Discussion board 2 - Research Design Class - Essay Example

Quantitative Research Design: Cross-Sectional Methodologies In business, quantitative research is almost always done using cross-sectional methodologies. Cross-sectional studies deal with the study of the entire population or sample of elements which are collected from a given population (Experimental Resources, 2008). Cross-sectional methodologies in business are done through research survey, which has a wide scope and data collected from the samples is analyzed to give detailed information about the population and to draw conclusions.

Furthermore, cross-sectional method is economical since more information can possibly be collected at little or no cost especially where samples are used. Such studies are also significant since they present near real life situations as opposed to case studies and experimental studies which may are always done under controlled conditions. An example of business-related research that might be better handled by longitudinal approaches are the buying patterns for grocery products among families in a specific town.

This is because, such data will indicate changes in the in the buying patterns and behavior of those families and households over time. Another example of a longitudinal study is a research conducted to determine the suitability of a product in for a market over its lifetime in a market (product market research). This method of study in both cases is suitable since in the first case, measurement of data over time to determine trend is applicable. In the second example, the method is applicable it involves the establishment of temporal order.

Posting # 1Posting 1 is correct in stating that longitudinal studies normally gather information on a population at a single point in time. The posting is however wrong to state that quantitative research can be performed more quickly than experimental and longitudinal design. This is because the later two designs are subsets of quantitative research. The US census is a longitudinal study in which case the posting is correct as it involves repetition in collection of the same (or similar) data over time.

The example of changing product packaging as an experiment is correctly stated as two groups may be applied (views regarding the first packaging and the second packaging). An experimental study however would not provide answers as to why consumers would like one type of packaging and not the other as stated by the posting. In stating that “both methods are typically more expensive and time-consuming for a company than performing cross-sectional research”, posting 1 is wrong. This is so since quantitative research encompasses both longitudinal and experimental research.

Posting 2Posting 2 is correct in stating that the longitudinal study is advantageous as it considers the characteristics of a population at a given point in time. The post is also correct in stating the importance of longitudinal research “it often provides the researcher with ideas, approaches, and clues he may not have foreseen before conducting the pilot study”. The first example of longitudinal research relating to sports and physiological variables is correct. Similarly, the second example is correct in that the research involves the use of samples and comparing the sample characteristics.

The example of collecting data relating to people from a single group over time is correctly stated as a longitudinal study. The definition of feasibility and its applicability is correct. However, the post does not state the reasons as to why the examples stated earlier would be feasible.