Running head: METHODOLOGY 1 METHODOLOGY 5 Methodology Linda Holmes Capella University CHAPTER 3. METHODOLOGY Purpose of the Study In the reviewed literature, cyberbullying and school bullying have been identified as the risk factors of social media (Underwood & Ehrenreich, 2017). However, even with the identified risks of social media, there has been increasing in penetration of internet access and growing use of the telephones and social media networking sites exposing teenagers to more danger. Schools have and others are adopting e-learning which creates space for students to interact on social media. Considering the environment that we are living, in some cases, teachers are not aware of the impact of the cyberbullying and school bullying to academic performance. In other cases, students do not report incidences of the cyberbullying and school bullying which means they continue to suffer in silence. It is within this basis that this study is conducted which will seek to identify the connection of the cyberbullying and school bullying and their effects to the academic performance for grade 8 and 9 students. Research question and hypothesis RQ: Is there a positive relationship between cyberbullying and school bullying for experimental school and control school for girls aged 13-14 years and how they influence academic performance? Ho1: There is no significant positive relationship between cyberbullying and school bullying for experimental school and control school for girls aged 13-14 years and how they influence academic performance. Ha1: There is a significant positive relationship between cyberbullying and school bullying for experimental school and control school for girls aged 13-14 years and how they influence academic performance. According to the research question cyberbullying and school bullying are dependent variables while academic performance will be an independent variable. Research Design A quasi-experimental design will be used for this study. This is because the research project entails the control and treatment group. For the control group, the sample of the students will be extracted and will not be exposed to cyberbullying but for the treatment groups, the selected sample will be exposed to the cyberbullying. Therefore, considering the nature of the information that will be required and types of the samples that will be needed, the quasi-experimental design is most appropriate and specifically when control and treatment experiments are carried out (Aussems, Boomsma & Snijders, 2011). Target Population and Sample In the study, will include only girls students aged 13 -14 years selected from both public school and private schools. There will be a total sample size of 100 students with 50 from public school and 50 from the private school. To be considered to be part of the sample, students must allow for the incubation for three months, must have an email address and Facebook accounts. In eac.

1. Running head: METHODOLOGY 1
METHODOLOGY 5
Methodology
Linda Holmes
Capella University
CHAPTER 3. METHODOLOGY
Purpose of the Study
In the reviewed literature, cyberbullying and school bullying
have been identified as the risk factors of social media
(Underwood & Ehrenreich, 2017). However, even with the
identified risks of social media, there has been increasing in
penetration of internet access and growing use of the telephones
and social media networking sites exposing teenagers to more
danger. Schools have and others are adopting e-learning which
creates space for students to interact on social media.
Considering the environment that we are living, in some cases,
teachers are not aware of the impact of the cyberbullying and
school bullying to academic performance. In other cases,

2. students do not report incidences of the cyberbullying and
school bullying which means they continue to suffer in silence.
It is within this basis that this study is conducted which will
seek to identify the connection of the cyberbullying and school
bullying and their effects to the academic performance for grade
8 and 9 students.
Research question and hypothesis
RQ: Is there a positive relationship between cyberbullying and
school bullying for experimental school and control school for
girls aged 13-14 years and how they influence academic
performance?
Ho1: There is no significant positive relationship between
cyberbullying and school bullying for experimental school and
control school for girls aged 13-14 years and how they
influence academic performance.
Ha1: There is a significant positive relationship between
cyberbullying and school bullying for experimental school and
control school for girls aged 13-14 years and how they
influence academic performance.
According to the research question cyberbullying and school
bullying are dependent variables while academic performance
will be an independent variable.
Research Design
A quasi-experimental design will be used for this study. This is
because the research project entails the control and treatment
group. For the control group, the sample of the students will be
extracted and will not be exposed to cyberbullying but for the
treatment groups, the selected sample will be exposed to the
cyberbullying. Therefore, considering the nature of the
information that will be required and types of the samples that
will be needed, the quasi-experimental design is most
appropriate and specifically when control and treatment
experiments are carried out (Aussems, Boomsma & Snijders,
2011).
Target Population and Sample
In the study, will include only girls students aged 13 -14 years

