Mentoring Student Research: Devising Methodologies

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Mentoring Student Research Devising
Methodologies

• B. Jean Mandernach, PhD

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The Question

• Dr. Mandernach, I would like to do some research
  on gender differences. Would you be willing to
  work with me?

3
More specifically

• Dr. Mandernach, I would like to investigate
  gender differences in leadership. Is this a good
  topic?

4
Getting closer

• Dr. Mandernach, I would like to compare
  differences between males and females in their
  tendency to take leadership roles. Something
  about who is more likely to be a leader or in
  what contexts we see gender differences in
  leadership.
• I know what I want to look at, but I dont really
  know how to go about this. Can you help me?

5
Think about it

• How do you respond to this student?
• Brainstorm various research approaches to address
  this topic.
• What recommendations would you make concerning
  the appropriate research methodology?

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Selecting a Methodology
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Issues to Consider

• Mentor Considerations
• Academic
• Knowledge
• Interest
• Personal
• Style
• Practical
• Time available
• Time investment
• Resources

• Student Considerations
• Academic
• Knowledge
• Interest
• Personal
• Style
• Practical
• Time available
• Time investment
• Resources

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Academic Considerations

• What kind of research are you competent to
  supervise?
• What kind of research do you typically do?
• What kind of research are you comfortable doing?
• What kind of research do you like doing?
• Do you have any interest in learning new research
  methodologies?

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Academic Considerations

• What classes has the student taken regarding the
  various research methodologies?
• Does the student have any experience with any of
  the research methods?
• What is the students potential to learn new
  research methods?
• What is the student interested in doing?

10
Personal Considerations

• What kind of mentor are you?
• How involved are you in the student research
  project?
• How involved do you want to be?
• How involved do you need to be?
• What is the institutional culture toward research
  approaches?

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Personal Considerations

• What kind of student will you be working with?
• How much supervision do they need?
• How much supervision do they want?
• What is the students preferred approach to the
  collaborative process?

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Practical Considerations

• How much time do each of you have available for
  this project?
• How much time do you intend to invest in the
  project?
• What materials, resources or support do you need
  to complete the project?

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Practical Considerations

• Parameters
• What is the timeframe for completion of this
  project?
• 8-weeks, 16-weeks, indefinite
• What resources are available to support the
  project?
• money, facilities, access to participants,
  measures, technology
• What is the ultimate goal of the project outcome?
• personal knowledge, course grade, conference
  presentation, publication
• What barriers are in place that may hinder
  project completion?

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Selecting a Method

• With these considerations in mind, what research
  method should you select?

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Weighing the Options

• Experimental
• Pre-experimental
• Quasi-experimental
• Correlational
• Descriptive
• Educational
• Randomized controlled trial
• Double-blind randomized trial
• Single-blind randomized trial
• Non-blind trial
• Nonrandomized trial
• Observational studies
• Cohort study
• Time series study
• Case-control study
• Nested case-control study
• Cross-sectional study
• Program evaluation
• Narrative discourse analysis

• Action research
• Cartography
• Case study
• Classification
• Citation Analysis
• Consumer ethnocentrism
• Content or Textual Analysis
• Delphi method
• Ethnography
• Experience and intuition
• Cross-cultural analysis
• Googling
• Interviews
• Mathematical models
• Participant observation
• Phenomenology
• Q methodology
• Questionnaires
• Simulation

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Methodological Comparison
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Quantitative Methods

• It collects numerical data in order to explain,
  predict and/or control phenomena of interest
• Data analysis is mainly statistical

• General approaches
• Descriptive
• Correlational
• Quasi-experimental or causal-comparative
• Experimental
• Some specific methods
• Surveys
• Structured interviews
• Questionnaires
• Experimental manipulation
• Statistical analysis of existing data
• Comparison of existing groups

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Qualitative Methods

• It collects narrative data to gain insights into
  phenomena of interest
• Data analysis includes the coding of the data and
  production of a verbal synthesis

• General approaches
• Ethnography
• Phenomenology
• Field research
• Grounded theory
• Some specific methods
• Participant observation
• Direct observation
• Unobstructed interviewing
• Case studies
• Unobtrusive measures
• Indirect measures, content analysis, secondary
  analysis of data

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Mixed-Methods Research

• Research in which the investigator collects and
  analyzes data, integrates the findings, and draws
  inferences using both qualitative and
  quantitative approaches or methods in a single
  study or program of inquiry

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Making a Final Selection

• Is this designed to produce qualitative or
  quantitative data?
• Will this method generate the data you need?
• Is it capable of measuring the quality, range and
  diversity of the construct?
• Is it functional to use?
• Is it accessible and suitable for the target
  population?
• Do you need more than one methodology?

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Decision Process

• Why are you investigating this question?
• What kind of information do you hope to collect?
• Who will be responsible for the stages of
  research implementation?
• When will the research be conducted?
• How will you ensure your methodology provides
  data to answer the initial question?