Includes bibliographical references and author and subject index.

"How do you decide whether to use a qualitative or a quantitative approach for the design of a research study? How do you write up the results of a study for a scholarly journal article or dissertation? This book addresses these issues by providing a guide to major design decisions, such as deciding a paradigm, stating a purpose for the study, identifying the research questions and hypotheses, using theory, and defining and stating the significance of the study. Each chapter is organized to first present the principles about composing and writing qualitative and quantitative approaches followed by specific examples from journal articles and dissertations from a variety of fields within the social and human sciences. Each chapter concludes with writing exercises that relate back to these formats so that the reader can end the book with a written plan for a scholarly study.

Research Design is aimed at upper division to graduate level research methods courses that are taught to prepare students to plan and write up independent research studies." (Book Cover)

Preface

1. A Framework for the Study
A Focus for the Study -- A Paradigm for the Study -- Methods Associated With the Paradigms -- A Format for Composing Sections -- Summary -- Writing Exercises -- Additional Readings

2. Use of the Literature
Purposes of the Literature -- The Literature in a Qualitative or Quantitative Study -- Design Techniques in Literature Use -- Summary -- Writing Exercises -- Additional Readings

3. The Introduction to the Study
An Introduction -- Qualitative and Quantitative Introductions -- An Illustration -- The Problem in the Study -- Literature About the Problem -- Deficiencies in Past Literature -- The Audience -- Summary -- Writing Exercises -- Additional Readings

4. The Purpose Statement Significance and Meaning of a Purpose Statement -- A Qualitative Purpose Statement -- A Quantitative Purpose Statement -- Summary -- Writing Exercises -- Additional Readings

5. Questions, Objectives, and Hypotheses Qualitative Research Questions -- Quantitative Research Questions, Objectives, and Hypotheses -- A Model for Quantitative Questions or Hypotheses -- Summary -- Writing Exercises -- Additional Readings

6. The Use of a Theory A Quantitative Perspective -- A Model for Writing a Quantitative Theoretical Perspective -- A Quantitative Perspective -- Summary -- Writing Exercises -- Additional Readings

7. Definitions, Delimitations, and Significance The Definition of Terms -- Delimitations and Limitations -- Significance of the Study -- Summary -- Writing Exercises -- Additional Readings

8. A Quantitative Method Definitions -- An Example of a Survey Method -- Components of an Experimental Method Plan -- An Example of an Experimental Method Section -- Summary -- Writing Exercises -- Additional Readings

9. A Qualitative Procedure The Assumption of Qualitative Designs -- The Type of Design -- The Researcher's Role -- The Data Collection Procedures -- Data Recording Procedures -- Data Analysis Procedures -- Verification Steps -- The Qualitative Narrative -- An Example -- Summary -- Writing Exercises -- Additional Readings

10. Combined Qualitative and Quantitative Designs The Combination of Methods and Designs -- Models of Combined Designs -- The Models and Design Phrases -- Examples -- Summary -- Writing Exercises -- Additional Readings

11. Scholarly Writing
Writing as Thinking -- The Habit of Writing -- Readability of the Manuscript -- Voice, Tense, and Fact -- Computer Programs for Writing -- Summary -- Writing Exercises -- Additional Readings