The comparison of the attentiveness and performance of teenage boys and girls in school
Quasi-experimental design and the topic
The Quasi-Experimental research design is that method that can be used in the study of groups in the comparative approach. This methodology is tested on the basis of how it can be used to achieve the provided goals. It also limits the biasness that can be associated with the research. What makes this methodology to be better suited to the topic is that it is used to test the causal hypothesis (White & Sabarwal, 2014). It can therefore provide a better way of studying and understanding the topic.
Research Question
How do the levels of class attentiveness in teenage boys compare with those of teenage girls?
In this research question, there is a primary factor that is being investigated. This is the attention. As per the question, the study will be about understanding the extent to which young girls at puberty can concentrate in class and this is compared to how the boys of the same age perform. The result will be engineered towards revealing the factors affect the teenage concentration.
Hypothesis
The hypotheses on this research study would encompass the following:
Young girls can concentrate deeply but for a short time-Young girls have the ability to concentrate for a long duration but they easily get bored.
Young boys can concentrate for a longer time and recall more things: As opposed to the girls, boys have the ability to endure a longer period of concentration and also recall those things that have been taught previously.
Girls are more vulnerable to distractions than the boys: Girls are more vulnerable to certain distractions and this may lower their concentration even more.
Target Population
The target population in this research study will be young teenage school going children. In basic sense, the primary target group will be teenage boys and girls with the ages ranging from 7 to 15. In this age bracket, these children will be assessed on the basis of how they can recall what they have been taught. With the other social factors such as the family backgrounds, changes in puberty and much more taken into consideration; the learners will be observed on how they can respond to previous lessons.
Why Quasi-experimental design is better for the topic
Quasi-Experimental research design can be applied to this topic on the precept of its associated advantages. When using this research method, there is inevitable possibility that the researchers will end minimizing the possibilities of having ethical problems. Another way that it reinforces the topic is that it supports the process of documenting the research study process. It is a reliable process and it is quite direct because it helps in the diagnosis of the causes of the problem (Askew, 2012).
Strengths and limitations of using Quasi-Experimental design
The Quasi-Experimental research design has its strengths and limitations that may justify its adoption and its discouragement respectively. The strengths of the method are that it is more reliable because it encourages the observation of the ethical codes. It can facilitate the achievement of seamless and credible research study process. However, there are other disadvantages. There are cases where the research may be marred by some inconvenience such as the incomplete process especially when there are the weak measures in the used variables (Askew, 2012).
Internal and external validities and the bearable limitations
Internal and external validities are important because they will provide the guidance to the researchers on how well they can predict the results in the research study. Not all methodologies have their own limitations. Some have more merits in the analysis of the research.
References
Askew, I. (2012). The Benefits and Challenges with using Quasi-Experimental and Non-Experimental Designs to Inform Policy and Service Delivery Guidelines for Reproductive Health Programmes in Developing Countries. Second Global Symposium on Health Systems Research. UKAID. Retrieved from: http://www.popcouncil.org/uploads/pdfs/events/2012_HSWBeijingAskew.pdf
White, H., & Sabarwal, S. (2014). Quasi-experimental design and methods. Methodological Briefs: Impact Evaluation. United Nations Children’s Fund. 8 .Retrieved from: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/brief_8_quasi-experimental%20design_eng.pdf
