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Research and
Research Methods Resita Is
1501103010017
AN INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH & RESEARCH METHODS
Research Is ...
… a process of enquiry and investigation; it is systematic,
methodical and ethical; research can help solve practical problems
and increase knowledge.
THE PURPOSE OF RESEARCH IS TO…
Generate new
knowledge
Purpose Explore and analyse
more general issues
3 Purpose 4
Explain new
phenomenon
Purpose Construct or create
new procedures or
5 Purpose 6 systems
DIFFERENT Exploratory
TYPES OF
Descriptive
RESEARCH:
Analytical
Predictive
RESEARCH APPROACHES
Research can be approached in the following ways:
Positivistik Phenomenological
Research
Positivistic
Methodologies Surveys
Experimental Studies
Longitudinal Studies
Cross-sectional Studies
The project has The project is concerned The problem area Preparing and writing
with problem solving, the project necessitates
to be a piece of should have a strong policy-
must be of a
applied sufficient depth so ten weeks full-time
based thrust and must have work equivalent, that is
research and a sound conceptual basis. as to allow a
a minimum of 400
problem detailed analysis. hours.
solving.
2. Background & Preparatory Reading
This is an essential stage of the research process, for the following reasons:
1 2 3 4
One-to-one Participant A questionnaire
interviews Focus groups observation survey
• Specific Information Request
Focus groups can be a 1. Complete participant
• Category
1. Structured useful way of finding out 2. Complete observer
what the main issues • Multiple Choice
2. Semi-structured 3. Observer as participant
and concerns of any • Scale
3. Unstructured group are. 4. Participant as observer • Ranking
• Grid or Table
• Open Questions
Probability Sampling Non-Probability Sampling
• Follow-up calls
• Pre-contact with respondents
• Type of postage
• Rewards
• Personalizing the questionnaire
• Emphasising Confidentiality
• Appeals to the respondent
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN
RESEARCH
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2003, p. 131) summarise the main issues to
consider, although the ethical issues surrounding these items are not
always clear-cut:
• The rights of privacy of individuals.
• Voluntary nature of participation – and the rights of
individuals to withdraw partially or completely from the
process.
• Consent and possible deception of participants.
• Maintenance of the confidentiality of data provided by
individuals or identifiable participants and their
anonymity.
• Reactions of participants to the ways in which researchers
seek to collect data.
• Effects on participants of the way in which data is
analysed and reported.
• Behaviour and objectivity of the researcher.
RESEARCH TENSIONS
1. Misleading People
2. Publishing Results
3. Confidentiality
THANKS FOR ATTENTION
CREATED BY
Resita Is
(1501103010017)