¶ … Management Strategy to Utilize Meta-Analysis Technique for Nuclear Energy and Waste Disposal and Create Social Sustainability A Dissertation Presented using the Meta-Analysis Technique

Komi E Fiagbe Comment by Owner: This is exactly what I wanted to see Komi. Your literature review should also identify the 20 studies that you want to analyze to give your readers an understanding of what you are doing. I want you to email me all three chapters as we move into the next course.Dr. A Christina Anastasia PH-D Chair

[Committee Name], [Degree], Committee Member

[Committee Name], [Degree], Committee Member

This research proposal explores the link between public perceptions of nuclear power, how those perceptions are formed, and what influence those opinions have on energy policy. These issues are important in light of two realities. First, nuclear energy is declining in its share of global energy. Second, nuclear energy offers what might well be the best solution to climate change. Given the threat posed by climate change, it makes sense that nuclear power would be increasing in share, not decreasing. This Research proposal seeks to look at some of the issues facing nuclear power, and how it can overcome these issues to increase share going forward.

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Chapter Three

Research Traditions

There are a number of different research traditions that could be used to understand a subject as broad as nuclear power. Generally, the wide nature of this issue implies that the research methodology utilized, measurements undertaken, and the kinds of people examined differ depending on the study while the topic is the same (Glass, 1977, p.351). The appropriate method, ultimately, depends on a number of different variables.

The availability of hard data will determine whether quantitative methods can be used. What data is available is dependent on the research question itself. In the case of this project, the research question focuses on the future of nuclear power. Nuclear power decisions are made most often at the political level, as a matter of national energy policy, rather than the scientific level. In terms of the science, there is little doubt that nuclear power can be used, albeit with some fairly significant risks (Alic, 2012).

Nuclear power has remained an increasingly controversial issue for a long period of time. The controversy has largely been centered on whether using this type of power as an energy source would be beneficial or harmful to the society and environment. Even though nuclear power is associated with some harmful effects that could be devastating to the environment, there are significant benefits attributed to using it as an energy source.

The controversial nature of this topic implies that a suitable methodology has to be selected for this study in order to generate accurate findings and conclusions. Actually, this research issue entails examining the benefits and harms associated with nuclear power in order to develop management strategies for using nuclear power and waste disposal in a sustainable manner (Alic, 2012). The researcher's ability to effectively examine these issues and develop accurate conclusions for future studies and implementation is directly affected by the research methodology.

Moreover, the broad nature of the research issue implies that the researcher must careful consider the various research methodologies and approaches before selecting a suitable one. In light of these factors and considerations, the most appropriate methodology for this research would be the Meta- Analysis Technique, which is a statistical process that integrates the findings of different independent studies that are regarded as combinable (Egger, Smith & Phillips, 1997, p.1533).

Meta-Analysis technique is an appropriate research methodology for this study mainly because effectively performed meta-analyses promote a more objective evaluation of evidence or selected studies that conventional narrative or literature reviews (Egger, Smith & Phillips, 1997, p.1533). The other benefits of using meta-analysis technique in this research include its provision of more accurate prediction of results and comprehensive explanations of the heterogeneity between findings of individual studies. In this case, meta-analysis will enable the researcher to provide comprehensive explanations of the heterogeneity between the results of several studies regarding the use of nuclear power as an energy source and waste disposal in a sustainable and beneficial manner. However, these benefits would be realized through carefully planning the research project via a comprehensively written protocol that is prepared before...

This technique also involves translating results from varying studies to a universal metric and statistically examining relation between research characteristics and findings (Bangert-Drowns & Rudner, 1991).
According to Egger, Smith & Phillips (1997), meta-analysis is a statistical process that entails integrating the findings of various independent studies that are considerably combinable (p.1533). Similar to any other research process, the use of meta-analysis in this study will be characterized by several steps i.e. formulating the issue or problem to be studied, data collection and analysis, and reporting the findings. Meta-analysis technique is also appropriate for this study since it promotes clear definition and analysis of the issue or problem being examined. Actually, natural, biological, and physical sciences usually enable research problems or issues to be clearly defined and evaluated through uniform and commonly accepted methodologies and measures (Wolf, 1986, p.9).

As previously mentioned, nuclear power is a broad topic that has attracted significant attention in the recent past, which has contributed to numerous research and studies on this issue. In essence, the broad nature of the study not only contributes to use of different research traditions but also generate various kinds of studies. The findings of the numerous existing studies on the issue of nuclear power are relatively fragile as research on the topic is increasing at an astounding rate, particularly because of increased climate change in the recent past. Research findings of existing studies on the issue of nuclear power are fragile since they are characterized by irregularities across several factors such as contexts and classes of subjects.

This is usually a major challenge in education research because of the rapid increase in research on dozens of topics (Glass, 1976, p.3). Therefore, the need for meta-analysis technique in conducting this study is relatively clear. Through the use of this technique, the researcher will primarily focus on examining different studies in terms of their information and contradictions before statistically examining their characteristics and findings. This process will be geared towards integrating the results of these independent studies to generate significant conclusions regarding the topic. The use of meta-analysis technique in the study will help generate important information about the issue.

Thus, this is not a paper rooted in the technical sciences, but rather in the social sciences. The matter at hand in the four research hypotheses that are being examined is essentially qualitative in nature. The studies that have been produced are somewhat thin on the ground, there have been a handful of studies, but none so closely related that they can be subject to traditional quantitative analysis. But this does not mean that these studies cannot be analyzed for common traits, nor does it mean that we cannot extrapolate from a grouping of studies truths about the world at large. To be certain, one country's experience cannot fully and smoothly equate to another country's experience, there is always local context, but again, that is inherent in the social sciences. Social sciences work is not conducted in a laboratory, but in the real world. The problem with quantitative studies is that they leave little room for things like context and nuance; only qualitative analysis by an expert practitioner can result in a meaningful interpretation of diverse sets of qualitative and quantitative data, for instance the Meta-Analysis Technique (Ritchie & Lewis, 2003).

However, since qualitative research does not entail creating research hypothesis, the researcher will also utilize quantitative methods in this study. The significance of quantitative research method is that it enables development of several hypotheses that are used in the research process in order to examine the specific issue under evaluation. On the contrary, qualitative research will be utilized since it is more effective in social research.

Given that this study is not based on technical sciences but on social science, qualitative research will be vital. Actually, qualitative research has a longstanding history of providing significant insights regarding social structures, cultures, and behaviors. Moreover, qualitative methods help in development and evaluation of social policy, which makes them effective in social research (Ritchie & Lewis, 2003, p.25).

Type of Meta-Analytic Approach to be utilized

There are a number of critical competencies that a researcher needs to have in order to apply expert analysis to a given subject matter. The research needs to be able to effectively manage information; the organization of the literature review along the individual research questions was instrumental in developing the needed organization to answer these questions. There also needs to be systemic competencies such as research capabilities, the ability to apply knowledge, the ability to adapt to one's set of circumstances and creativity (Verd,…