Research Methodology

• Research methodology


  The specific procedures or techniques used to identify, select, process, and analyze information about a topic
• Research methodology follows specific scientific principles
• Research methodology


  The science of study of how research is done systematically
• Methodology section


  Answers two main questions: How was the data collected or generated? How was it analyzed?
• Types of Research Design


  • Qualitative Research
  • Quantitative Research
• Qualitative Research Designs


  • Case study
  • Ethnography
  • Historical Study
  • Phenomenology
  • Grounded theory
• Quantitative Research Designs


  • Descriptive
  • Correlational
  • Experimental
  • Comparative
  • Evaluative
• Sampling


  The method or process of selecting respondents or people to answer questions meant to your data for a research study
• Important Terms in Sampling


  • Population
  • Sample
  • Sampling frame
• Probability Sampling


  Involves all members listed in the sampling frame representing a certain population focused on by your study
• Non-Probability Sampling


  Disregards random selection of subjects. Subjects are chosen based on availability in some cases on the discretion of the researcher
• Types of Probability Sampling


  • Simple Random Sampling
  • Systematic Sampling
  • Stratified Sampling
  • Cluster Sampling
• Types of Non-Probability Sampling


  • Quota Sampling
  • Voluntary Sampling
  • Purposive or Judgmental Sampling
  • Availability Sampling
  • Snowball Sampling
• Data is a collection of facts from experiments, observation, sample surveys, censuses and other reporting systems
• Data must be contextualized, whether numeric or non-numeric
• Data Collection Procedures and Analysis


  • Planning the Data Collection Procedure
  • During Data Collection
  • After Data Collection
• Data Collection Procedures for a Qualitative Study


  • Interview
  • Focus Group Discussion
  • Textual Data
  • Observation
• Interview Types


  • Semi-structured interview
  • In-depth interview
  • Focused group discussion
  • Structured interview
• Types of Observation Methods


  • Participant Observation
  • Non-participant Observation
• Models of Observation


  • Covert observation
  • Overt observation
• Methods of Observation


  • Direct Observation
  • Indirect Observation
• Methods of Indirect Observation


  • Continuous Monitoring (CM)
  • Spot Sampling (time sampling or scan sampling)
• Types of Spot Sampling


  • Time Allocation (TA)
  • Experience sampling
• Types of Interviews


  • Structured Interview
  • Unstructured Interview
  • Semi-structured Interview
• Types of Interviews by Respondents


  • Individual Interview
  • Group Interview
  • Mediated Interview
• Steps in Conducting an Interview


  • Getting to Know Each Other
  • Having an Idea of the Research
  • Starting the Interview
  • Conducting the Interview Proper
  • Putting an End to an Interview
  • Pondering Over Interview Afterthoughts
• Questionnaire


  A paper containing a list of questions including the specific place and space in the paper where you write the answers to the questions
• Mediated Interview


  No face-to-face interview, takes place through electronic communication devices
• Mediated Interview


  • Advantage: it is capable of reaching a big number of respondents
  • Synchronous: talk with subjects through telephone, mobile, or online chat and also find time to see each other
  • Asynchronous: two persons interviewed at different time through internet, email, FB, and other social media sites
• Steps in Conducting an Interview


  1. Getting to Know Each Other

  2. Having an Idea of the Research

  3. Starting the Interview

  4. Conducting the Interview Proper

  5. Putting an End to an Interview

  6. Pondering Over Interview Afterthoughts
• Questionnaire


  Paper containing a list of questions including the specific place and space in the paper where you write the answers to the questions
• Postal Questionnaire


  Goes to the respondent through postal service or electronic mail, accomplished questionnaires will be sent back to the researchers
• Self-administered questionnaire


  Interviewer and interviewee are the same person, ask the questions either in person or through phone, then write the interviewee's answers on a piece of paper, fits a structured kind of interview
• Open Questions


  Elicits a whole range of replies of varying length and articulation, makes very precise judgments of each individual respondent
• Closed Questions


  Concerned in summarizing replies to produce a picture of the population
• Single Response Question


  • What is your most usual means of traveling to college? (Tick one box only)
• Multiple Response Question


  • Which of the following means do you use to travel to school?
• Ranked Responses


  Place in order of importance to you the following features of a camping holiday (indicate by numbering 1-4 in order where 1 is the most important)
• Rated Responses


  Indicate your view of the following aspects of a camping holiday (Circle the number under the initials that apply: VI=very important, I= important, N=Neutral, U=unimportant, VU= very unimportant)
• Concise and Unambiguous


  Have you been to the cinema in the last two weeks?