3. selected from both public school and private schools. There
will be a total sample size of 100 students with 50 from public
school and 50 from the private school. To be considered to be
part of the sample, students must allow for the incubation for
three months, must have an email address and Facebook
accounts.
In each school, the school will be apportioned equally into two
groups, that is, twenty-five each group. In the public school,
girls students with age of 13-14 years and those have never
experienced cyberbullying will be identified. Using random
sampling, 50 students will be picked and then divided by two.
One group of 25 will form the control group and the other 25
will form the treatment group. The same procedure will be used
in private schools. The 25 students in private school and 25
students in the public that form control group will be exposed to
the same condition and the same will happen to the other half.
This will help to form the ultimate sample size for the control
group equal to 50 and the same to treatment group. Therefore,
n1=50 and n2=50.
Procedures
Participants to the project will be girl students within the age of
13- 14 years picked from two identified schools, that is, private
and public school. In total, a sample of 100 girls students will
be used who will be used in the study. Students that forms must
have not have been exposed to the cyberbullying or school
bullying before. The student that will form the control group,
that is 25 in private and 25 in the public school, they will be
exposed to cyberbullying. For the purpose of the study,
students in the treatment group will be required to provide their
email and Facebook. Using their emails and Facebook accounts,
they will be exposed to cyberbullying for a period of three
years. For the control group, they will not be exposed to
cyberbullying.
For the purpose of the analysis, a similar exam will be
administered to the control and treatment group and have their
results analyzed. This will be regarded as pre-test examination.

4. Finally, after the end of the three months, another exam will be
administered to the control and treatment group and have their
scores recorded.
Scores from the control and treatment group will be used to
establish whether cyberbullying and school bullying influences
academic performance. In each of the samples, independent T-
test will be carried out to test the means of the differences
between means of the scores attained (Kim, 2015). For the
treatment group, it would be expected that there would be a
means of the difference between the two means scores which
would mean the cyberbullying affects influences academic
performance. Second, regression analysis would be carried out
with independent variable being pre-test scores and post-test
scores. Pre-test and post-test scores would be used to measure
the level of academic performance. It would be expected that
post-test scores decrease with increase cyberbullying.
Finally, using a questionnaire, the incidence of cyberbullying
and school bullying would be collected. This would provide
crucial information in establishing the relationship that exists
between cyberbullying and school bullying. After collection of
the data on the incidences of cyberbullying and school bullying,
correlation analysis would be used to establish if there is a
positive or negative relationship between cyberbullying and
school bullying (Samuel & Okey, 2015).
Potential contributions of proposed study-to stakeholders and
expected results
From the study, it is expected that there is a positive
relationship between cyberbullying and school bullying to a
treatment group of 13-14 aged students. This means exposure of
the students’ cyberbullying facilitates school bullying. Further,
it is expected that both types of bullying contribute to poor
academic performance and as indicated in the treatment group.
Projects study play a critical role because it will suggest
approaches and interventions that teachers should pursue to
reduce incidences of cyberbullying in the schools. Second,
project study recommends the need for addressing cyberbullying

5. and coming up with strategies for identification of
cyberbullying to avoid causing school bullying. Projects also
make a recommendation to the government on the need to
developing policies that will enhance the monitoring of internet
and activities carried out on the internet to help address the
problem of cyberbullying.
Ethical Considerations
In the project study, it is good to take into consideration that
email and Facebook accounts of the treatment group will be
used to expose them to cyberbullying. However, e-mail
addresses and Facebook accounts provided by the participants
should not be used or any other purposes other than within the
scope of this project. Second, participants will be required to
provide truthful information.
Finally, in the study, all information and data obtained will be
in compliance with international data privacy principles and six
data protection of PDPO will be applied (Lee, Zankl & Chang,
2016). Tools that will be used to collect and store information
will adhere to data and information protection policies. Data
will be collected from the control and treatment group over a
period of 3 months. This data requires to be stored and
necessary measures will be taken to ensure storage devices are
encrypted and data is not disclosed to any unauthorized person.
Confidentiality and privacy of the information are guarded and
given top priority. Databases and information systems require
thorough check-up and upgrades which helps to reduce
vulnerabilities.
Methodological Strengths and Weaknesses
Considering strengths, correlational research helps to
understand the complex relationship between two variables. For
example, in the project study, we will be able to establish the
relationship between cyberbullying and school bullying.
Second, quasi-experiment helps in establishing a cause-effect
relationship. For example, through use of the control and
treatment groups, it will be easy to establish that poor academic
performance is caused by cyberbullying and school bullying.

