Fundamentals of Research Methods for Academic Success

Fundamentals of Research Methods for Academic Success

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  Research Method Research Methodology
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  Research Method Research Methods arethe specific tools and procedures, processes or techniques you use to collect the data or evidence for analysis in order to uncover new information or create better understanding of a topic (for example, experiments, surveys, and statistical tests).
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  Research Method In general, methodused to execute a research How to collect valid data to be analyzed A correct strategy would guarantee the validity of the data and in return guarantee the efficiency of resource and time Consideration : what data need to be discovered ?
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  Validity and Reliability Validity :is this the correct tool to measure this ? Reliability : is this measurement give an accurate result ? Consider these while choosing a method
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  Data Collection • Datacollection is the process of collecting and measuring information of selected variables in an established systematic manner. • Data collection is important factor of research in all fields of study • The systematically collected data enables researcher to answer relevant questions and evaluate outcomes. • Data collection begins after finalization of research problem
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  Types of Data •Primary data • Collected afresh and for the first time • Original in character • Secondary data • Have already been collected by someone else • Have already been passed through the statistical process • might not related to the current research field but collected this data for some other motive and at different time in the past
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  Types of Data •Advantages of Primary Data: • Original and pertinent to the subject of the research to achieve high accuracy in research • Researcher can get a realistic view about the topic under consideration fromthe primary data • Highly reliable because these are collected by the researcher or concerned and reliable party • Disadvantages of Primary Data: • To collect primary data coverage is restricted in size and for larger coverage a more number of researchers are required • The cost of the data collection will increase with increase in time and efforts of more people, but the importance of the research may drop • Primary data collection takes lot of time and efforts. • Timely responses may not be received from some respondents
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  Types of Data •Advantages of Secondary Data: • Secondary data is economical and faster to access • It imparts a persuasion to the researcher about direction he/she should follow for the selected research topic • Secondary data adds value to the research study by preserving time, effort, and money • Disadvantages of Secondary Data: • The data collected by someone else may not be as reliable and as accurate compared with primary data • Data collected at one location may not be acceptable for the other location because of inconsistent environmental conditions • As time passes the data becomes obsolete and antiquated • Collected secondary data may pervert the results of the research • To use secondary data a special care and permissions are necessary to amend or modify for use • To use secondary data, care should be taken to avoid issues of copyright and authenticity
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  What Are They? The Methods: 1.LiteratureAnalysis 2.Interview 3.Focus Group 4.Questionnaires / Survey 5.Observation 6.Experiment
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  Literature Analysis Suitable if thedata available publicly Articles from journal or proceedings Report or white paper from a company’s research, etc
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  Interview Involves presentation of oral-verbalstimuli and reply in terms of oral-verbal responses.
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  Interview 1.Unstructured In-depth interview /life history interview Interviewee speak freely, no plot or question list Question can be raised based on the conversation
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  Interview 2. Semi-structured Question listavailable, further elaboration is possible 3. Structured Short answer or multiple choice only. Question list is a must
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  Focus Group A groupof interviewee from different background discuss on a certain topic Used to view topic from different point of views Moderator required to maintain the event, ensure that every interviewee actively give opinion and there are no dominant interviewee
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  Questionnaires Closed-ended - The answerchoices are certain - Mostly used to collect fact and past preferences - Easy to be processed Open-Ended - No certain answer choices, respondent can freely state the answer - Mostly used to dig on opinion Combination
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  Questionnaires Advantages • Low cost • Free fromthe bias of the interviewer • Respondents have adequate time to give well thought out answers • Respondents, who are not easily approachable, can also be reached conveniently • Large samples can be used • The results can be made more dependable and reliable Weakness • Low rate of return • Slowest of all • bias due to no-response is often indeterminate • Can be used only when respondents are educated and cooperating • Difficult to know whether willing respondents are truly representative
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  Observation Observe on behavior Usefulsince people tend to unaware of their own action Can be used to observe user’s behavior The Information is collected by way of investigator’s own direct observation without asking from the respondent
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  Type of Observation 1.Uncontrolled observation Observation takes place in the natural setting To get a spontaneous picture of life and persons Has a tendency to supply naturalness and completeness of behavior No attempt is made to use precision instruments Take place in case of exploratory researches
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  Type of Observation 2.Controlled observation Observation takes place according to definite pre-arranged plans, involving experimental procedure Has a tendency to supply formalized data upon which generalizations can be built with some degree of assurance Takes place in various experiments that are carried out in a laboratory or under controlled conditions
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  • Focuses oninvestigating a few variables and the ways in which these are affected by the experimental conditions. • Used to verify or falsify a previously formulated hypothesis • The hypothesis is usually formulated as a causal relationship • Need to consult the literature on experimental design Experiments
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  Discuss • Can youcategorize which method will produce primary data or secondary data? • Discuss the appropriate case to conduct a : Interview Questionnaire Focus Group Observation Literature Analysis Experiment ⇒ based on your own idea for the research you have determined last week
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  Discuss • Give anexample question for : Interview Questionnaire Focus Group Observation Literature Analysis Experiment
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  Assignment • Document yourresearch idea : title, introduction, research question, and research objective • Create a presentation and present it to the class • Submit a part of the proposal (title, intro, research question and research objective) and the presentation slide • Due date : This Friday, 23.00 PM • Presentation time : Next week (3rd week)