Completing my own personal glossary of research terms has really helped me to understand the definitions of research methods needed to plan my project successfully. It is definitely beginning to sink in now!
I have recently discovered the focus of my research topic which leads me to the next step in the research cycle of data collection tools:
I have been starting to make my own notes on data collection by studying Judith Bell’s ‘Doing your Research Project’, as I am finding it difficult to consider which techniques will be best suited to my project. It’s important for me to consider the advantages and disadvantages of certain research tools, in order to collect data that is going to answer my questions and be viable within the time constraints. Also do I wish to produce mainly qualitative or quantitative data? Or a mixture of the two? Consider which works best with my research approach.
I know that all research involves the collection and analysis of data and this can be achieved in several different ways, however, every project is unique in terms of data collection techniques and these are strongly determined by your questions, time limit, approach, goals and the resources available to you.
Observations
Observational Research is the process of watching people in context - in their natural environment, doing routine activities. A key advantage of observation research is that often the person or group is unaware that they are being observed, allowing their behaviour to be observed naturally.
-'Non-participant observation’ is where the researcher observes behaviour from a distance without interacting with the subject being studied.
-‘Participant Observation’ is where the researchers aim is to gain a close and intimate familiarity with a given group of individuals and their practices through an intensive involvement with people in their natural environment, usually over an extended period of time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Participant_observation
‘Observational research findings are considered strong in validity because the researcher is able to collect a depth of information about a particular behavior. However, there are negative aspects. There are problems with reliability and generalizability. Reliability refers to the extent that observations can be replicated. Seeing behaviors occur over and over again may be a time consuming task. Generalizability, or external validity, is described by Trochim as the extent that the study's findings would also be true for other people, in other places, and at other times.
http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/tutorial/Brown/lauratp.htm
Interviews
‘The qualitative research interview is a construction site of knowledge. An interview is literally an inter view, and interchange of views between two persons conversing about a theme of mutual interest.’
(Kvale.S, 1996: An introduction to qualitative research interviewing)
I really like this definition of an interview within the field of research, simply because it is concise and very comprehensible. There are several different interview structures that can be adopted by the worker/researcher.
-A semi-structured interview: designed to include set questions or themes whilst maintaining the flexibility to talk about any issues that might emerge during the interview.
-A non-directive interview: the interviewee may talk about anything they like
-An informal interview: There is an overall aim to gather data whilst maintaining a very non-structured approach.
-An informal/guided interview: The researcher will provide topic areas of discussion but with no set questions.
Questionnaires/ Surveys
“A questionnaire is a research instrument consisting of a series of questions and other prompts for the purpose of gathering information from respondents. Although they are often designed for statistical analysis of the responses, this is not always the case.
Questionnaires have advantages over some other types of surveys in that they are cheap, do not require as much effort from the questioner as verbal or telephone surveys, and often have standardized answers that make it simple to compile data. However, such standardized answers may frustrate users. Questionnaires are also sharply limited by the fact that respondents must be able to read the questions and respond to them.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Questionnaire
I must now continue my research in the hope that it will become clear to me which techniques are most advantageous to my project over time. I need to complete Activity 7, and find an instrument for data collection to critique. Can anybody help me with this?
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