PADM5086

RESEARCHDESIGN&
METHODOLOGY

Convenor:LuciAbrahams
SeniorLecturer&Director,LINKCentre
GraduateSchoolofPublicandDevelopmentManagement
UniversityoftheWitwatersrand

2731July2009
CONTENTS
1 Contentoverview
This module will cover the research process, the primary research output for proposal
purposesinthecontextofP&DM,anoverviewofqualitativeandquantitativemethods,data
collection,recordingandanalysisandfinaloutputofaresearchproposalfora50%Masters
researchcomponent.
2 SessionSummary
Date Topic Presenter

Session1

Mon27July
09h0010h30

Rules,procedures,expectations,
presentationtoproposalpanel

DrHoracio
Zandamela

Session2

11h0012h30

13h3017h00

Researchenquiryprocess
Exercise:DesigningtheResearch
Proposal
Selectingatopicanddeveloping
aworkingtitle
DevelopingtheBackground,
Problem&PurposeStatements

LuciAbrahams

Session3

Tues28July
09h0012h30

LiteratureReviews
UsingtheInternettosupport
research

CharleyLewis

Session4

13h3017h00

Theoreticalapproaches
ProblemandPurposestatements
ResearchQuestion/Hypothesis

DrAbiJagun

Session5

Wed29July
09h0012h30

Quantitativemethods
Surveys

MerleWerbeloff

Session6

Session7

13h3015h30

15h3017h00

Writingupandinterpreting
statisticalresults
Usingdatabasestoaccess
literature

MerleWerbeloff

WitsLibrary
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Date Topic Presenter

Session8

Thurs30July
09h0012h30

Qualitativemethods
Datacollectionmethods

DrAbiJagun

Session9

13h3017h00

DataCodingandAnalysis

DrAbiJagun

Session10

Friday31July
09h0012h30

Writingproposalsand
supervision

DrAbiJagun

Session11

13h3015h00

Wrapup

LuciAbrahams

3 CourseOutcomes
Bytheendofthismodule,studentsmustunderstandtheresearchprocessandtherulesthat
guide it at P&DM, including the identification of a topic and supervisor, preparation of a
research proposal and final research report, assessment criteria for this and associated
timelines.Youwillhaveanoverviewtheresearchprocessandthevariousoutputssuchas
problem statement, literature review, research question. You will have a sufficient
understanding of the major paradigms of qualitative and quantitative research in order to
locate your research in these paradigms, and to provide a basis for further examination of
your preferred method. You will have a basic understanding of both approaches, enabling
youtoreadcriticallyineitherformat.Bytheendofthemoduleyoushouldbeinaposition
toprepareyourresearchproposalwithinathreemonthperiod.
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4 CoreReadings
Thefollowingreadingsarerecommendedforthecourse.
Babbie,EandMouton,J(2004)ThePracticeofSocialResearch,OUP,CapeTown.
Badenhorst,Cecile(2007)ResearchWriting:BreakingtheBarriers,VanSchaik,Pretoria.
Booth, W Colomb G, and Williams J (2003) The Craft of Research, The University of
ChicagoPress,Chicago.
Creswell J W (2002) Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Method
Approaches,SagePublications,London.
Leedy, P D and Ormrod, J E (2005) Practical Research: Planning and design (8
th
ed,)
PearsonEducationalInternationalandPrenticeHall:NewJersey.
Leedy, P D and Ormrod, J E (2001) Practical Research: Planning and design (7
th
ed,)
PearsonEducationalInternationalandPrenticeHall:NewJersey.
Mouton, J (2001) How to succeed in your Masters and Doctoral Studies, A South
AfricanGuideandResourceBook,VanSchaikPublishers,Pretoria
5 RequiredReadings
Oneormorerequiredreadingswillbeprovidedforeachsession.Theseareprintedoutand
includedinyourcoursepack.Youareexpectedtocompletethosereadingsrequiredforeach
sessioninadvanceasthelecturewillassumefamiliaritywiththeircontent.Youwillalsobe
providedelectronicallyinadvanceofthecoursewithsomesampleproposalsfordiscussion
inclass.Pleasereadtheseinadvanceastherewillnotbetimeinclassduetothegroundthat
hastobecoveredinsuchalimitedtime.

Lecturers / facilitators who use teaching aids or provide additional material, will distribute
thesenotestoyouastheybecomeavailable.Thesenotesshouldbeaddedtoyourcoursefile
andincludedaspartofyourcoursematerials.

