QUANITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN 7 Running head: QUANITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN Quantitative Research Design Monique D Brown Wellons Walden University Quantitative Research Design Introduction The determination of the most appropriate research design is a critical issue that has to consider effectively many factors linked to a particular study. The investigator has to take into account the research hypothesis, questions as well as whether the variables will be utilized. Most importantly, the difficulty of choosing the particular design is surpassed by the study characteristics. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to undertake a critical assessment of the strengths and weakness of research designs and subsequently recommend a quantitative design for my study alongside the rationale for the recommendation. Moreover, the paper is focused on the explanation of why some research designs are never recommended for my study. Strengths and Limitations of the research designsExperimental DesignStrengths This is the most exemplary models of research or original design. The experimental design is effective as it permits the investigator to control both exogenous variables while eliminating the extraneous variables as compared to other research designs. Moreover, this research design allows for the determination of causal relationships as it involves the manipulation of exposure to exogenous variables. Therefore, the researchers are presented with a promising opportunity to observe cause and effect as well as the influence of exogenous variable on the endogenous variable. Its effectiveness results from the fact that the controlled condition of the design permits replication for result verification. Such an element is, therefore, central to future research also to where other researchers can replicate an experiment. Therefore, experimental research design has the capability of providing the research community with a greater level of confidence in the study’s outcome. Weakness It is not easy for the experimental design to do away with or control extraneous variables as this becomes increasingly impossible. Moreover, experimental research becomes ineffective in cases where researcher investigates real-world situations due to its inability to replicate a natural environment making the validity be at a threat. Particularly, the experimental design is also ineffective as the selection process responsible for the control of variables increasingly becomes difficult hence failing to be random. The generalization of the outcomes may prove difficult as the sample chosen when using this design may technically fail to represent the general population. Frequently, it becomes impossible, unethical to utilize random assignment in treatment as well as control cohorts. Quasi-Experimental Design (recommended) Strength The first important strength of the quasi-experiment ...

1. QUANITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN
7
Running head: QUANITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN
Quantitative Research Design
Monique D Brown Wellons
Walden University
Quantitative Research Design
Introduction
The determination of the most appropriate research design is a
critical issue that has to consider effectively many factors
linked to a particular study. The investigator has to take into
account the research hypothesis, questions as well as whether
the variables will be utilized. Most importantly, the difficulty of
choosing the particular design is surpassed by the study

2. characteristics. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to
undertake a critical assessment of the strengths and weakness of
research designs and subsequently recommend a quantitative
design for my study alongside the rationale for the
recommendation. Moreover, the paper is focused on the
explanation of why some research designs are never
recommended for my study.
Strengths and Limitations of the research designsExperimental
DesignStrengths
This is the most exemplary models of research or original
design. The experimental design is effective as it permits the
investigator to control both exogenous variables while
eliminating the extraneous variables as compared to other
research designs. Moreover, this research design allows for the
determination of causal relationships as it involves the
manipulation of exposure to exogenous variables. Therefore, the
researchers are presented with a promising opportunity to
observe cause and effect as well as the influence of exogenous
variable on the endogenous variable. Its effectiveness results
from the fact that the controlled condition of the design permits
replication for result verification. Such an element is, therefore,
central to future research also to where other researchers can
replicate an experiment. Therefore, experimental research
design has the capability of providing the research community
with a greater level of confidence in the study’s outcome.
Weakness
It is not easy for the experimental design to do away with or
control extraneous variables as this becomes increasingly
impossible. Moreover, experimental research becomes
ineffective in cases where researcher investigates real-world
situations due to its inability to replicate a natural environment
making the validity be at a threat. Particularly, the experimental
design is also ineffective as the selection process responsible
for the control of variables increasingly becomes difficult hence
failing to be random. The generalization of the outcomes may
prove difficult as the sample chosen when using this design may

