Once you have a purpose, a question, and a design in mind, you will be in a good position to determine the best methods for obtaining a sample and collecting data.

Some of the various sampling and data collection methods, as covered in this week’s readings, can be used across different research designs—quantitative, qualitative, or mixed. Again, as in previous weeks, the important consideration is to ensure that there is alignment among the various components of a research study, including its purpose, research questions, design, sample, and methods. Data Data Collection Methods Paper

As you consider sampling strategies and methods for collecting data, you might visit Walden University’s Participant Pool to view the descriptions of research studies currently available for participation. You will likely notice a variety of sampling methods reflected in participant eligibility criteria and various data collection methods being used by student and faculty researchers in the Walden community.

This week, you will evaluate the strengths and limitations of sampling methods and data collection methods, and you will consider their ethical implications. You will also develop an annotated bibliography of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research articles.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Explain sampling methods
• Explain strengths and limitations of data collection methods
• Apply strategies for addressing ethical issues in data collection
• Develop an annotated bibliography
• Apply APA Style to writing

Photo Credit: [Andrew Brookes]/[Cultura]/Getty Images

Learning Resources

Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.

REQUIRED READINGS

Teddlie, C., & Yu, F. (2007). Mixed methods sampling: A typology with examples. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 1(1), 77–100. doi:10.1177/1558689806292430
Mixed Methods Sampling: A Typology with Examples by Teddlie, C., & Yu, F., in Journal of Mixed Methods Research, Vol. 1/Issue 1. Copyright 2007 by Sage Publications Inc. Reprinted by permission of Sage Publications Inc. via the Copyright Clearance Center.

Drost, E. A. (2011). Validity and reliability in social science research. Education Research and Perspectives, 38(1), 105–124.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

REQUIRED MEDIA

Assignment: Annotated Bibliography

Submit: Annotated Bibliography

This week, you will submit the annotated bibliography introduced in Week 3. This annotated bibliography will consist of an introduction, followed by two quantitative article annotations, two qualitative article annotations, and two mixed methods article annotations for a total of six annotations, followed by a conclusion.

An annotated bibliography is a document containing selected sources accompanied by a respective annotation. Each annotation consists of a summary, analysis, and application for the purpose of conveying the relevance and value of the selected source. As such, annotations demonstrate a writer’s critical thinking about and authority on the topic represented in the sources.

In preparation for your own future research, an annotated bibliography provides a background for understanding a portion of the existing literature on a particular topic. It is also a useful precursor for gathering sources in preparation for writing a subsequent literature review.

Please review the assignment instructions below and click on the underlined words for information about how to craft each component of an annotation.

It is recommended that you use the grading rubric as a self-evaluation tool before submitting your assignment.

By Day 7

• Use the Walden library databases to search for , , and  research articles from  journals on your topic of interest.
• Before you read the full article and begin your annotation, locate the methodology section in the article to be sure that it describes the appropriate research design.
  • For quantitative research articles, confirm that a quantitative research design, such as a quasi-experimental, casual comparative, correlational, pretest–posttest, or true experimental, was used in the study.
  • For qualitative research articles, confirm that a qualitative research design or approach, such as narrative, ethnographic, grounded theory, case study, or phenomenology, was used in the study.
  • For mixed methods research articles, confirm that a mixed methods research (MMR) design was used in the study. There are several design classifications in MMR; some examples of MMR types or families of design are parallel, concurrent, sequential, multilevel, or fully integrated mixed methods design.
• Prepare an annotated bibliography that includes the following:
  • A one-paragraph introduction that provides context for why you selected the six research articles you did: two quantitative, two qualitative, and two MMR.
  • A reference list entry in APA Style for each of the six articles that follows proper formatting. Follow each reference list entry with a three-paragraph annotation that includes:
    • A 
    • An 
    • An  as illustrated in this 
  • A one-paragraph conclusion that presents a  of the six articles.
• Format your annotated bibliography in Times New Roman, 12-point font, double-spaced. A separate References list page is not needed for this assignment.