Analysis of Research Design and Methodology: PSM403 Assignment

This assignment analyzes a research study investigating the effects of intergroup contact on job satisfaction in the workplace. The study employed both correlational and experimental research designs to measure the relationships between variables such as contact type, job satisfaction, and interaction effects. The analysis includes an evaluation of the appropriateness of the research designs, the statistical findings (including p-values and alpha levels), and the implications of the results. The assignment also addresses the ethical considerations, such as informed consent, confidentiality, and participant safety, that are crucial to the study's integrity. Furthermore, it discusses the potential of a qualitative study design and identifies the limitations of the original study, including sample size, research design choices, and result interpretation. The assignment concludes with a critical assessment of the study's strengths and weaknesses, providing a comprehensive overview of the research process.

QUESTION ONE
Research design is the set of methods and procedures used in collecting and
analyzing measures of the variables specified in the problem research.
Study one adopted correlation research design (Lee Abbott, 2012) to measure the
association between the variables. A sample of 150 employed participants who were aged
(21-38) years were issued with survey questions to obtain the data for analysis. Correlational
design will provide the statistical measure for the relationship between variables.
In study two, experimental research design (Myamlin S. V., 2014) utilizing ANOVA
(Analysis of variance) to measure the association between variable group. The data were
obtained from 164 employed participants who were issued with survey questions. The
research design is appropriate since the participants are grouped into pairs where one group
imagined positively, the other group imagined negatively.
QUESTION TWO
The variables under investigation are the contact type, job satisfaction and
interaction. Based on the results, the sample data collected does not provide sufficient
evidence to conclude that there was effect of job satisfaction. This is justified by the higher p-
value (0.43) than the alpha (0.001). This imply that the evidence of the effect of the job
satisfaction is not strong enough for justification.
On the contact type, the data provide sufficient evidence (Blanks, 2010) to conclude
that there was a main effect of the contact type. This is justified by the lower p-value (0.02)
than the alpha (0.03).
Analysis based on those who imagined positively and those who imagined negatively
was carried out with the results indicating higher score following normal distribution with
mean 4.21 and standard deviation 0.81 for those who imagine positively than those who
imagine negatively having a mean of 2.12 and standard deviation 0.97. Between the groups,
there was a significantt interaction of participant of group x contact type as indicated by the
lower p-value (0.001) than the alpha (0.23)
To compare the satisfaction between the positive group and the negative group, the
results reveal that in the positive group, the majority were satisfied than the minority while in
the negative group, the minority were more satisfied than those majority. Therefore, in the

majority group, there is existence of significant differences in satisfaction between the two
groups while in the minority group does not have significant difference in satisfaction
between the positive a negative group.
QUESTION THREE
Quality and integrity. Quality is the degree of perfection or excellence while the
integrity is defined as the honesty and truthfulness or accuracy of one's actions (Fabregas-
fernandez, 2011). In this kind of study, the quality and integrity are ethical consideration that
are of a great importance since the
Consent. Seeking the informed consent of the participant is one of the ethical
considerations (Damery, 2011) that is important in this kind of study since the survey is
intended to obtain the correct answers as per the feeling of the respondents. Obtaining the
consent from the respondents will give them a voluntary choice of participation or not.
Respect of confidentiality and anonymity of the research respondents is also an
ethical consideration of great importance to this kind of research (Gibson, 2013).
Respondents should give their genuine response given that the confidentiality of their views
is protected. Respecting and Protecting the confidentiality of the respondents is an ethical
consideration that should be upheld in this study.
Safety of participants. Safety of participants is characterized by an environment free
from noise, any form of disturbance and security in an area where the survey is being issued
(Guise, 2010). Respondents should be guarantee of safety for a better and genuine response
and better decisions.
QUESTION FOUR
Based on this study, designing a qualitative study would entail issuance of
questionnaire and interview approach where the sample of the target population should be
large to obtain sufficient data for qualitative analysis (Lonergan, 2012). The most approach
to this kind of study for better appropriateness of the qualitative study since the objective is
more of theoretical and does not require quantitative techniques. The views expressed from
the respondents is based on observation therefore the views are much aligned to the
qualitative approach.
The data required to be gathered in this study is much inclined to the perspectives of
the individuals (Crifo, 2015), therefore, designing the qualitative approach would be

appropriate, however, large data is required for better analysis and decision making. It also
requires much time to obtain data from behaviours and observations.
QUESTION FIVE
Based on the information above, limitations the following are the limitation
1. The sample size is not large enough and sufficient data. The objectives being
investigated rely solely on the response of the respondents being interviewed,
therefore, the insufficient data will result to wrong results.
2. Research design. The research design being used in this kind of study is not
appropriate. The research design appropriate is the qualitative approach since the
information required are much inclined to the perceptions of individual and the
observation.
3. Interpretation of results. The results need an expertise interpretation for better
understanding. Qualitative approach would be simple to make interpretation since
results of the data analysis can be presented in a tabular form, pie chart, histogram
and bar chart
References

Blanks, R. S. (2010). Comparison of cytology and histology results in English cervical screening
laboratories before and after liquid-based cytology conversion: do the data provide evidence
for a single category of high-grade dyskaryosis? Cytopathology, 21(6), 113-122.
Crifo, P. F. (2015). THE ECONOMICS OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: A FIRM-LEVEL
PERSPECTIVE SURVEY. Journal of Economic Surveys, 29(1), 112-123.
Damery, R. R. (2011). The effect of seeking consent on the representativeness of patient cohorts:
iron-deficiency anaemia and colorectal cance. iron-deficiency anaemia, 13(11), 366-378.
Etchegaray, J. M. (2009). Understanding Evidence-Based Research Methods: Descriptive Statistics.
Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 3(1), 111-121.
Fabregas-fernandez, A. G.-M.-L.-n. (2011). Quality and Integrity of Data in Research, Development,
and Innovation: A Risk Analysis Method Applied to Laboratory Notebooks in a University
Pilot Plant. PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, 65(3), 22-36.
Gibson, S. B. (2013). Talking about suicide: Confidentiality and anonymity in qualitative research.
Nursing Ethics, 20(1), 18-28.
Guise, J.-M. S. (2010). STORC safety initiative: a multicentre survey on preparedness & confidence in
obstetric emergencies. BMJ Quality & Safety, 19(6), 1-13.
Lonergan, M. (2012). Insufficient data are available to predict the success of protected areas for the
vaquita (Phocoena sinus): A critique of Gerrodette and Rojas-Bracho. Insufficient data, 28(1).
Myamlin S. V., T. O. (2014). Experimental research of dynamic qualities of freight cars with bogies of
different designs. qualities of freight cars, 3(51), 87-92.