Dr. Allen is trying to determine the best method by which to draw a comparison between the amount of time his students spend in the library to the grade point average of his students across the spectrum. Which research design should Dr. Allen follow, and why?
Answer
Correlational study, because he can use his research to establish a relationship between studying and grades
Experimental study, as he is forming a hypothesis and using independent variables
Descriptive study, as he is using a representative sample to measure and record behavior
Evaluative study, as he can establish a correlation between time spent in the library and grade point averages
We'll be glad to check your answer.
Dr. Allen is trying to determine the best method to draw a comparison between the amount of time students spend in the library and their grade point average. To decide on the appropriate research design, let's understand the options provided.
1. Correlational study: This design would allow Dr. Allen to establish a relationship between studying (i.e., time spent in the library) and grades. It would involve collecting data on the variables of interest and analyzing their statistical relationship. Correlation does not imply causation, but it can provide insights into the association between these two variables.
2. Experimental study: This design involves forming a hypothesis and manipulating independent variables to study their impact on dependent variables. However, in this case, Dr. Allen does not mention manipulating any variables; instead, he wants to observe the existing relationship between time spent in the library and grade point averages. Thus, an experimental study may not be the most appropriate design for his research question.
3. Descriptive study: This design involves using a representative sample to measure and record behavior without manipulating variables. Dr. Allen wants to measure and compare the time spent in the library with grade point averages across the student population. Therefore, a descriptive study could be a suitable choice.
4. Evaluative study: This term could refer to various types of research designs. However, the given description focuses on establishing a correlation between time spent in the library and grade point averages. Building on the previous discussion, a correlational study design is more specifically suited to address this question.
Therefore, the best research design for Dr. Allen's question would be a correlational study. This design would enable him to examine the relationship between time spent in the library and grade point averages among his students.