Desktop Virtualization

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACTIVITY # 4: EXTERNAL, INTERNAL, AND CONSTRUCT VALIDITY1

Validity1

Purpose1

External Validity1

Internal Validity2

Construct Validity3

Recommendations3

ACTIVITY # 6: ETHICS IN RESEARCH11

Ethical Considerations11

Role of Researcher11

Why to consider ethics in research?11

ACTIVITY # 7: DESIGN A RESEARCH SURVEY PLAN13

Research survey plan13

ACTIVITY # 8: EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH15

Experimental Research15

Non Experimental Research15

Quasi-Experimental Research15

ACTIVITY # 9: EXPLORATORY RESEARCH18

ACTIVITY # 10: MIXED RESEARCH22

Mixed Research22

ACTIVITY # 11: HYPOTHETICAL DESIGN23

Qualitative Hypothesis23

Quantitative Hypothesis:24

Mixed Method Hypothesis:24

ACTIVITY # 12: PROPOSE METHOD26

The Research Design26

Classification of Research Methods26

Multi-Method Studies26

Mixed Method Studies27

Steps in Mixed Methodology27

Strength and Weakness of the Mixed Research28

Characteristics29

Reflection29

Iterancy29

Collaboration30

Role of the Researcher31

Justification32

Reliability/Dependability33

Validity35

REFERENCES37

ACTIVITY # 4: EXTERNAL, INTERNAL, AND CONSTRUCT VALIDITY

Validity

Validity is an important aspect in conducting a social research. This section discusses the purpose and types of validity. Basically research validity is achieved when (Creswell, 2009):

The conclusions and lessons drawn from the results ensure transferability i.e. it is similar to the existing research.

The results are based on objective data (internal validity)

The data collected reflects the changes or needs which must be evaluated objectively (construct validity)

Purpose

A lack of validity assessment may expose to severe criticism from stakeholders who are not satisfied with the findings and recommendations of the study and that will highlight all the weaknesses found in the reasoning. The validity is one of the basic quality criteria. A higher level of attention must be given to it when researchers conduct social research. The assessment of validity minimizes the conflict to the research (Creswell, 2009).

External Validity

External validity is a method in which the quality of the study is ensured. External validity allows the research findings to be generalized as per the other group of studies. External validity is fully achieved when the evaluation team shows that a similar intervention in another context would have the same effect, under given conditions (Creswell, 2009).

Only a strong external validity makes the transfer of lessons learned to other studies. External validity is sought when the evaluation aims to identify and validate best practices. External validity is threatened when the analysis fails to identify external factors that are key influential in the context of the intervention being evaluated but would have a different effect in another context. External factors should not only be identified but the magnitude of their consequences must also be estimated. In the case of an investigation, this implies larger and diverse samples. In the case of case studies, this implies the increase in number of cases taken for the study (Trochim, 2008).

Internal Validity

Internal validity is basically a quality of an evaluation method which limits the extent of possible biases in collecting and processing data. Internal validity is fully achieved when the evaluation team provides compelling arguments showing that the results have been derived from facts and evidence (Zikmund, 2010).

Internal validity is an important point in the case of causal questions. When the evaluation team strives to demonstrate and /or to assess the magnitude of an effect, it is exposed to risks such as: (Creswell, 2009)

Ignore causal mechanisms that contradict the initial assumptions.

Estimate impacts based on a comparison of samples (e.g. participants and non participants) which are not ...