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An Applied Guide to Research Designs
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An Applied Guide to Research Designs
Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Methods

Second Edition


April 2016 | 392 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
The Second Edition of An Applied Guide to Research Designs offers researchers in the social and behavioral sciences guidance for selecting the most appropriate research design to apply in their study. Using consistent terminology, the authors visually present a range of research designs used in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods to help readers conceptualize, construct, test, and problem solve in their investigation. The Second Edition features revamped and expanded coverage of research designs, new real-world examples and references, a new chapter on action research, and updated ancillaries.

 
Chapter 1: The Scientific Method and Relevant Components
The Scientific Method

 
Validity and Research Designs

 
Design Logic

 
Design Notations

 
Assignment Techniques

 
Comparison and Control Groups

 
Sampling Strategies

 
Research Questions

 
 
Part I: Quantitative Methods for Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Research
Experimental Research

 
Quasi-Experimental Research

 
 
Chapter 2: Between-Subjects Approach
Pretest and Posttest Designs

 
Posttest Designs

 
 
Chapter 3: Regression-Discontinuity Approach
 
Chapter 4: Within-Subjects Approach
Repeated-Measures Approach

 
 
Chapter 5: Factorial Designs
 
Chapter 6: Solomon N-Group Designs
 
Chapter 7: Single-Case Approach
 
Part II: Quantitative Methods for Nonexperimental Research
 
Chapter 8: Ex Post Facto and Posttest-Only Designs
 
Chapter 9: Observational Approach
Explanatory Design

 
Predictive Design

 
 
Chapter 10: Survey Approach
Cross-Sectional Design

 
Longitudinal Design

 
 
Part III: Qualitative Methods
 
Chapter 11: Grounded Theory Perspective
Systematic Design

 
Emerging Design

 
Constructivist Design

 
 
Chapter 12: Ethnographic Perspective
Realist Design

 
Critical Design

 
Case Study Design

 
 
Chapter 13: Narrative Perspective
Descriptive Design

 
Explanatory Design

 
Critical Design

 
 
Chapter 14: Phenomenological Perspective
Existential Design

 
Transcendental Design

 
Hermeneutic Design

 
Case Study Design

 
 
Part IV: Mixed Methods
 
Chapter 15: Convergent-Parallel Approach
Parallel-Databases Design

 
Data-Transformation Design

 
Data-Validation Design

 
Multilevel Design

 
 
Chapter 16: Embedded Approach
Embedded-Experiment Design

 
Embedded-Correlational Design

 
Embedded Case Study Design

 
 
Chapter 17: Explanatory-Sequential Approach
Follow-Up Explanations Design

 
Participant-Selection Design

 
 
Chapter 18: Exploratory-Sequential Approach
Instrument-Development Design

 
Theory-Development Design

 
Treatment-Development Design

 
 
Chapter 19: Mixed Methods, Case Studies, and Single-Case Approaches
Mixed-Method A-B-A Designs

 
 
Chapter 20: Action Research Approaches
 
Chapter 21: Conclusion
Philosophical Tenets

 
Data Analytics

 
Final Remarks

 

Supplements

Instructor Resource Site

Password-protected Instructor Resources include the following:


  • Editable, chapter-specific Microsoft® PowerPoint® slides offer you complete flexibility in easily creating a multimedia presentation for your course. 
  • Sample course syllabi for semester and quarter courses provide suggested models for use when creating the syllabi for your courses.
  • Chapter-specific discussion questions help launch classroom interaction by prompting students to engage with the material and by reinforcing important content.  
  • Assignments direct both instructors and students to useful and current web sites, along with creative activities to extend and reinforce learning or allow for further research on important chapter topics. 
  • Recommended readings and Journal Articles provide a jumping-off point for course assignments, papers, research, group work, and class discussion.
  • Data Sets accompany exercises in the book. 
Student Resource Site

The open-access Student Study Site includes the following:

  • Chapter-specific discussion questions help launch classroom interaction by prompting students to engage with the material and by reinforcing important content.  
  • Assignments direct both instructors and students to useful and current web sites, along with creative activities to extend and reinforce learning or allow for further research on important chapter topics. 
  • Recommended readings and Journal Articles provide a jumping-off point for course assignments, papers, research, group work, and class discussion.
  • Data Sets accompany exercises in the book. 

“This text is intellectually stimulating and challenges students to take a comprehensive approach to their understanding of research designs and concepts. I appreciate the high expectations that the authors have for their readers to fully understand the nature and depth of the research process.”

Rebekah Cole
Old Dominion University

“I find this text to be especially clear in its approach, while the use of examples and sample exercises would be highly effective for practical, in-class learning. Additionally, the text would be an excellent resource as students put together their research designs, and it would likely work well alongside a more theoretical companion text.”

Jennifer E. Dalton
University of Toronto

“The research study examples provided in connection to each research design reflect an additional strength to this text. What I like about this text is that it contains a comprehensive view of designs, without bias regarding one paradigm being better than the other.”

Donna Schnorr
California State University, San Bernardino

“This is a very useful, practical, and well-devised textbook.”

Micheál Newell
National University of Ireland, Galway

This book was well suited for the course. However, I did not receive the review copy in sufficient time to adopt. I will adopt this book in the spring or summer of 2017 if the class if the class is offered.

Dr Nathan Wisdom
Educational Policy Studies, Georgia State University
April 1, 2016
Key features

NEW TO THIS EDITION:

  • New coverage includes an elaboration on the survey approach, a presentation of statistical tools common to the observational approach for nonexperimental research, an expanded discussion on the switching-replication design, and an expanded chapter on the single-case approach.
  • A new chapter on the action research approach features diagrams for specific research designs that can be utilized for participatory approaches.
  • New appendices cover specific statistical analysis in relation to the research design, general procedural steps for qualitative data analysis, and reference materials for writing and summing up preliminary analysis.
  • A new chart allows researchers to gauge the quality of an experimental study based on internal validity, statistical conclusion validity, control, and cause-and-effect parameters.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Comprehensive coverage includes research designs from quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods, with diagrams of factorial designs and nonexperimental research such as observational (correlational) and survey approaches, visual models for qualitative methods, and proposed designs for mixed method single case approaches.
  • Examples of each design from published studies show readers the real-world context of what they are learning.
  • An emphasis on consistent terminology enhances learning through a clear definition of the concepts of method, research, approach, and design. 

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1


For instructors

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