Answer

Step 1: Summary of Jarret (2017)

The research sought to investigate how consuming films and TV together impacted romantic relationships. Findings suggested doing so resulted in more positive relationships.

Step 2: Suggestion on how the research could be improved

(Done)

Step 3: Posting suggestion to group

(Done)

Step 4: Option selected

Participants needed more diversity in age and occupation. More info, did participants already share interests and other activities together?

Step 5: Implementation

The selected option for improvement could be implemented by extending the setting and/or geographical area in which to conduct the research. This would potentially alter the study population. Besides, as opposed to limiting the research to students, the sample population could also include staff members, and that would take care of diversity as far as age and occupation would be concerned. Alternatively, increasing/expanding the study sample would also help take care of these factors, particularly age as it varies from one student to another. It would also be imperative to employ a sampling procedure that allows for diversity as would be achieved through randomness, hence the need for consideration of such sampling procedures like random sampling. To achieve diversity in terms of the aforementioned factors, stratified random sampling could be used such that the participants are divided into two strata, for instance students and non-students.  To gather more information, the questionnaires could be designed a manner (for example containing open-ended questions) that participants are able to add more information.

Step 6

Other students undertaking this activity could achieve optimal learning if they conducted some research on research methods (qualitative and quantitative) prior to engagement in the group discussion on how to improve research.  Personally I did this and I have to admit I gained appreciable insight that came in handy in terms of my participation and contribution in the group discussion. It is through understanding of the merits and demerits of qualitative and quantitative research methods that one can figure out possible areas of improvement. Importantly, the students should not limit their efforts to the requirements of this activity, rather they should do even more for their own enlightenment concerning different course concepts.