RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS

Research Instruments

Research Instruments

Introduction

One of the critical aspects of research is involving children and youth as the area of study. Such research and studies can contribute by providing an understanding of how children and young people live their lives. Furthermore, such research can contribute toward debates pertaining to theoretical outcomes, which can have a direct or indirect affect on the lives of the subjects used in the research. In addition, researchers need to consider the critical issues pertaining to such studies because the results significantly depend on elements such as selection and development of research instruments and their overall effectiveness.

Discussion

The research pertaining to the socio-psychological issues of childhood and youth aims to incorporate methods and research instruments that can identify the mental process, activity, and other related causes of the issues. With respect to socio-psychological issues, there are a number of methods and research instruments that can be used.

Selection of Research Instruments

The selection and development of research instruments depends on the research problem and questions, the researcher needs to determine the research instruments that he needs to use in the study. Furthermore, the reliability and validity of the results and outcomes also depend on the development and selection of the research instruments. In case, of socio-psychological issues of childhood and youth, there can be the use of a number of research instruments, which are already established (Columbus 2006, Pp. 133-188). However, the researcher can choose to bring variation and modify the instruments according to the purpose of the research. Research instruments such as surveys, questionnaires, interviews, experiments, analysis of documents and audio and video data are some of the common instruments that can be used in the current case (Robins 2009, Pp. 672-719).

Empirical Research

The empirical method is a scientific research model, based on empirical logic and by the phenomenological method; it is the most used in the field of social sciences and the hard sciences. The empirical research uses analytical thinking and the empirical methods for building knowledge of experience, which in turn derives from in tests, i.e. carrying out the experiment. Therefore, empirical data are taken from the successful tests and error, i.e. experience.

The contribution of empirical research in the area of childhood and youth issues is primarily a result of experiences (Wilkinson 2003, Pp. 154-175). These methods make it possible to reveal the essential relationships and key features of the subject matter, accessible to the identification of issues through practical procedures for the purpose and various modes of study. Its usefulness highlighted in the entry into unexplored areas or those in which stands the descriptive study (Fraser 2004, Pp. 190-294).

Empirical logic is the basis of empirical reasoning and, therefore, the empirical method. This view of logic comes from empirical experience, which in turn derives from test and experiments. The results of empirical research are deduced by observing the relationships between subjects, in this case children and adolescents making it the ideal base for the laws of knowledge. The method is factual and deals with the events that actually ...