Description
The choice of [data collection] methods turns on whether the intent is to specify the type of information to be collected in advance of the study or allow it to emerge from participants in the project.
—Creswell, 2009
As this quotation suggests, the process of selecting and implementing data collection is a unique process dependent on the goals and questions of a study. The researcher must evaluate each study’s intentions, as well as past experiences, to determine the data and methods most appropriate and effective for each study. For this blog, you reflect on the research question chosen for your Capstone Project and how it influences the types of data that might help answer your question, as well as the research methods that would support collecting this type of data.
Post an explanation of the types of data that may help you answer your research question. Then, explain which research method might be best if you were to collect data for your Capstone Project( The Department of Homeland Security) and why. Support your explanation with resources from your literature review that discuss various research methods and analysis.
Research Question
Courtnie Walker
Walden University
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RESEARCH QUESTION
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Research Question
What are the effects of the privacy and civil liberties policies on the operation of the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)?
Viability
The research question can be held as viable for the scope of this course since it entails an
interest of one of the topics of the course. According to Booth et al. (2016), the identification of
interest of a given topic forms the basis of generating a viable research question. Thus, due to my
interest in the public policy, I was in a position to develop a viable research question that relates
to my selected agency precisely the Department of Homeland Security.
Challenges
One of the challenges that I encountered when conceptualizing issues as a research
question was developing a rational argument. The literature review process requires the
development of an appropriate argument that matches with the research interest (Machi &
McEvoy, 2016). Thus, this requirement of formulating an argument that is in line with the
research interest proved to be challenging while drafting the research question. Ensuring a
balanced nature of the research question was another challenge that I confronted when
conceptualizing issues as a research question. An optimal research question is characterized by
the aspect of being neither too broad nor too shrink (Empire State College, n.d.). Thus, ensuring
that the research question was neither too extensive nor too narrow proved to be challenging.
RESEARCH QUESTION
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References
Booth, W. C., Colomb, G. G., Williams, J. M., Bizup, J. & Fitzgerald, W. T. (2016). The craft of
research (4th ed.). Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press.
Empire State College. (n.d.). Developing a research question. Retrieved August 28, 2014,
from http://www8.esc.edu/esconline/across_esc/writerscomplex.nsf/0/f87fd7182f0ff21c8
52569c2005a47b7
Machi, L. A., & McEvoy, B. T. (2016). The literature review: Six steps to success (3rd ed.).
Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.
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