Research Methodology on the Effectiveness of Accelerated Master’s Degree Programs

Introduction

This section describes how data will be collected and used to determine the efficacy of Accelerated Master’s program. The research methodology section in a research paper or dissertation includes all the actions that are to be involved in evaluating and validating a particular research problem (Daniel, & Sam, 2015). In short, the research methodology section details how a study of a specific proposal of research will be conducted.\u00a0 It justifies the overall validity and reliability of the research problem. Mostly, the research methodology section of a study concentrates methods used to collect and evaluate data. This part is always direct and detailed and obviously written in past tense. Furthermore, the research methodology section includes the conceptual and operational definitions of research variables prevalent in a particular study. The research methodology is expected to be sufficiently detailed in that an experienced researcher can easily understand and replicate empirical research encompassing manipulations to attain similar results or could either involve an observational study of the same for related results (Daniel, & Sam, 2015).

The research methodology section of a study

is inclusive of various methods that precisely discuss the procedures towards analyzing the existing research problem. This section also comprises of other sub-sections such as the research approach which is inclusive of the design and methods, and apparatus and materials prevalent and relevant for the research problem. Key components are the sample, in this case, population. Other subsections include the sources of data (ways of data collection), the device used in the data collection process and the treatment of data subsection. For this study, this section identifies some of the research methodologies relevant for justifying the reliability and validity of accelerated master\u2019s programs.\u00a0

Research Approach

The research approach includes the design and procedures that comprises of the steps derived from broad assumptions to specific methods of data collection, analysis, and interpretation (Research Design., 2014). A particular research approach is always based on the nature of the research problem or issue under study or being addressed. Research approaches are also based on the researcher\u2019s personal experiences and the sample\/ population (audiences of study).

Design and Procedures

The primary focus of this particular research is to analyze the enrollment data of university students. Precisely, we will investigate the number of students who are currently enrolled in accelerated master\u2019s programs at the selected university. A study will be conducted on former students to analyses past trends regarding these programs. Based on our research problem, the investigation will evaluate how the enrollment in accelerated master\u2019s program in the selected university equates to the admission in accelerated master\u2019s program for other colleges. Furthermore, the research will focus and consider undergraduate students. In their case (undergraduates), the survey will seek to identify those who are appropriate for accelerated master\u2019s programs and the number of undergraduate participants. Apart from this, the study will include a survey of the students in the selected university and colleges to identify if they are mindful of accelerated master’s programs and if they might enroll someday. All students will be allowed to be part of the study regardless of their year of study. \u00a0The implication is that both freshmen and seniors will be allowed to participate. Coherent qualitative questions will be the order of the survey to validate why or why not the students are interested in enrolling for accelerated master\u2019s programs. Through these questions, the study will also try to justify the essence of a master\u2019s degree program; students will justify if a master\u2019s degree program will benefit their major.

Sample\/ Population

The study sample to justify this particular research problem will be sampled from students enrolled in our university and those from other selected colleges. This sample will include undergraduate students not registered in accelerated master\u2019s programs and those registered. A survey will be conducted on this population across various levels: freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior. As stated before, the essence of this survey will be to investigate the enrollment data of accelerated master\u2019s programs. For competent findings, the investigations will be kept anonymous. However, these reviews will also ask participants on their levels of education and some significant information relevant to the study’s research problem. Mostly, the investigation will include data on enrollment, graduation, and retention data for trends and analysis. These datasets will help analyze, justify and validate reliability and validity of the enrollment for accelerated master’s program.

Data collection

Data will be collected from various sources. The primary source of data will be from the University and students. In fact, these two sources will provide first hand and reliable and valid information. The University’s registrar will provide enrollment data which is prevalent in this research, and some will be acquired from the Institutional Research. Through surveys data on student\u2019s majors, knowledge of accelerated master\u2019s programs will be recorded for evaluation of the study\u2019s research problem. Other necessary data such as student’s interest in accelerated master’s programs and possible adjustments that can lead to increased registration of students for master’s acceleration programs will be recorded as well. Such data obtained from the above-identified sources will indeed justify the reliability and validity of the research problem.

Data collection method

The data collection method employed for this particular research study, survey method, will be considered reliable and as long as it is kept anonymous. This anonymity will help guarantee students some degree of safety. Safety in that they must feel that their answers will not eventually have negative impacts on anyone. In short, the anonymity will guarantee them comfort and honesty. Furthermore, the surveys will be completed privately to avoid unnecessary social pressures that might compromise the findings. In short, this anonymity and privacy might help minimize or prevent data bias.

Treatment of the Data Reliability

Treatment of data is simply trying or making use of the collected data in the right form. In research, data collection is always important, and it should be done with great accuracy. The data collected is vital and should be organized coherently so that applicable conclusions can be drawn. Regarding our research problem, surveys will be filled with a lot of accuracies to reduce data bias and data inaccuracy. That said, treatment of data reliability is necessary to help process loads of data collected from the students on accelerated master’s programs (Research Design., 2014).

Descriptive statistics

Descriptive statistics will be involved; analyzing and using the collected data. The use of descriptive statistics means that data obtained from the sampled population of students, both from our university and other selected colleges, will be summarized accordingly. In fact, these sets of data will be analyzed appropriately to facilitate the reliability and validity of the research problem. For instance, the data recorded on how students perceive the idea of enrolling for accelerated master’s programs will help substantiate the effectiveness and necessity of registering for accelerated master’s program. The same data will also evaluate the degree of interest students have towards enrolling for accelerated master’s program. In addition, the data will also be used to determine some of the improvements necessary to facilitate increased registration of students for accelerated master\u2019s program.

Hypothesis testing

For this study, the hypothesis will be tested by analyzing the selected sample or population. In our case, just as it is in any research, two different hypotheses will be tested; the null hypotheses which the researcher or analyst believes to be true and the alternative hypotheses. In this research, we will test the reliability and validity of the research problem. In short, we will examine the reliability and validity of student\u2019s enrollment to accelerated master\u2019s programs.\u00a0

Qualitative data

Qualitative data is the data that estimates; one that does not measure the attributes of the phenomena under study (Khan, 2011). In short, qualitative data is the descriptive data. For this study, qualitative data collected during the surveys will help us estimate the number of students eligible to register for accelerated master\u2019s program and those who are not. From this data, we will also examine the effectiveness of accelerated master\u2019s programs.

References

Daniel, P. S., & Sam, A. G. (2015). Research methodology. Delhi: Kalpaz Publications. Retrieved from: http://www.worldcat.org/title/research-methodology/oclc/910856550

Research Design. (2014). SAGE Publications Ltd. Retrieved from: http://www.worldcat.org/title/research-design/oclc/1004480893

Khan, J. A. (2011). Research methodology. New Delhi: APH Publishing Corporation. Retrieved from: http://www.worldcat.org/title/research-methodology/oclc/733986234