3. technically fail to represent the general population. Frequently,
it becomes impossible, unethical to utilize random assignment
in treatment as well as control cohorts.
Quasi-Experimental Design (recommended) Strength
The first important strength of the quasi-experimental design is
its ability to permit the investigators to examine the behaviors
in the natural setting that is a tall order with the experimental
design. The design uses the naturally existing samples that has
an impact on the enhancement of the research validity since
quasi-experiment do not depend on the utilization of random
assignment when comparing different cohorts and hence it
becomes increasingly important to use this design in cases
where the researcher cannot control their subjects as the
creation of the comparison cohorts is easy without the
utilization of the random process.
Limitation
Quasi-experimental designs do not use a random selection
process for assigning the subjects in various cohorts, and,
therefore, the investigators must devise another technique of
knowing how the non-random selection process impacts the
outcomes of the study.
Designs ChosenCross-Sectional Design
The Cross-Sectional Design is not appropriate in this
experiment as they are observational and uses the random
sample of subjects and always link to survey research.
Investigators record information gathered from the survey, but
the variables would never be manipulated as well as exposed to
single or multiple treatment cohorts. For instance, an
investigator may use a cross-sectional design in measuring
inflammation in exercisers alongside non-exercisers. The cross-
sectional design provides the investigator with an effective
method of examining various features concurrently and hence
able to record such features of socio-economic status and age of

4. both non-exercisers and exercisers. Instead of determining
causal direction and relationships, cross-sectional research
design becomes descriptive. Moreover, the variables are never
manipulated in the cross-sectional research as would be in
experimental research designs (Creswell, 2009). However, this
research design is never appropriate in my study as it is never
amenable to the research question, endogenous and exogenous
variables as well as my hypothesis as the design fails to support
the variables. Moreover, the hypothesis of my study is never
amenable to the survey; therefore, the cross-sectional design
fails to support observing how the exogenous variable impacts
the endogenous variable. Also, the cross-sectional design is not
effective in my study that involves cause-effect relationships
since this design does not suggest such connections. Finally,
since I do not have the intention of manipulating my variables
but determining the effects of exogenous variables on
endogenous variables, cross-sectional research design is
inapplicable.
Experimental Design
The main distinguishing feature between the quasi-experimental
and experimental design results from the fact that experimental
design is always associated with the control group where
subjects are randomly assigned. Also, the experimental resign
designs have their subjects exposed to treatments as plugged by
the investigator while assessing the effects of such treatments.
This design involves an investigation where the investigators
control the effects of the exogenous variables on the
endogenous variables. However, the variables that I intend to
incorporate in my study can never be controlled but only
observed. Moreover, I would not have an efficient study using
experimental research design since the conditions prohibit
random participant’s assignment. Thus, it is impossible to exert
any control over the assignment of the subjects to the
comparison cohorts. Based on my research question that looks
at whether as well as the extent to which the participation in
online-disease-specific support cohorts induces a higher sense

5. of control over disease compared to face to face support cohort
engagement amongst rare cancer diagnosed patients.
Moreover, this research design cannot help me accomplish my
comparison between the two intact cohorts. This research thus
is inappropriate as it will prohibit random assignment of the
subjects to control as well as treatment cohorts. As the research
question demands that I seek subjects with a rare cancer
diagnosis, therefore, I have to assign those participants who
exclusively participate in online disease-specific support
cohorts to a particular group. Further, the question requires that
those participants in face-to-face support cohort will also be
assigned to another separate group (Frankfort-Nachmias &
Nachmias, 2008). Therefore, since the participants can never be
randomly assigned to a particular cohort, this justifies my
choice of quasi-experimental research design. Moreover, the
random assignment used in experimental design does not
support the variable, participation in face-to-face support
cohorts as well as online participation particularly, disease-
specific support cohorts. Moreover, my hypothesis that suggests
that online participation, disease-specific support cohort
induces a higher sense of control over the disease as compared
to face-to-face participation support cohorts particularly in
patients with cancer types is never amenable to an experimental
as well as a control cohort. Finally, since my study aims at
measuring sense of control in participants in each cohort as and
subsequently identify the endogenous variable that is efficient
at inducing a sense of control in the subjects.
Conclusion
The ability to choose the best research design is pegged at the
research problems as well as whether such a study employs a
treatment to which a particular cohort will be exposed.
Moreover, choosing the research design is also embedded on the
endogenous and exogenous variables together with the research
hypotheses. Moreover, all individual research design has both
weakness and strength that must be proactively examined and
determined before settling on a particular design.

6. Reference
Frankfort-Nachmias, C., & Nachmias, D. (2008). Research
methods in the social sciences (7th Ed.). New York: Worth.
Chapter 5 Research Designs
Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative,
quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (Laureate
Education, Inc., custom Ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Publication.
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7. Author Note
This paper was prepared for [INSERT COURSE NAME],
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PART I: answer each question with at least 100 words.
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Write a 2 page research paper (excluding the title page) on VB
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