for conducting small- and mixed-methods studies, including multiple baseline and independent-groups designs, qualitative data collection and grounded theory, and issues with pre-tests. Students will also develop proposal-writing and reporting competencies—method sections, citation and reference management, ethical integrity, power and sample-size estimation—and practice presenting and defending their research.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze and compare experimental and quasi-experimental designs (e.g., multiple baseline, single-case, independent groups, pre-test/post-test) to identify threats to internal and external validity and select appropriate analytic approaches for small-sample studies
• Apply qualitative research techniques by collecting and transcribing interview/focus-group data, using grounded theory coding to derive themes, and integrating qualitative findings into a coherent mixed-methods narrative
• Demonstrate proficiency in academic research communication by composing clear introduction and method sections, formatting citations and reference sections (including electronic reference management), obtaining and citing primary sources, and delivering an organized presentation of research findings
• Evaluate sampling and statistical planning by conducting basic power analyses and sample-size estimations, comparing random and non-random sampling strategies, and recommending ethically sound sampling plans that maintain scientific integrity