PR1

• A good research instrument is...
• Qualitative data


  Subjective or based on personal experiences of individuals
• Data


  Pieces of information about something
• Qualitative data analysis


  The process of making sense out of collected pieces of subjective information
• Coding


  Classifying or categorizing individual pieces data coupled with some kind of retrieval system
• Coding


  1. Open coding

  2. Axial coding

  3. Selective coding
• Open coding


  • The first step at coding in which qualitative data are closely examined, compared with one another, and then classified into discrete ideas
• Axial coding


  • Regrouping the results of open coding and finding a core concept among the codes
• Selective coding


  • Identifying the single concept to which all other codes relate to
• There can be more than one central concept from the data collected
• Concept mapping


  A graphical depiction of relationships of concepts or codes generated during the coding steps
• Researcher bias may be suspected from the findings of the qualitative study
• Data gathering procedure


  The entirety of how the data will be collected and the steps leading up to it
• The identities of respondents must be protected unless they have willingly consented to revealing their identities
• Data gathering procedure


  1. Written sequentially or according to order

  2. Can be written in essay form or in a numbered/bulleted list

  3. Explain in detail how the instrument will be used and data will be collected

  4. Explain the steps that led to the data gathering activity

  5. Describe any other materials, equipment, settings, or backup plans
• Copies of research instruments, transcripts of interviews, or screenshots of video clips must be attached at the Appendices section of research paper
• Research instrument


  In qualitative research, not limited to a single type - can include survey questionnaires, structured/unstructured interview questions, observation checklists, audio/video recordings, etc.
• Research instrument section


  • Explain the reasoning behind the chosen instrument and how it gathers accurate data
  • Explain the parts or contents of the research instrument so the reader can see how it answers the research questions and solves the research problem
• Sampling procedure


  • Describes the sampling method implemented and why it was chosen
  • For probability and non-probability sampling types
  • Explain in sequential detail how the participants/respondents were selected
• Respondents/Participants of the study


  • Describes who the respondents/participants are and the criteria for choosing them
  • Includes basic profiles like age, gender, affiliations
  • Describes the number in specific classifications required by the research problem
  • Describes any 'accomplices' or research team members mixed into the participant/respondent pool
• Research design


  • Describes the specific framework to be followed to solve the research problem
  • Explains why the chosen qualitative research design was selected and how it can provide answers to the research questions and problem
• Qualitative questionnaires


  Attempt to elicit more in-depth responses from the respondents
• The research methodology contains the following elements: research design, respondents/participants, sampling procedure, research instrument, data gathering procedure
• Qualitative questionnaires


  • Designed to find out what has changed as a result of the program, what the mentees have learned, and what they are doing differently
• Formulating qualitative questionnaire


  1. Mention the purpose of conducting qualitative research

  2. Create qualitative statements with a defined objective

  3. Create sub-questions to execute the purpose

  4. Use 'qualitative' words to highlight the questions

  5. Develop a skeleton to design the primary and sub-questions
• The research methodology functions similarly to the recipe ingredients and procedures in a cookbook - it describes how the researcher collected the data, the instrument used, and the steps implemented to process the data
• The research methodology makes it possible for other experts/researchers to replicate the procedures to confirm the findings, and learn from and adjust the methodology for similar or new studies
• Sample qualitative questionnaire


  • The Experiences of the Research Club Members
• Methodology describes how something is done, so research methodology describes how the research is to be conducted
• Interview


  A conversation for gathering information
• Validity


  Trustworthiness, utility, and dependability of the instrumentation and findings of the study
• Interview


  • Involves an interviewer who coordinates the process and asks questions, and an interviewee who responds
• Validity


  Whether the research is believable and true and whether it is evaluating what it is supposed to evaluate
• Formulating interview guides for qualitative interviews


  1. Relate research questions and interview questions

  2. Consider attributes of the population

  3. Elicit people's descriptions

  4. Ask questions about factors that impact something

  5. Ask knowledge questions

  6. Use open-ended questions

  7. Ask fewer questions
• Sample interview guide


  • Topic: Victims of Fire Incident
• Types of validity to validate research instruments


  • Content validity
  • Internal validity
  • Utility criterion
  • External validity
• Content validity


  • Measures adequately and effectively the different elements, skills, and behaviors of the research instrument by experts in the field
  • Experts give comments to revise unclear/obscure questions and advise removing ineffective/non-functional questions
• Permission letter


  A formal letter written by a person who is requesting for authorization to access or do something. It is usually addressed to the authority of the organization, work, or school.
• Observation


  A successful instrument that captures relevant events and participants along with the constructs of interest
• Internal validity


  • Concerned with producing research findings parallel to reality
  • Observe and measure what is supposed to be measured in the study