6 PreparationRequirements
Yourpreparationworkmainlyreadingshouldbedoneindividuallybeforeyoucomeon
the course. Please note that there may be tasks to prepare for specific sessions. These will
assist you to work through the conceptual and theoretical understandings in each of the
readings and begin to apply these to cases and issues. Read through each session outline
carefullytoensurethattherearenomishaps.

Weassumethatforevery1hourthatyouspendintheclassroom,30intotal,youwillneed
tospendapproximately4additionalhoursinpreparation.Thisincludesreading,writing
assignmentsandexaminations.
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7 CourseAssessment
Thecourse equivalentassignmentforthiscourseisyourdraftresearchproposal.Thismust
besubmittedbyMonday26October2009.

As with all examinations, students failing to submit without having applied for a deferred
examination(withvalidreasons)willbefailedabsentandasaconsequenceoffthedegree.

During this course you should be identifying your research area and will be allocated a
supervisoraccordingly.

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8 InformationonContentSessions

Session1:IntroductiontoPostgraduateResearch
Presenter DrHoracioZandamela,GraduateSchoolofPublicandDevelopment
Management
Outcomes Participantsunderstandtherules,requirementsandexpectationsofpost
graduateresearchandspecificallythe50%researchMasters.
Content FacultyandP&DMrules
Researchandwritingguidelines
Assessment
Milestones
Core
Readings
Faculty Rules and Syllabus 2006only section dealing with Degree of
Master
P&DM/MMICTPRstudyguide
P&DMhandbookonPhDandMMbyresearchdissertation
SenateAssessmentInstrument
Aboutyour
Lecturer

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Session2:Researchenquiryandprocess
Presenter LuciAbrahams,P&DMLINKCentre
Outcomes Participantswillbeableto:
Understandthenatureofresearchenquiry
Thinkthroughbackground,problemandpurposestatements
Developingaworkingtitle
Content Researchprocess
Identifyresearcharea
Developatopicfromresearcharea
Developproblemstatement
Developpurposestatement
Core
Readings
Babbie and Mouton, Chapter 4: Research Design and Problem
Formulation,pages71106
Cresswell, J, Chapter 3: The Introduction to the Study, pages 41 55 &
Chapter4:ThePurposeStatement,pages5668
Leedy and Ormrod, (2001) Chapter 3: The Problem: The Heart of the
ResearchProcess,pages4968
Additional
References
Merriam S (1998) Qualitative Research and Case Studies Applications in
Education,JosseyBassPublishers,SanFrancisco.
Activity Developproblemandpurposestatements
Aboutyour
Lecturer
Luci Abrahams teaches Knowledge Management, eGovernance and Global
Trends in ICT Policy and Regulation. Her field of research is institutions
and economic sectors in the network knowledge economy. Connecting
LINK to teaching and research activities at Wits, she works with the School
of Information and Electrical Engineering and the School of Economics and
Business Sciences in presenting the multidisciplinary programme for Chief
Information Officers; and serves on the Senate ICT Reference Committee.
LucicurrentlyservesontheBoardoftheCouncilforHigherEducation.

