Research Design in Quantitative Methods
09CMR55047
Faculty:
Joan M. Batista Foguet
Credits: 3
ECTS Credits: 3
Objectives:

The main objective of the course is to provide students with a general view of quantitative research methodology in Social Sciences, with the dual aim of students being able to design their own research, and of achieving the ability to “think critically”, when examining published research. At present it is difficult to read a published article or to approach research without knowledge of the various methodological aspects, which go from the formulation of questions and hypotheses, to research designs, data collection instruments, data analysis, and presentation of the results. Students have normally had a separate view of each of these aspects and it is necessary to integrate them as something holistic, which constitutes the research method. Out of these the research design likely is the most important tool that researchers dispose for conducting high quality research. In Social Sciences unfortunately, the gold standard for maximizing inferences (the experimental design) is so constrained by real-world settings that alternatives strategies have been settled.
 
Summary:

 
Methodology:


A fundamentally conceptual view will be presented of the methodological strategies, linked to specific research questions, to which it is intended to respond through their use. The threats to validity structure utilized by Campbell and his colleagues will provide the unifying framework for this course. The advantages and disadvantages of the use of each design will be analyzed, and illustrated on published studies in which different designs have been used.
 
Assessment:

Class participation; a quiz; and presentation of a design once the course has ended.
 
Incompatibilities:

 
Syllabus:


1. Research questions and hypotheses
    1.1. The research questions
    1.2. Types of question
    1.3. Theories and Hypotheses. Different types
2. Research methods
    2.1. The scientific method and its characteristics
    2.2. Classification of research methods. Experiments, surveys and controlled research
    2.3. The logic of research. From the questions to the design of the research strategy
    2.4. The variables in the research and sources of variation
    2.5. Establishment of levels in the independent variable(s)
    2.6. Control of extraneous factors
    2.7. The temporal dimension in the research
    2.8. The research situation
    2.9. The research phases
3. The research designs. Validity and its threats
    3.1. Validity of the research and its threats: Typologies of Cook and Campbell, and Kish
    3.2. Construct validity: of causes and of effects
    3.3. Validity of the statistical conclusions
    3.4. Internal validity
    3.5. External validity
    3.6. Threats to each type of validity
4. Experimental designs (not reviewed)
    4.1. Classification of the designs: fixed, random and mixed effects. Kirk's classification (1995)
    4.2. MLG in the experimental design
    4.3. The designs and the control of the error variance
    4.4. Explanation of some of the most frequent designs: between and intrasubject and mixed
5. Quasi-experimental designs
    5.1. Concept
    5.2. Classification
    5.3. Non-equivalent groups
    5.4. With both control group and pre-test
    5.5. Lacking either a control group or a pre-test
    5.6. Regression Discontinuity
    5.7. Interrupted time series
    5.8. Enhancing design inference
6. Some statistical techniques useful in non-experimental research (not reviewed)
    6.1. Logistic regression
    6.2. Survival analysis (or 'event history analysis')
    6.3. Segmentation and Typologies
    6.4. Hierarchical linear models and development curves.
    6.5. Mediational models
7. Introduction to the Meta-analysis
    7.1. Basic concepts
    7.3. The logic of Meta-analysis. Purpose and requirements.
    7.2. Benefits and Drawbacks
    7.3. Steps in Meta-analysis. From deciding the research question to sensitivity analysis
    7.4. Potential sources of bias
     
Bibliography:

MAIN TEXT BOOKS:

Shadish, W.R., Cook, T.D., & Campbell, D.T. (2002). Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs for Generalized Causal Inference. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin.

Trochim, W. M. K. (2005). Research Methods: The Concise Knowledge. Atomicdog publishing
 
Timetable:
Every Monday from 11/01/10 to 01/02/10
From 09:00 h. to 12:00 h.
Every Wednesday from 13/01/10 to 27/01/10
From 09:00 h. to 12:00 h.
Exam 03/02/10 . At 09:00 h.