Research Design, Sampling, and Measurement

This unit builds on foundational research concepts to focus on selecting samples, designing instruments, and choosing appropriate experimental and qualitative designs. Students will practice creating and evaluating questionnaires, selecting sampling strategies, implementing designs (factorial, interrupted time series, repeated measures), and addressing reliability, validity, effect size, feasibility, and ethics in human-subjects research.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze and choose appropriate probability, nonprobability, and purposive sampling strategies for quantitative and qualitative research scenarios, explaining implications for bias, generalizability, and sample maintenance
• Design and critique questionnaires and measurement plans that demonstrate attention to reliability, validity, referencing of existing instruments, and prevention of common sampling and measurement errors
• Apply and compare basic experimental and quasi-experimental designs (including factorial, interrupted time series, and repeated measures), using covariates and effect size estimates to determine feasibility and statistical control
• Evaluate human-subjects ethical considerations, naturalistic constraints, and professional reporting practices (literature search, citation, and visual presentation) required to prepare a defensible research proposal and poster