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Session3:Literaturereviewsandonlineresearchresources
Presenter CharleyLewis,P&DMLINKCentre
Outcomes Participantswillbeableto:
Identify,prioritiseandcollectliteraturerelatedtoaresearchproblem
Writeareviewoftheliteraturerelevanttoaresearchproposal
Understandtheroleandvalueofonlineresearch
Applytheconceptsandbestpracticeofonlineresearchtechniques
Usearangeofelectronicresourcestoresearch,collectandorganise
literaturesourcesandreferences
Content Rationaleforandapproachestotheliteraturereview
TheroleoftheInternetinresearch
Basicsourcesofonlineinformation
Usingsearchengines(keywords&URLs)
Makingsenseofinformation
Saving&organisingresults
Advancedsearchtechniquesandtools
GoogleScholar&GoogleDesktop
Readings Obenzinger, H (2005) What Can a Literature Review do for me? How
to Research, Write, and Survive a Literature Review, Stanford
University
Taylor, D (nd) The Literature Review: A Few Tips on Conducting it,
UniversityofToronto
Tillman,H(2003)EvaluatingQualityontheNet
Otherhandoutswillbemadeavailableinclass
Aboutyour
Lecturer
Charley Lewis is Degree Convenor for the Masters of Management in ICT
PolicyandRegulationandaresearcherattheWitsLINKCentre.Hisareasof
focus include: labour, work and ICT; telecommunications regulation;
universal service and access; the Internet, and ICT policy development. He
has lectured and presented widely, on a number of ICT policy, regulation
and development issues. He has undertaken research in a number of areas,
including the Internet, call centres, elearning and universal access and
service. HeholdsthedegreeofMasterofCommerceintheManagementof
InformationSystemsattheUniversityoftheWitwatersrand.
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Session4:Researchtheoryandinquiry
Presenter DrAbiJagun
Outcomes Participantswillbeableto:
distinguishmajortraditionsandapproachestosocialinquiry
determineabroadapproachinwhichtolocatetheirresearch
movefromthebroadresearchframetodesigningtheresearchquestion
Content Trace the concept of research from its modernist roots to post
modernisminordertounderstandqualitativeandquantitativeresearch
Analysecurrenttheoriesinrelationtodevelopingaresearchframework
Keyissuesinframingtheresearchquestionorhypothesis
Core
Readings
BabbieandMouton,Chapter2:Metatheoryandsocialenquiry,pages20
46
Neuman, W.L. (1997) Social Research Methods. Boston: Allyn and
Bacon,pages6085
Cresswell,Chapter4:ThePurposeStatement,pages5762and
Chapter5:Questions,ObjectivesandHypotheses,pages7076
Additional
References
McKenzie, G. (1997) The age of reason or the age of innocence? In G.
McKenzie, J. Powell and R. Usher (eds) Understanding social research:
Perspectives on methodology and practice. London: The Falmer Press,
824.
Usher, R. (1997) Telling a story about research and research as story
telling: Postmodern approaches to social research. In G. McKenzie, J.
Powell and R. Usher (eds) Understanding social research: Perspectives
onmethodologyandpractice.London:TheFalmerPress,2741.
Activity Locateyourresearchtheoretically
Aboutyour
Lecturer
Dr Abi Jagun is Research Fellow in the Department of Management Science
at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. She holds an MSc in Operations
ResearchandaPhDfromtheUniversityofStrathclyde,anMBAfromCardiff
University, UK and a BSc Hon in Botany from the University of Lagos,
Nigeria.ShehastaughtpostgraduateclassesattheUniversityofManchester
ICTs and socioeconomic development and Research skills for
development; and at the University of Strathclyde The Communications
Environment, Technology and Market Interaction, Research Methods. Abi
has published academic articles and papers on a number of subjects in the
broad field of ICT, policy and development. She is currently working on a
paperontheinformationneedsofgrainfarmersinKanoState,Nigeria.
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Session5:QuantitativeMethods
Presenter MerleWerbeloff
Outcomes Participantswillbeableto:
Outline the origins of the quantitative paradigm as a link between
theoryandresearch
Identifytheresearchdesign
Formulate the appropriate problem statement, research questions and
hypotheses,ifany.
Identifythesamplingmethodology
Outline the structure of the questionnaire, ensuring alignment with the
researchquestions.
Identifythedosanddontsinitemconstruction.
Content ColombiaSchool,statisticsandthequantitativetradition
Researchdesigns
Samplingmethods
Research questions and hypotheses: aligning research questions to
researchhypotheses
Design/ structure of the questionnaire alignment with the research
questions
Constructionofthequestionnaireitemsdosanddonts
Common response scales Likerttype rating, forced choice, checklist,
ranking,singlevsmultipleresponse
Studentsresearchprojectswithrespecttoquantitativemethodology.
Core
Readings
Leedy&Ormrod(2001)Chapter9:Descriptiveresearch,pages191227
Babbie & Mouton (2004) Chapter 5: Conceptualisation and
Measurement,pages108126
Activity Drawarandomsample.
Spottheerrorsinaquestionnaire.
Aboutyour
Lecturer
MerleWerbeloffisaregisteredIndustrialPsychologist(PS0018546).Sheholdsan
MScDegreeinIndustrialPsychology(Wits),andaBScDegreeinStatisticsand
Psychology(Wits).SheisregisteredwiththeETDPSETAasanassessorandasa
moderatorofoutcomesbasedassessments,andiscurrentlyundergoingtheISETT
SETAsprocessofaccreditationasatrainingproviderofICTskills.Sheconducts
customizedMSOfficetrainingcoursesfrombasictoadvancedlevel,andisan
officialtraineroftheStatisticastatisticalsoftwarepackage.Sheisafoundermember
ofEducationalResources,aneducationalsoftwaredevelopmentcorporationthathas
patentedamethodofautomatingOBEportfoliocomputationandreporting
processesinsecondaryschools(http://www.caller.co.za).
MerlecanbecontactedviatheADUoratwerbe@iafrica.com.Pleaseusethese
methodsratherthancontactingheronhercellphone.
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Session6:Quantitativemethods
Presenter MerleWerbeloff
Outcomes Participantswillbeableto:
understandquantitativeinstruments
EnterquestionnaireresponsesintoMSExcel
Recodeandarrangethedataforanalysis
UseExceltosummariseyourdataviatablesandcharts.
UseNCSStoimportthedata
SelectstatisticalanalysesusingNCSS.
Content EntertheresponsestoyourownquestionnaireintoExcel
Recodeandarrangethedataforanalysis
UseExceltosummariseyourdataviatables,pivottablesandcharts.
UseNCSStoimportthedata
UseNCSStocomputedescriptivestatisticsandselectstatisticaltestsof
significance
Core
Readings
LeedyandOrmrod(2001)
Coursepacknotes
Activity Enter,recodeandsummarizedatainMSExcelandimportdatainto
NCSSforanalysis.

