Research methodology

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Research methodology

• Quantitative Methods
• Qualitative procedures

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Quantitative Methods

• A definition
• A survey or experiment that provides as output a
  quantitative or numeric description of some
  fraction of the population, called the sample.

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Components of a survey method

• The survey design
• The population and sample
• The instrumentation
• Variables in the study
• Data analysis

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The survey design

• Purpose of the survey
• The research question
• Type of survey
• Cross sectional
• Longitudinal
• Form of data collection

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The population and sample

• Description of the population
• Sampling design
• Single stage
• Multistage
• Stratified
• Sample selection

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The instrumentation

• The instrument (tool)
• Existing
• New
• Rating scale
• Likert scale Rating the Items. 1-to-5 rating
  scale where
• strongly unfavorable to the concept
• somewhat unfavorable to the concept
• undecided
• somewhat favorable to the concept
• strongly favorable to the concept
• Pilot
• Administration
• Postal survey
• email

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Variables and analysis

• The research question
• Variable in the research
• E.g. Number of years of academic study
• The questions in the instrument
• E.g. How many years of study in a University
• As an undergraduate?
• As a postgraduate?
• Data analysis
• Steps
• Bias in the data
• Non-response
• Statistics, e.g. mean, standard deviation etc.

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Components of an experimental method

• Subjects
• Instruments and materials
• The experimental design

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Subjects

• Selection
• Conveniently
• Random (RCT)
• Group assignment
• Random
• Matched. E.g. Ability, Age
• Size
• Variables
• Dependent
• Independent

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Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)

• A true experiment, in which the researcher
  randomly assigns some patients to at least one
  maneuver (treatment) and other patients to a
  placebo, or usual treatment. Key features the
  classic way to evaluate effectiveness of drugs
  (or exercise, diet, counseling). Patients are
  followed over time (Prospective). If properly
  done, an RCT can be used to determine cause and
  effect

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Instrumentation and Materials

• Description
• Validation
• Pilot
• Content validity
• Prediction validity
• Materials

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The experimental design

• Type
• Pre-experimental
• No control group
• Quasi-experimental
• Control group, but not randomly assigned
• Single subject design (over time)
• Pure experiment
• Repeated measures
• Change groups

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Overview of Qualitative Research Design

• Historical routes in anthropology
• Generates new understanding by naming and
  framing concepts and themes
• Removes bias by questioning preconceived
  assumptions of the social group under study
• Promotes neutrality through adoption by the
  researcher of naïve stance or critical
  discussion, challenges pre-conceived assumptions
  of both the researcher and the social group under
  study
• Produces new understanding about the world,
  changes the way power, culture and social
  interaction are understood

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Data Collection in Qualitative Research

• Observation (Videoed, non-participant,
  semi-participant and participant observation,
  field notes)
• Interviews (individual and group - known as focus
  groups, tape recorded and transcribed, field
  notes)
• Secondary data analysis (using written material
  collected for purposes other than research)
• Questionnaires (unstructured, postal, interviews)
• A mixture of all four

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Questions in Qualitative Research
In qualitative research questions are open-ended.
Sometimes a check list or topic guide will be
used by the researcher to ensure all the relevant
areas are covered. This is known as
semi-structured data collection. It is used in
all four methods of data collection Sometimes the
only guide is the topic itself and the researcher
collects verbatim or naturally occurring data.
This is known as unstructured data collection. It
is used in all four methods of data collection
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Sampling in Qualitative Research
The sampling method of choice is theoretical
sampling (queuing behaviour) However, often this
is not possible and people resort to convenience
sampling (students) and snowball sampling
(mental health in black and ethnic minority
communities) Neither of the latter two methods
are considered strong but maybe all that can be
achieved. Research must be viable.
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Data Analysis in Qualitative Research

• Read and re-read data, become engrossed in it.
• Identify themes common, conflicting, minority
• Test themes across the data set, where are they
  common, under what circumstances are they found,
  not found. This sets the parameters on the
  interpretation and generalisation of data
• Get more than one person to analyse the data
  independently then together
• Demonstrate trustworthiness in data analysis
• Examples
• Biographical continuity
• Nursing routines as a method of managing a
  transient workforce

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Qualitative research

• Interpretative research
• Process orientated
• Researcher(s) are the primary data collection
  instrument
• Descriptive research
• Outputs are an inductive process

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References

• MSc project web pages
• http//www.comp.glam.ac.uk/gis/start.asp?whatfile
  gis/gisrc/msc-proj.htm
• Creswell, J. W. (1994) Research design
  qualitative and quantitative approaches. -
  Thousand Oaks, Calif. London Sage
  Publications, ISBN 0803952546