Upload
fatima-aljasmi
View
312
Download
5
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Methods and methodology
Citation preview
Research Inquiry
– Methodology
and methods
Ove
rvie
w Methodology - Types
of Research
Methods – research tools
Meth
odolo
gy How can you describe
your research?How can you distinguish between different types of research?
3 t
ypes
of
cate
gori
zati
ons:
Exploratory, Descriptive
and Explanatory research
categories
Applied and basic research categories Quantitative and
qualitative research categories
Dis
tinguis
hin
g b
y G
OA
LS: Research is categorised by means
of its goal as eitherExploratory ORDescriptive ORExplanatory
Exp
lora
tory
Stu
die
s:
Aim to investigate the
unknown
Researcher has no idea what he/she will
find
No previous research
at all
Open and flexible designs
Desc
ripti
ve
Stu
die
s
Aim to accurately describe a particular
phenomenon Narrative description
(e.g. development of
medical services in Dubai)
Classifications (e.g. documenting the different types of hospitals in Dubai)
Desc
ripti
ve
Stu
die
s c
onti
nued Relationships (e.g.
documenting the relationship between
number of healthcare
facilities in Dubai to the
incidence and prevalence of disease)
Exp
lanato
ry
Stu
die
s
Aim to provide CAUSAL explanations
for something Prove that X causes Y Commonly use experimental or quasi-
experimental research
designs
Know
your
GO
AL
Affects your research
design:
Exploratory – open flexible design. Focus
on detailing how you
plan to collect data and
where you will look for
the data
Know
your
GO
AL
conti
nued
Affects your research
design continued: Descriptive – focus on
reliability and validity of
your design and representativeness of
your sample
Know
your
GO
AL
conti
nued
Affects your research
design continued: Explanatory – focus on
eliminating alternative
explanations of causality (confounding
variables)
Dis
tinguis
hin
g b
y U
SE
Research is categorised by means
of its USE as eitherApplied
ORBasic
Basi
c Rese
arc
h
Results are used to add to the existing body of knowledge Existing theories are
either supported or refuted
No practical application
of results
Applie
d
Rese
arc
h:
Results have highly practical applications Contribute towards problem solving Contribute towards
decision making Contribute towards policy analysis and development
Know
your
USE
Affects your research
design because of required level of Generalization:
Basic research: Generalisable to large
variety of contexts Applied research : Generalisable to highly
specific context
Requir
ed L
eve
l of
Genera
lizati
on:
Affects:
Sampling size Sampling technique Observation method Measurement and
analysis methods
Dis
tinguis
hin
g b
y TYPE O
F D
ATA
Research is categorised by means
of the type of data collection and analysis
as either
Qualitative ORQuantitative
Qualit
ati
ve
rese
arc
h
Non-numerical data collection and analysis Written or spoken
language
Identifying and categorizing themes E.g. in-depth case study
Quanti
tati
ve
Rese
arc
h: Numerical data
collection and analysis Statistical data analysis E.g. Surveys and questionnaires
Know
your
DATA
TYPE
Affects your research
design in terms of : Sampling techniques Sample size
Method of data collection
Method of data analysis
Note
:
Some studies use both
qualitative and qualititative data collection and analysis
techniques
These are classified according to the predominant technique
Exa
mple
fo
rmula
tion: This study is a basic,
exploratory study which will make use of
qualitative methods of
data collection and analysis.
Meth
ods
of
Inquir
y
Survey Research Archival Research Correlational Research Experimental Research Naturalistic Observational Research Case Study Research
Surv
ey
Rese
arc
h: Research design which
aims to gather standardized information from a
large group of people
on a single occasion
Chara
cteri
stic
s
Fixed Design
Preplanned execution of
research
Small amount of data
collected in standardized form E.g. questionnaire
Chara
cteri
stic
s co
nti
nued
Large representative
sample from specific
population
Usually Quantitative
data collection and analysis
Seldom repeat measuring
Tools
Questionnaires Observation E.g. Sitting in waiting
room documenting pre-
determined variablesDiaries
E.g. note time and date of
headaches to test side-
effects of new drug
Adva
nta
ges
Surveys are scientific Proper sampling technique
Proper questionnaire
design
Utility and versatility Can be used for almost
any type of research
Adva
nta
ges
conti
nued
Demonstrate relationship between
variables
Positive or negative correlation
Causal relationships (difficult)
Dis
adva
nta
ges
Internal Validity Ambiguity of questionnaireSecuring high degree of
involvementReliability Especially in face-to-face
method
Generalisability Incorrect sampling technique
or sample size
HO
WEV
ER
:
Careful planning of a
survey study can avoid most of the disadvantages
Pilot studies are NB for
ensuring validity and
reliability
Appro
ach
es:
Self- completion Little effort for researcher
Low level of involvementFace-to-Face interview High level of participant
involvement High researcher effort
Beware of reliability
Appro
ach
es
conti
nued :
Telephonic interview Useful if participants are
spread across wide geographical area Higher level of
involvement than posting
or self-completion Shortest amount of time
for data collection
Quest
ionnair
e
issu
e:
Beware of lengthBeware of complexity Especially with self-
completion approachForced choice questions for quantitative analysis
Quest
ionnair
e
issu
e co
nti
nued:
Open ended for qualitative analysis It is best to use the face-
to-face approach if your
quest6ionnaire contains
open-ended questions Internal ValidityReliability
Arc
hiv
al
Rese
arc
h Archive = recordResearch design in which existing data is
collected and analyzed
Chara
cteri
stic
s
Makes use of existing
data E.g. patient recordsData collected by
someone other than
the researcher E.g. nurse
Data collected for purpose other than the
research E.g. patient records
Chara
cteri
stic
s co
nti
nued
Fixed research design Variables of Analysis are
predeterminedSpecific population and sample Expressed in terms of
data rather than peopleData is collected from
large sampleQuantitative or
qualitative
Adva
nta
ges:
Extensive data setsLarge representative
samples
Electronic data
Dis
adva
nta
ges
Inappropriate or incomplete data Information overloadConfidential or private
records (access)
Corr
ela
tional
rese
arc
h: Designs looking for an
association between
two or more variablesNot suited if you are
looking for the direction of causality
Exp
eri
menta
l Rese
arc
h
Independent variable
is manipulated to observe the effect of
this change on the dependent variable while confounding variables are controlled for.
Used to establish direction of causality
Natu
ralis
tic
Obse
rvati
on
Research in which a naturally occurring phenomenon is observed and documented accurately
Usually a Qualitative
research design
Case
Stu
dy
Collecting in-depth, intensive information
from one individual or
a small group of individuals
Useful if phenomenon
under investigation is
very rare
Combines qualitative
and quantitative methods