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Sessions8&9:QualitativeMethods
Presenter DrAbiJagun
Outcomes Participantswillbeableto:
understandtheoriginsofthequalitativeparadigmasalinkbetween
theoryandresearch
Overviewmajorqualitativemethodstogatherdataandanalyseit
Content ChicagoSchool,participatoryresearch
Approachestothestudyofpublicpolicy
Interviews
Casestudies
Recording,codingandanalysingdata
Verification
Core
Readings
BabbieandMouton,Chapter10:Qualitativestudies,pages269309
LeedyandOrmrod,(2005)Chapter7:Qualitativeresearch,pages133
160
Fischer, F. (2003) Beyond empiricism: policy analysis as deliberative
practice, in Hajer & Wagenaar: Deliberative Public Policy Analysis
Understanding Governance in the Network Society, Cambridge University
Press,UK
Gottweis, H. (2003) Theoretical strategies of poststructuralist policy
analysis: towards an analytics of government, in Hajer & Wagenaar:
Deliberative Public Policy Analysis Understanding Governance in the
NetworkSociety,CambridgeUniversityPress,UK
Jessop, B. (1995) The Regulation Approach, Governance and Post
Fordism Alternative Perspectives on Economic and Political Change?
EconomyandSociety,24(3),pages307333
Shafiul Alam Bhuiyan, A. J. M. (2008) Peripheral View: Conceptualising
the Information Society as a Postcolonial Subject, International
Communication Gazette, Sage Publications, available online at
http://gaz.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/70/2/99
Additional
References
MerriamS(1998)QualitativeResearchandCaseStudiesApplicationsinEducation,
JosseyBassPublishers,SanFrancisco.
Yin,R.K.(1994)Casestudyresearch:designandmethods.London:Sage
Activity Reviewresearchproposals
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Session10:ResearchManagement,preparingproposaland
supervision
Presenter DrAbiJagun
Outcomes Participantswillbeableto:
Identifyandschedulecomponentsofresearch
Structuretheproposal
Referencefully
Enterintoasupervisioncontract
Content Reportdesign
Reportwriting
Supervision
Core
Readings
Leedy and Ormrod, (2005) Chapter 6: Writing the research proposal,
pages115129
GuidelineforthepreparationofMasterresearchproposals
Additional
References
Booth, W Colomb G, and Williams J (2003) The Craft of Research, The
UniversityofChicagoPress,Chicago
Activity Reviewpastresearchproposals

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COURSEPACK:TABLEOFCONTENTS

A: BackgroundDocumentsRules&GeneralGuidance
GeneralRules
WritingaProposal
QuickOverviewofResearchMethodology
SampleProposal1
SampleProposal2
ProposalExercise

B: ResearchDesignandQualitativeMethodologies
Babbie&Mouton:thepracticeofsocialresearch
Booth,Colomb&Williams:TheCraftofResearch
Creswell:ResearchDesignQualitativeandQuantitativeApproaches
Leedy&Ormrod:PracticalResearchPlanningandDesign
Neuman:SocialResearchMethodsQualitativeandQuantitative
Approaches
Tellis:IntroductiontoCaseStudy

C: ResearchDesignandQuantitativeMethods

D: LiteratureReviews
TheLiteratureReview:Tips
Obenzinger:WhataLiteratureReviewcandoforme
SearchingtheWeb
EvaluatingQualityontheNet

E: StudiesinPublicPolicyICTandNetworkSocieties
Fischer,F.andGottweis,H.inHajer&Wagenaar:DeliberativePublicPolicy
AnalysisUnderstandingGovernanceintheNetworkSociety
Jessop,B.(1995)TheRegulationApproach,GovernanceandPostFordism
Shafiul Alam Bhuiyan, A. J. M. (2008) Peripheral View: Conceptualising the
InformationSocietyasaPostcolonialSubject