Blog Post #5

What have you learned about the processes of designing a sound research study in class?

I learned that designing a sound research study involves careful planning and consideration, attention to detail, and an openness to make changes when new information is discovered. I appreciated having a process to follow to design a research study. The guidelines gave me a better understanding of what I was supposed to accomplish.

Some processes are more complex than I had anticipated but are logical when seen as a framework for good research. There are quite a few things a researcher must consider when designing their research study, such as a method and methodology, the gap, and the steps needed to conduct a valid study. The literature review is an important step to finding the gap in the research that has already been conducted. This literature review is an important step that can guide the researcher in the development of the study because the method may depend on what the gap is. This was interesting to me because once I found a gap, I knew the research method I wanted to use. 

Another lesson I learned is that every detail needs to be decided on and documented so the study is replicable. If it isn't replicable, it may not be viewed as valid. With detailed steps and processes listed out, the research is available for someone else to look at and cater to their own question. They can also replicate the study to validate the findings.

I learned that there isn't one perfect method for all research. Rather, many methods can be used and iterations made before the researcher is happy with the design. Exploration is important because that is part of learning.