Answer to Question #241953 in Sociology for Bello

Question

The sociology department at the North West University is concerned with understanding minority students’ experiences of racial discrimination within institutions of higher learning. You have been approached by the department to assist with this research study, and as such, they have asked you to carry out this research. A qualitative research approach is required. Using the prescribed readings for Study Unit 2, and any other relevant scholarly sources, answer the following questions in a 3-4 page discussion:


Select (1) and critically discuss (10) the appropriate research design for the study. In your discussion give supporting evidence for the appropriateness of the chosen research design, in other words, discuss why the chosen design is suitable/relevant for the study.

Answer 1

Descriptive research design

Descriptive research design is a theory-based design method which is created by gathering, analyzing, and presenting collected data

Racial discrimination is the key variable that cannot be handled with quantitative data but rather qualitative data by looking at the degree of its extent in real world especially in institutions of higher learning via minority students.

Below are some of the reasons that make descriptive research design the most appropriate design for this study.

(a)   Descriptive research design is useful when not much is known yet about the topic or problem.

(b)  Descriptive research is an appropriate choice when the research aim is to identify characteristics, frequencies, trends, and categories which is the case in this study.

(c)   Descriptive research design will provide a rare opportunity to witness detailed descriptions of discrimination events across a wide range of social domains not typically observed in conventional research designs.

(d)  Descriptive research is able to investigate the background of a research problem and get the required information needed to carry out further research.

(e)   Descriptive research design is the most accurate form because it works on the principle of statistical analysis to prove or disprove a hypothesis.

(f)   Descriptive research design allows a researcher to provide perceptions into the why and how of research.

(g)  Descriptive design helps others to better understand the need for the research.

(h)  Less time-consuming than quantitative experiments.

(i)    It is less costly method of data collection, through methods as observation, peer group analysis.