RESEARCH METHODS When selecting a topic of research the researcher should consider the

following :
1. Research methods
 Topic must be researchable
Research is a systematic and careful study or investigation of an issue ,  Topic should not violate constitutional laws
question or a problem.
It is a process of finding out more information about a specific problem or  Length of time the research would last
topic  Availability of resources needed to complete the research
Research is said to be systematic because there is an acceptable way of
conducting it.There are certain stages or steps to be followed when Methods of research
conducting a research.
1. Quantitative methods – These are methods of investigation
The following are common stages of a research process whereby the researcher emphasizes numerical methods of
 Identification of a problem describing situations
 Formulation of a research topic These methods are therefore scientific or mathematical in nature
 Formulation of hypothesis They require a lot of statistical data in terms of numbers , additions
 Statement of claims and objectives , measurements , calculations
 Literature review Various scales are used to ensure accuracy ad precise description
of situations.
 Methodology
Examples of quantitative research ideas would be :Rainfall amount
 Data analysis
 Conclusions , divorce rate , annual road accidents , population density
 Recommendations
 Acknowledgements Advantages of quantitave methods
 Bibliography  More accurate and precise
 Deal with facts not opinions
Importance of Research  Help the researcher to acquire scientific skills
 Can be repeated many times to verify findings
 Enables students to participate in community development
 Instills a sense of self reliance Disadvantages of quantitative methods
 Facilitates new knowledge
 helps to find out possible solutions to identified problems  Difficult to quantify people’s behavioral attributes
 Research findings can be used in planning and decision making  Expensive equipment may be needed e.g apparatus needed in
laboratories
Choosing a research topic  Suitable for literate people only since it involves calculations
 Do not allow the researcher to add his or her opinion
2 . Qualitative methods – These are methods of investigating a problem television, radio etc. In other words this means that someone else had
whereby the researcher uses other means of describing situations other than collected the data the researcher is going to use. It is a good idea to keep a
scientific or statistical data. list of all the secondary sources used so that you can name them in the
bibliography.
Qualitative research is done by researchers in the social and behavioural
sciences , as well by practitioners in fields in fields that concern themselves COMMON METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION
with issues related to human behaviour and functioning.
1. INTERVIEW
 These methods involve the collection of people’s views ideas etc
This method involves a two way discussion between the researcher
 Examples of qualitative ideas include students views towards
and the respondent. The researcher comes with preset questions
teachers , cause of teenage pregnancy , effects of poverty on
and asks the respondent who answers on the spot. The researcher
children
then writes down the responses immediately.
 Some of the data may be quantified as with cencus data but the Things to remember when using interview
analysis itself is a qualitative one
 Make an appointment in time so that you can be sure of
meeting the respondent.
Advantages of qualitative methods
 Prepare your question in time and make sure they are
 Offer more in – depth understanding of an issue
clear and precise.
 Presents a true picture of a way of life e.g people’s opinions ,
 Use a simple language that can be easily understood by
experiences and ideas etc
the respondent.
 Allow researcher to add his opinion
 Make a short introduction about yourself and your
 Generally cheaper because itneeds less equipment than quantitative research topic including its importance and aims.
methods
 Be friendly and patient throughout the interview.
 Avoid ambiguous questions i.e. questions that have more
Disadvantages of qualitative methods
than one possible answer.
 Less accurate because it is prone to researcher bias
 Include information on bio-data e.g age, sex, marital
 Not easily repeatable as it deals with people’s opinions and views
status etc.
 Avoid close-ended questions as they do not allow the
respondent to further elaborate responses.
TYPES OF DATA
ADVANTAGES OF INTERVIEW
Data are pieces of information collected in order to answer aims of enquiry.
There are two main types of data which fully explained below:  Allows researcher to ask follow up questions.
 Researcher presence allows further clarification of unclear
PRIMARY DATA: This refers to new or first-hand information that the answers.
researcher collects on his own in the field without referring to other sources.  Saves time because the respondent answers immediately.
Primary source of data include data collected using questionnaire, oral  High response rate because of the researcher’s presence.
traditions, interview, eye witness account, archaeology.  Allows observation of non-verbal behavior such as gestures and
facial expression..
SECONDARY DATA: This refers to second hand information collected  Suitable for both literate and illiterate respondents.
from other sources like books, diaries, internet, official documents,
DISADVANTAGES OF INTERVIEW
 Researcher needs patience as some respondents may be rude and DISADVANTAGES OF QUESTIONNAIRE