6. Therefore, a general conclusion can be made that cyberbullying
and school bullying for the girls' students contributes to poor
academic performance.
On the other hand, when weaknesses are considered, in the
correlational analysis, the relationship of the variables will be
established but the cause and effect relationship can be
determined which demand use of the quasi-experiment. Second,
when quasi-experiment is used, it may be assumed that
conditions set for the control group will be applied to the
general population but this may not happen. For example, in
the project study, it is assumed that control group will not be
exposed to cyberbullying and school bullying but practically,
measures put in place may not be adequate to prevent control
group from being exposed to cyberbullying and school bullying.
This may hamper with the accuracy and reliability of the
expected results.
References
Aussems, M. C. E., Boomsma, A., & Snijders, T. A. (2011). The
use of quasi-experiments in the social sciences: a content
analysis. Quality & Quantity, 45(1), 21-42.
Kim T. K. (2015). T test as a parametric statistic. Korean
journal of anesthesiology, 68(6), 540–546.
https://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2015.68.6.540
Lee, W. W., Zankl, W., & Chang, H. (2016). An Ethical
Approach to Data Privacy Protection. Isaca Journal.

7. Samuel, M., & Okey, L. E. (2015). The relevance and
significance of correlation in social science research.
International Journal of Sociology and Anthropology
Research,1(3), 22-28.
Underwood, M. K., & Ehrenreich, S. E. (2017). The power and
the pain of adolescents' digital communication: Cyber
victimization and the perils of lurking. The American
psychologist, 72(2), 144–158. doi:10.1037/a0040429
ATTRIBUTES AND EVALUATION OF DISCUSSION
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8. organized, and well structured.
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For additional details regarding discussion participation and
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Running head: ABBREVIATED TITLE OF YOUR PAPER 1
ABBREVIATED TITLE OF YOUR PAPER 13Full Title of
Your PaperLearner’s Full Name (no credentials)Capella
UniversityAbstract
It is necessary to complete the abstract after the entire project
has been developed. The abstract contains an abbreviated
overview of the entire project. This overview will reference the
following elements of the project:
The Research Question_________________________________
The Research Problem
_____________________________________
The Significance of the Study
_______________________________
Theory or theories that apply to the concepts associated with the
RQ ________________
Narrative describing the quantitative approach planned,
implications for stakeholders, significance to the scientific
community, and a description of expected results. The abstract

9. is one concise paragraph.
Keywords: [Add keywords here.]
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION 1
Background of the Problem 1
Statement of the Problem 1
Purpose of the Study 1
Significance of the Study 1
Research Questions 1
Definition of Terms 1
Research Design 1
CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW 1
Theoretical Orientation for the Study 1
Review of the Literature 1
Synthesis of the Research Findings 1
Critique of Previous Research Methods 1
CHAPTER 3. METHODOLOGY 1
Purpose of the Study 1
Research Question and Hypotheses 1
Research Design 1
Target Population and Sample 1
Procedures 1
Ethical Considerations 1
CHAPTER 4. EXPECTED FINDINGS/RESULTS 1
CHAPTER 5. DISCUSSION 1
Implications 1
Methodological Strengths and Weaknesses 1
Suggestions for Future Research 1
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION
[Note, the Final draft of Introduction is typically written after
the entire project has been completed and just prior to the
abstract. It is important to understand that the project is
iterative. You will work on, change, and refine all elements of

10. the project. In your initial submission, begin to flesh out the
sections listed below: Abstracted Outline of Chapter 1.]
Background of the Problem
Statement of the Problem
Purpose of the Study
Significance of the Study
Research Questions
Definition of Terms
Research Design
CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW
Note, this is typically the entry point for beginning the project.
It is important to understand that the project is iterative. You
will work on, change, and refine all elements of the project.
You will begin by understanding and synthesizing what is
known so far in the Literature Review, (Chapter 2). Theoretical
Orientation for the Study
The Literature Review provides detailed information about
theory that applies to the research topic, theory that applies to
the research method, population(s) studied, and key concepts
under review. Seminal and current sources are analyzed and
evaluated thematically. The research problem is identified.
Review of the Literature
It is essential that the literature review be organized with
reference to themes identified in articles that you have read. It
is not acceptable to organize the literature review article by
article or one article at a time.Synthesis of the Research
FindingsCritique of Previous Research MethodsSummary
CHAPTER 3. METHODOLOGY
Purpose of the Study
The introductory paragraph addresses the research problem or
proposes to fill the gap in the literature. It includes the purpose
of the proposed research and presents formally the research

