Introduction to research method: notes and activities

Introduction to research methodology

​Assoc Prof Dr Narina A Samah & Dr Hadijah Jaffri

Terms that you need to get familiar with....

• Methodology

• Research

• Research approach

• Research design

​Methodology

• Methodology is the systematic, theoretical analysis of the methods applied to a field of study.

• It comprises the theoretical analysis of the body of methods and principles associated with a branch of knowledge

​Research

• A process of steps used to collect and analyze information to increase understanding of a topic or issue.

• An organised and systematic way of findings answer to questions

​Research approach

• Educational research is broadly categorised as qualitative or quantitative.

• It is the procedure selected by the researcher to collect, analyze, and interpret data.

Research design

• It is a strategy to answer your research questions.

• It determines how you will collect and analyze your data.

• It contains specific characteristics of research in terms of its functions, and procedures of data collection (including research instruments etc.)

Multiple Choice

When you do a research, which of the following element of scientific methods that you need to consider FIRST?

• Identification of research issue(s) or problem(s)

• Planning for research procedures

• Data analysis

• Drawing and stating conclusions

§Individual stories

§Different perspectives

§Complexity of situation

§Builds up to a theory

​Qualitative approach

§Trends, graphs, statistics

§Cause-and-effect (factors that influence)

§Comparison of groups

§Frames study using theory

​Quantitative approach

How Do We Understand the Social World and Social Life?

•Philosophical underpinnings: constructivism

• Inductive logic

•Data are represented textually or pictorially

•Associated terms: grounded theory, ethnography, case studies, purposive sampling, categorical vs. contextualizing strategies, trustworthiness, credibility

Qualitative traditions

•Philosophical underpinnings: positivism/postpositivism

•Deductive logic

•Data are represented numerically

•Associated terms: survey research, probability, sampling, experimental and quasi‐experimental designs, descriptive and inferential statistics

Quantitative traditions

Philosophical Concerns

Quick assessment ....

Did you read the articles that were uploaded......

Open Ended

What are the complexity aspects stated in the article by Sanne F. Akkerman , Larike H. Bronkhorst & Ilya Zitter (2013)?

Duration: 5-10 minutes

In your opinion, what is the importance of ethics in conducting research?

​

You will be randomly selected based on the list.

Literature review

Working with literature review: Purposes

• ​Choosing research topic

• Developing research objectives/questions

• Providing justifications

• Identifying appropriate theory(ies)

• Designing research methodology

• Primary data source

a) Choosing research topic

Ask yourself these questions

• What do I know about this topic?

  • E.g. Exploring bullying among students

    • What is bullying?

    • What are theories related to bullying?

    • What are the earlier research about ......

• How can I find out more?

  • What kind of information that I need to find?

  • Where can I find the information that I need?

b) Developing research objectives/ questions

Ask yourself these questions

• What should I read in order to determine appropriate research issues?

• What do I want to find (can be)

  • situation?

  • things can be done?

  • change current situation?

  • initiatives have been successful?

Example of research issue: Exploring bullying among students

• What can be done and how successful it is

  • Are there any programmes out there that aim at reducing bullying?

  • Would a programme XYZ be effective in a particular school?

  • How has the implementation of a programme XYZ gone?

  • Has a programme XYX aimed at reducing bullying at school?

Example of research issue: Exploring bullying among students

• Situation

  • What does bullying feel like?

  • How is bullying enacted in interactions?

  • What is the experience of bullying in class/at school/at college?

  • How common is bullying among ___________ students?

Example of research issue: Exploring bullying among students

• What I want to change the situation

  • How can I work collaboratively with teachers/parents/students to understand the situation better and change things in a particular school?

Open Ended

What is the possible research design that you can use IF you want to explore long term effects of bullying on mental health of the bullied?

Duration: 3 minutes

​c) Providing justification

Ask yourself this question "How do I develop a convincing rationale for this study?"

d) Identifying appropriate theory(ies)

Ask yourself this question "What theory or theories will inform my study?"

• What are theories that might be relevant to my study?

• E.g. Theories about bullying? If there is no theory on bullying, what is the closest theory that I refer to?

​e) Designing research methodology

Ask yourself this question "What do I need to read in order to design/apply suitable methodology?"

• Research methodology covers research design, sampling design, data collection and data analysis

f) Primary data source

Ask yourself this question "Will I use any literature as data that I will explore and analyze?"

• Think about how will you get information about constructs and variables that you want to explore from literature

Multiple Choice

"It is a statement on the topic you want to address, investigate or study"

The above definition refers to _________

• Statement of Problem

• Research objective

• Research question

• Research design

Any question?

References

• Akkerman, S.F., Bronkhorst, L.H. & Zitter, I. (2013) The complexity of educational design research. Quality and Quantity, 47, 421–439 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-011-9527-9

• Creswell, J.W. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

• Creswell, J.W. & Poth, C.N. (2017). Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.