uncooperative.  The questionnaire may be lost due to respondent
 Presence of researcher may make the respondent shy and withhold  It is suitable for literate people only.
sensitive information.  Wrongs answers may be common due to absence of researcher for
DISADVANTAGES OF INTERVIEW clarification.
 Low response rate as some people may ignore the questionnaire.
 Time consuming because the researcher has to spend time with the  Absence of researcher compromises chance for follow up
respondent who may take a long time to answer simple questions. questions.
 Researcher may ask leading questions.  Only people who understand the language used can answer
 Researcher needs skill to structure friendly, clear precise questions. questionnaire.
 Respondents maybe pressed with time.
 Travelling costs maybe high. 3. OBSERVATION
 Some respondents may fail to honor appointments.
In this method of researcher goes into the field to observe the event
2. QUESTIONNAIRE understudy. Observation may be on a number of things e.g students
A questionnaire consists of preset questions which are sent to feeding habit, marriage ceremony of baherero, migration patterns
respondents to answer at their own time. The researcher may of wild animals.
physically deliver the questionnaire to respondent or they may be
sent by post. Things to remember when using observation
Things to remember when using a questionnaire
 Make proper arrangements for the distribution and later collection  Prepare in advance the method of recording you are going to use
of the questionnaire. e.g video camera, tape recorder.
 Questions should be clear and precise.  Make sure you have all the materials and equipment you would
 Use simple language. need in the field e.g pen, paper, clip board etc
 Questions should be presented in the same order throughout the
questionnaire. ADVANTAGES OF OBSERVATION
 The questionnaire should have information on bio data.  Gives first-hand information.
 Visual evidence can be observed
ADVANTAGES OF QUESTIONNAIRE  Gives detailed understanding
 Saves researcher time because he/she is not required to be always  Flexible because the researcher can choose a method of data
present. recording that suits the situation e.g can use video camera,
 Respondents are not pressed with time as they can answer at their photographic camera or tape recorder.
own convenient time.
 Respondents have plenty of time to think about questions before DISADVANTAGES OF OBSERVATION
answering.  Can be time consuming e.g observing seasonal migration of
 Absence of researcher will make the respondent free to give animals.
sensitive information.  Results can be biased due to the presence of researcher
 Saves time as many questionnaire can be sent out at once. misinterpretation or misunderstanding.
  It can expose the researcher to danger e.g studying the behavior of  Can be repeated many times to verify findings
gangsters.  Results are free from researcher bias
 Researcher presence may influence behavior of animals or people
being studied.
4. DOCUMENT STUDY 6.SURVEY
In this method the researcher studies written materials to collect In a survey the researcher moves from place to place in search of
data concerning the topic understudy. This includes newspapers, information. It is slightly similar to observation in that in a survey the
books, diaries, television etc. This method involves the use of researcher compares observed variables. In a survey a sample is used to
secondary data only. This is different from literature review represent the whole variables understudy . A sample is a fraction or
because literature review is not method data collection but is when representative of the total variables being studied.
a researcher studies published articles to find how other resources
have approached the same topic and to identify their success and Things to remember when using survey
failures.  Prepare the method of sampling that you are going to use
 Sample size should not be too small
Things to remember when using document studies  Eliminate bias in selecting a sample
 Make sure you use relevant sources
 Do not use outdated sources Advantages of survey
 Indicate all the sources  Quick because a sample is used
 Allows wider coverage of responses
Advantages of a document studies  Flexible because the researcher can determine sample size
 Saves time as it provides already analysed information
 Detailed and specific information may be obtained Disadvantages of survey
 Source materials materials may be used many times to ensure  Time consuming as the researcher needs to travel to the area of
validity study
Disadvantages of a document studies  If sample size is too small it may not be a true representation of
 Gives second hand information whole group studied
 Information may biased due to researcher’s misunderstanding or  Researcher may be biased in choosing a sample
misinterpretation  Can be disturbed by extreme weather conditions
 Information may be outdated
 Suitable for literate people only CONSTRUCTING A QUESTIONARE
 Researcher may replicate mistakes done by previous researchers
Constructing a questionnaire must be carefully planned
5. EXPERIMENT You must know how each question relates to the aims of your enqiry
This is a method of data collection that is mostly used in natural Other considerations include the type of question to be asked , the layout
sciences nut can also be used in social sciences . It involves the use and length of the questionnaire and the number and type of people to be
of scientific tools especially in laboratories to test hypotheses asked