11. question. The purpose is to answer the research question. State
your research question in the form of a question in the
introductory paragraph for Chapter 3. As you prepare this
section of this chapter, review the characteristics of quantitative
research questions:
1. Quantitative research questions point to empirical methods
that will test the hypothesis or hypotheses associated with the
question.
2. Quantitative research questions have independent and
dependent variables.
3. Quantitative research questions measure relationships or
correlations and/or manipulate natural phenomena through
experimentation.
4. Quantitative data are presented in numerical categories or
quantities.
5. Quantitative research questions do not interpret socially
constructed themes, narratives, or observations.
Research Question and Hypotheses
Conclude the introductory paragraph to Chapter 3 by writing out
the Research Question and hypotheses. Identify the independent
and dependent variables associated with your Research
Question.
Research Design
Target Population and Sample
As you describe the target population you will include:
Information about the number of participants (include a Power
Analysis).
Information about inclusion and exclusion criteria; that is you
will describe how you decide who can participate in the study
and provide data and who cannot.
Information about the planned recruitment strategy.
Information about the sampling design and randomization
strategies.
Procedures
As you describe the procedures you will include:
Information about how the participants will be identified and

12. contacted.
Information about materials used for data collection.
Information about the instruments used to collect data.
Information about the location where data collection takes
place.
Information about the time required for data collection.
Information about the order of steps taken to obtain data.
Describe how the data will be statistically analyzed (Analysis).
Describes strategies for analyzing and interpreting numerical
data. Analyses of data is the section of the paper discussing
strategies that support the interpretation of numerical
information about the data collected. Typically, statistical
methods are used to interpret components of natural phenomena
that represent natural phenomena. The analysis section of the
methods presents and addresses evidence of validity, reliability,
and generalizability discovered in the process of interpreting
the data.
Note, Chapter 3, Methodology, is typically written after the
literature review. It is important to understand that the project
is iterative. You will work on, change, and refine all elements
of the project.
Ethical Considerations
The APA Code of Ethics that apply to your study and research
design should be addressed.
CHAPTER 4. EXPECTED FINDINGS/RESULTS
For the expected findings/results, use the literature reviewed in
Chapter 2 to anticipate findings that are likely to result from the
collection and interpretation of data. Note: some unexpected
results are possible and should be addressed in this chapter.
CHAPTER 5. DISCUSSION
Implications
Implications of the potential results are discussed, implications

13. for a wide range of potential stakeholders is addressed,
significance to the scientific community and the potential to
address the research problem is discussed, limitations of the
study are addressed, and suggestions for future research are
offered.
Methodological Strengths and Weaknesses
Suggestions for Future Research
The suggestions for future research should close the gap on the
methodological limitations.
References
List references using APA format (APA, 2010, p.169).

14. Running head: ABBREVIATED TITLE OF YOUR PAPER 1
ABBREVIATED TITLE OF YOUR PAPER 11Full Title of
Your PaperLearner’s Full Name (no credentials)Capella
UniversityAbstract
It is necessary to complete the abstract after the entire project
has been developed. The abstract contains an abbreviated
overview of the entire project. This overview will reference the
following elements of the project:
The Research Question_________________________________
The Research Problem:
_____________________________________
The Significance of the
Study:_______________________________
Theory or theories that apply to the concepts associated with the
RQ:________________
A narrative describing the qualitative approach planned,
implications for stakeholders, significance to the scientific
community, and a description of expected results. The abstract
is one concise paragraph.
Keywords: [Add keywords here.]
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION 1
Background of the Study 1
Need for the Study 1
Purpose of the Study 1
Significance of the Study 1
Research Question 1
Definition of Terms 1
Research Design 1

15. CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW 1
Theoretical Orientation for the Study 1
Review of the Literature 1
Synthesis of the Research Findings 1
Critique of Previous Research Methods 1
CHAPTER 3. METHODOLOGY 1
Purpose of the Study 1
Research Question 1
Target Population 1
Recruitment Strategy 1
Sampling Design (purposive for qualitative) 1
Procedure 1
Analysis 1
Ethical Considerations 1
CHAPTER 4. EXPECTED FINDINGS/RESULTS 1
CHAPTER 5. DISCUSSION 1
Implications 1
Methodological Strengths and Weaknesses 1
Suggestions for Future Research 1
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTIONBackground of the Study
[Note: the final draft of the Introduction is typically written
after the entire project has been completed and just prior to the
abstract. It is important to understand that the project is
iterative. You will work on, change, and refine all elements of
the project. In your initial submission, begin to flesh out the
sections listed below: Abstracted Outline of Chapter 1.]Need for
the StudyPurpose of the StudySignificance of the
StudyResearch QuestionDefinition of TermsResearch Design
CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW
This is typically the entry point for beginning the project. It is
important to understand that the project is iterative. You will
work on, change, and refine all elements of the project. You
will begin by understanding and synthesizing what is known so

16. far in the Literature Review, (Chapter 2). Theoretical
Orientation for the Study
The Literature Review provides detailed information about
theory that applies to the research topic, theory that applies to
the research method, population(s) studied, and key concepts
under review. Seminal and current sources are analyzed and
evaluated thematically. The research problem is identified.
Review of the Literature
It is essential that the literature review be organized with
reference to themes identified in articles that you have read. It
is not acceptable to organize the literature review article by
article or one article at a time.Synthesis of the Research
FindingsCritique of Previous Research MethodsSummary
CHAPTER 3. METHODOLOGY
Purpose of the Study
The introductory paragraph addresses the research problem or
proposes to fill the gap in the literature. It includes the purpose
of the proposed research and presents formally the research
question. The purpose is to answer the research question. State
your research question in the form of a question in the
introductory paragraph for Chapter 3. As you prepare this
section of this chapter review the characteristics of qualitative
research questions:
1. Qualitative research questions ask for description and
interpretation of phenomena through the identification of
socially constructed themes and categories.
2. Qualitative questions address concepts associated with
thoughts, feelings, and actions that are not necessarily
accessible with empirical methods of measurement.
3. Qualitative data take the form of stories, narratives, and
observations.
4. Qualitative questions identify the target population and
phenomena under consideration.

17. 5. Qualitative questions do not test empirically measured data.
Research Question
Conclude the introductory paragraph to Chapter 3 by writing out
the research question.
Target Population
As you describe the target population you will include:
Information about the number of participants.
Information about inclusion and exclusion criteria; describe
how you decide who can participate in the study and who
cannot.
Recruitment Strategy
Sampling Design (purposive for qualitative)
Procedure
As you describe the procedures you will include:
Information about materials used for data collection.
Information about the location where data collection takes
place.
Information about the time required for data collection.
Information about the instruments used to collect data.
Instruments used vary widely and may include audio and video
recording equipment, pen and paper, interventions, observation
journals, member-checking documents and so on, depending on
the requirements indicated in the research question.
Information about the order of steps taken to obtain data.
Information about how data will be recorded and transferred
into a transcript or documents, audio or video, ready for
analysis.
When using an interview guide or observation, a check sheet is
also included.
Analysis
Analysis describes strategies for analyzing the narratives
offered by participants. Once the data has been transcribed into
a format for interpretation, typically “words on the page,” then
it can be interpreted. Analysis uses strategies that interpret
meaning components from words, phrases, and narratives into
interpreted conceptual descriptions across transcripts.Ethical

18. Considerations
The APA Code of Ethics that apply to your study and research
design should be addressed.
CHAPTER 4. EXPECTED FINDINGS/RESULTS
For the expected findings/results section, use the literature
reviewed in Chapter 2 to anticipate findings that are likely to
result from the collection and interpretation of data. Note: some
unexpected results are possible and should be addressed in this
chapter.
CHAPTER 5. DISCUSSION
Implications
Implications of the potential results are discussed; implications
for a wide range of potential stakeholders are addressed.
Significance to the scientific community and the potential to
address the research problem is discussed. Limitations of the
study are addressed and suggestions for future research are
offered.
Methodological Strengths and Weaknesses
Suggestions for Future Research
The suggestions for future research should close the gap on the
methodological limitations.
References
List references using APA format (APA, 2010, p.169).