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Research Methodology (Research methods (Interviews (Structured Interviews:…
Research Methodology
Research methods
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Observations
A process of watching and recording the behaviours of participants; the researcher may be a participant or non-participant in the research activity.
Disadvantage:
- Interpretation of observations is not always reliable
- Some subjects are unwilling for observations.
Advantage:
- Direct access to social phenomena under consideration
- Diverse, flexible and applicable
Interviews
Structured Interviews: A conversation between two or more people in which the interview has been planned with a set of predetermined questions developed by the researcher.
Disadvantage:
- Less valid due to distortion of restricted answers and closed questions.
- Can't guarantee honesty of participants.
Advantage:
- Can reach a large sample.
- A representative sample is possible and results can be used to make statements.
Unstructured Interviews: A discussion between two or more people in which the interview is more informal, with the researcher planning areas for discussion without developing the actual questions.
Advantage:
- Respondents may be more likely to discuss sensitive and painful experiences if they feel the interviewer is sympathetic and understanding.
- They give respondents time and opportunities to develop their answers.
Disadvantage:
- Unstructured interviews can develop in all sorts of directions. This makes comparison between data from different interviews different.
- Respondents have the opportunity to tell lies.
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Questionnaires
Open-ended Questions: A set of formally prepared questions that seek information on a person’s knowledge, beliefs, feelings, opinions, likes or dislikes.
Advantage:
- They permit an unlimited number of possible answers.
- Respondents can answer in detail and can qualify and clarify responses
Disadvantage:
- Different respondents give different degrees of detail in answers
- Responses may be irrelevant or buried in useless detail
Closed Questions: A set of formally prepared questions that seek information on a person’s knowledge, beliefs, feelings, opinions, likes or dislikes.
Advantage:
- It is easier and quicker for respondents to answer
- The answers of different respondents are easier to compare
Disadvantage:
- They can suggest ideas that the respondent would not otherwise have
- Respondents with no opinion or no knowledge can answer anyway
Purpose of research
Increase understanding
Much like to advance knowledge, increasing understanding of something in the world around allows for ease of living as there will be no struggle between doing something, and understanding why or how it is done.
Educate others
While it is all good that one person has knowledge of some areas, to ensure that all of the human race benefits and is able to move forward in life all of the members of the race must have this same knowledge, and so educating others is rather important and therefore a viable purpose of research.
Advance knowledge
Knowledge is one of the most important things in life. It allows for mankind to move forward, evolve, innovate, survive and so on.
Inform practice
Individual’s practices are occasionally uninformed and this can cause uncertainty and worry in all involved in the practice. With further research and understanding of the individual’s practices, individuals are surer of themselves and are then able to ensure others of their practice’s legitimacy or purpose.
Types of data
Primary
Data collected by the researcher first hand for the use in their own research e.g. an observation or surveys and their results and reports.
Positive: The researcher knows the data is valid and knows where it came from, the characteristics of ant individuals involved etc.
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Qualitative
Research that demonstrates quality, length does not determine this quality but rather the content of the research does.
Advantages: Subjective data can provide words and images to help us understand more about the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of a situation.
Quantitative
Relating to, measuring, or measured by the quantity of something rather than its quality
Advantages: Objective data can provide a good outline of ‘what’ is happening in a situation. It is more objective and reliable and subject to less bias.
Sources of data
Individuals
Teacher, family, friends, neighbours, and experts
Advantages: Individuals have an advantage as a source of data as they are able to give up to date information and are able to provide perspectives and insights based on their position in society, such as a doctor can give insight into data of a medical nature and provide extra insight as to the meaning of it and if anything new has been found in the meantime.
Disadvantages: Individuals, contrary to the above, are disadvantaged as a source of data as, if solely seeking from the individual, the data is unmeasurable and so it may be invalid or false. Additionally, individuals are limited and not all data can be conveyed accurately.
Digital
Books, journals, magazines, newspapers
Advantage: Printed information is more reliable than that on the Internet or on TV, and so it is just as valuable a source, and there is plenty of it out there should one know where to find it.
Disadvantage: As print is printed, there is limitation as to its availability, such as if some books are not published or stocked in a certain country and so it would have to be bought overseas.
Print
Internet, computer programs, television, radio
Advantage: As the internet is such a vast source, in conjunction with other digital mediums, these sources of data are infinitely valuable and can provide the most recent of information at the touch of a button.
Disadvantage: Though the internet, TV, radio and such are such a vast source of data and information, it is not always accurate or even true at all and so the reliability and validity of these sources is often compromised.
Groups
Mission Australia, government agencies, specialist groups, and health authorities
Advantage: With a group of individuals, there is therefore a larger bank of information that can be used as a source of data and, should the group be made of a mixed number of people such as specialists from various areas, it is not only a large bank, but also an immense wealth of data and knowledge to be used.
Disadvantage: Although groups are useful in collecting data, in some circles, the individuals that make up a group can often conflict with each other and their findings and opinions can easily contradict one another.
Ethical behaviour
Integrity
Ensure all information within the final results and findings can be supported by research and are therefore not suspected to be falsified information on the researcher’s behalf.
Data is presented free of bias or opinion that may compromise the results or make them appear false.
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Respect
Ensure all participation is voluntary and consent is informed, also ensuring that all possible risks are known and are taken with the individuals’ knowledge
Plan questions that are carefully worded to ensure they do not cause neither distress nor offend anyone personally, politically, religiously, and so on.
Bias
Choose a sampling method that reflects the age, gender and culture of the population with as much accuracy as possible.
Record data that supports both the hypothesis and its contrary or otherwise, should it be found
Sampling
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Methods
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Convenience sampling
When a researcher selects people because they are easily located. These results have the lowest credibility.
Focus of research
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Hypothesis
A supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.
Difference
One seeks an answer to it and the other seeks the research to which the statement is the answer, or it’s contrary.
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Research process
Planning for research
Managing resources, eg. time, materials
Time:
- Keep to the deadlines set in the task outline
- Set aside time every day or so to work on the task
- Make full use of the time allocated in class
Materials:
- Use only what is needed but enough to ensure good results
- Outsource if necessary
- Have extra in case more is needed later on
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