Advantages of experiment Types of questions

 Gives first hand information
A number of different types of questions can be included in your -draw a circle of convenient size
questionnaire as follows -using a protractor plot the largest segment first starting at 12 o
 Open Ended questions: they allow a space for the respondent to clock
answer freely and give greater choice -draw other segments in a clockwise direction from largest to
 Close ended questions : they give a choice of responses and so smallest segments
limit the freedom of respondents. They are quicker and mean the -colour and shade the segments and give a key for them
data are already processed in to different groups. Closed questions
can take a number of different forms Example of a pie chart
Yes/no A researcher carried out a research amongst 200 students to find
Multiple choice out their favourite fizzy drinks and recorded the in the table below
Bipolar semantic scales(where respondents are asked to ate
something subjectively) eg good/better/best Drink No. of people Percentage Angle
Coke 80 40 144
 Layout and length Sprite 20 10 36
The length of your questionnaire will on your aims. Certainly , Fanta 40 20 72
you should try to limit your questionnaire to a single page. The Iron Brew 10 5 18
number of questions is also important:7-10 questions is an Others 50 25 90
appropriate number for a general survey TOTAL 200 100 360
The layout is equally important.
Begin your questionnaire with background information and the DRAW A PIE CHART TO SHOW THE DISTRIBUTION
lead in to the more specific and complex questions.
Remember to be sensitive and polite
Some people may be relunctant to give information on Favourite drinks for students
age,occupation or marital status

Common methods of data presentation COKE

After data collection the researcher has to oresent findings in a particular FANTA
manner. IRON BREW
Data is commonly presented in statistical or visual form SPRITE
OTHERS
1. Pie chart
It is a circular diagram in which a circle (360’) is divided in to
sectors or slices of different sizes.
The chart shows how the whole item is didvided in to components
parts. The sectors are drawn in a clockwise direction from the top
with each sector shaded in a different way

How to draw a pie chart

-change values in to percentages
-multiply each percentage by 3.6 degrees
 It is also known as composite bar chart and it is used to show
variables that have been grouped in to more than one category i.e it
2. Bar Chart shows the total quantity or value of an item and its constituent
The same information can also be presented in the form of a bar parts
chart. A bar chart is made up of a series of bars which may be
shown either horizontally or vertically Example of a divided bar chart
A research was carried out amongst four form 4 classes in Gantsi
How to draw a bar chart senior to find the ethnic groups to which students belong and the
-check the size of the values results are shown in the table below
-draw a frame in two axes
-label your axes Classes
- Plot a scale which covers all the values on the Y axis 4 4B 4C 4D
-draw a bar of equal width up from the base on the X axis so that A
the top of the bar reaches its value on the scale 9 5 6 6
5 4 3 7
Example of a bar chart
2 3 1 3
Favourite drinks for students
3 5 2 5

7 6 8 5

26 23 20 26

The above information can be shown in a divided bar chart as follows:

3. Histogram
A Histogram is constructed in the same way as a bar chart but the Ethnic groups in four classes
only difference is that in a bar chart the bars are not joined together
whereas in histogram the bars are joiined together
Example of a histogram

Favourite drinks for students

4. Divided bar graph

5.Line graph
This is a graph that shows continuous changes overtime. It is used tp
represent data that either increases or decreases with time. Line graphs can
be simple (showing one feature) or multiple (showing many features)

How to draw a line graph

-plot the value on the axis up the sides (Y axis)

-look at the sixe of the values to be plotted Example of multiple line graph
-choose a scale which will fit in the space and show differences between the
values Agricultural products from 1986-1996
-draw two axis , the time axis (with date etc) goes along the X axis .
-label the axes
-join the dots or crosses with a line

Example of a line graph

Village population in a period of 50 years

 The scatter graph shows negative correkation.The relationship is negative
because when distance from CBD increases the prices of houses decreases.
An example of a positive correlation would be the relationship between
length of time taken to heat water and the temperature of the water as
6.Scatter graphs shown below.

This is a graph that shows how two sets of variables are

related to each other (for example , population size and
number services , level of education and earnings or
house price distance from Central Busines District

How to draw a scatter graph

-draw X and Y axes
-label axes so that dependent variable in on the Y axis and
independent on the X axis
-choose suitable scale to cover the range of values
-plot by dots or crosses the points at which there is a
relationship
-do not join up the dot
Example of scatter graph

Relationship between house price and distance from CBD

The scatter graph shows that when heating time is increased the
temperature also increases