Research
To conduct a research for your selected topic, what study design would you use? Why? The first step will be to
think about more specific purpose of research and the variables to investigate before you select the
appropriate study design,
Remember most of research in social science use the cross-sectional study design, because this design allows
most practical and economical data collection. This design allows you to collect data on various variables at
ONE time using ONE group of sample. You will use this design when you want to see how various variables
are related with each other. Appropriate for explanatory studies. E.g. First class article on the MSW students
Longitudinal study design is best when you want to detect the changes occurred between two different time.
For example, you will use this design to see how college students’ perspectives on marijuana use changed
between their freshman and senor years. E.g. Second class article on college students’ developoment from the
beginning to the end of the first year in college.
Case study is mostly for exploratory studies that have been rarely studied. You use one individual sample unit
and collect data at ONE time. E.g. Third class article on bereveaing lesbian mothers.
