Social research is guided by a systematic plan which uses either a qualitative or quantitative study approach (Vogt, Gardner, & Haeffele, 2012). Inconsistencies in the presentation of the research findings may sometimes be realized if there is no alignment of the various research components. It is, therefore, crucial to evaluate the alignment of the different research components to ensure the overall validity of the study (Green & Glasgow, 2006). If a study has inconsistencies between its components, its validity becomes questionable. The research components that require alignment include the study design, data collection methods, the experimental procedures, and the research questions.
The best way to evaluate the alignment of the research design and other components of the study would be through the development of elaborate research questions. According to Punch (2013), when the research questions are precise and elaborate, the other components of the study, such as study design and data collection methods, can be aligned to the research questions. The research questions inform the method of research to be used, which then enables the selection of the best data collection methods (Booth, Colomb, & Williams, 2008). The research technique is the primary component of any study. It informs the development of the conceptual structure of the study as well as the tools and methods of data collection (Punch, 2013). The research questions and design are, therefore, essential tools that can inform the evaluation criteria of alignment of the research components.
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The research skills and knowledge that I have acquired will be vital in my role as an agent of positive social change. Having a positive worldview as a result of the social research that I have done will enable me to be effective in promoting positive social change. I hold a belief that there is no situation that is impossible to turn around for the better. Using the most appropriate mechanism to navigate a situation will most definitely produce a solution. The newly acquired research knowledge and skills would, therefore, be essential in enabling me to identify the social problem and come up with a practical solution. I would be able to come up with proven strategies to deal with the social problem. For instance, I wish to be a positive social change agent for marginalized groups of people in society. I, therefore, need to do relevant research to identify the root cause of the social problem, thus come up with recommendations to the authorities on how to elevate these social groups.
References
Booth, W. C., Colomb, G. G., & Williams, J. M. (2008). The Craft of Research, 3" ed. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press .
Green, L. W., & Glasgow, R. E. (2006). Evaluating the relevance, generalization, and applicability of research: issues in external validation and translation methodology. Evaluation & the health professions , 29 (1), 126-153.
Punch, K. F. (2013). Introduction to social research: Quantitative and qualitative approaches . sage.
Vogt, W. P., Gardner, D. C., & Haeffele, L. M. (2012). When to use what research design . Guilford Press.
