Research Methods and Methodologies

Dr Barbara Rawlings

I will cover……

• Choosing a research method • Uses of qualitative and quantitative

approaches • The research viewpoint • Collecting data • Analysing data • Designing a project

Choosing a research method

• It depends on: • The research question • The kind of data you want to collect • What you are investigating • The research outcomes you want to

achieve

What you hope to achieve is..

• A piece of research which is: • Reliable (you can apply it to other units in

a specified field) • Valid (you’ve chosen methods which really

do investigate the research question) • Robust (you’ve considered other options

and selected the strongest method and the widest or deepest approach possible)

Quantitative methods • large numbers • Surveys • structured questionnaires • Closed questions (mostly) • Essential to ask the same questions • Researcher controls the data boundaries • Numerical or statistical results • Can be widely generalised (applied to other

units or populations)

Qualitative methods • Smaller numbers • Questionnaires, interviews, observation etc – a

variety of data collection methods • Semi structured or informal data collection • Open questions • The subject controls the data boundaries • Iterative design (it can change as needed) • Detailed ‘rich’ results • Offers insight rather than general application to

other units or populations

Mixing qualitative and quantitative methods

• Eg: • A small qualitative study to explore the field first • A qualitative study to explore findings from a

larger survey • Questionnaires which include closed and open

questions • A qualitative study which includes topics which

are amenable to mathematical investigation.

The research viewpoint

• Are you involved or collaborating with your subjects? (Action research)

• Or are you an outsider (conventional research)

• How do you maintain your ‘distance’?’ • How do you get the data you need?

Collecting data

• Observation • Documents • Questionnaires • Interviews • Focus groups • Self-reflection • Experiment

Other sources

• Google • Wikipedia • Blogs • Email • Online surveys (eg: Survey Monkey)

Keeping the data organised

• File boxes • Filing cabinets • Computer files and documents • Plus back-ups • Recordings (audio / video) • Notes relating to any recordings • Computer programmes (NUD:IST,

Ethnograph)

Then what…? Analysing the data

• Quantitative computer programmes (EXCEL) • Qual/quant computer programmes (SPSS) • Grounded theory • Sorting pieces of paper into heaps • Thematic analysis • Mind maps • Identifying unique features • Identifying comparative features • Developing case studies

References • Bell, Judith, (1987) Doing Your Research Project:

Buckingham: Open University Press. • Morgan, David, (1997) “Focus Groups as Qualitative

Research”. Sage: Thousand Oaks, California. • Moustakas, Clark, (1990) Heuristic Research: design,

methodology and applications. London: Sage • Rose, Gillian, (2001) Visual Methodologies. London:

Sage. • Yin, R.K., (1989) “Case Study Research: design and

method”. Newbury Park CA: Sage.