9.1 - Research methodology: Research fundamentals Flashcards
Research fundamentals
The purpose of research
- Advance knowledge
- Increase understanding
- Educate others
- Inform practices
REMEMBER:
“Adam’s Knowledge Increased Understandings so he could Educate Others and Inform Practices”
Research fundamentals
Research definition
The systematic investigation of sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.
Research fundamentals
Why do we research
- Allows you to pursue your interests
- Increases our understandings
- Solving skills
- Can help us make informed decisions
Research fundamentals
Focus of research - Questioning and hypothesis
Questioning: An answerable inquiry into a specific concern or issue.
Example: What happens to adolescents female activity levels in high school?
Hypothesis: An investigation based on limited evidence that may or may not have a definite answer.
Example: An investigation into adolescent female activity levels in high school.
Research fundamentals
What are the ethical behaviours?
- Bias
- Integrity
- Respect
- Privacy
Research fundamentals
Bias theory summary
A researcher can create bias with their one-sided attitudes and doesn’t give equal chance to a different idea
It is important for a researcher to stay objective.
Research fundamentals
How biased can be created
- Asking leading questions
- Choosing the data to be represented
- Not reporting all the data collected
Research fundamental
Privacy theory summary
Participants have the right to remain anonymous and for their information to remain private.
Research fundamental
How privacy can be created
By giving the person an option to give consent to the interviewer to record their primary data.
Research fundamental
Integrity theory summary
- The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.
- it needs to be reliable
- The research is about being accountable for your actions.
Research fundamental
How integrity can be created
- Documenting all your actions truthfully and accounting
- Using a project diary is useful to document your results from your research and making accurate conclusions in your research that are objective.
Research fundamental
Integrity of the data
Integrity shows exactly where your data has come from and how you have been able to draw from your conclusions
- Can be proven by placing all your research in the appendix.
Research fundamental
Respect theory summary
- It is important for a researcher to shoe respect to the participants.
- If the participants do not feel respected or trust in you, they may not participate or give truthful answers.
Research fundamental
To show respect you must
- Ensure participants know that their participation is voluntary and they can stop at anytime.
- Not put them in a physical or emotional harm.
- Get consent
Research fundamental
Sample methods
(how it is chosen)
How the group is chosen:
- Random
- Systematic
- Cluster
- Convenience
- Stratified
Research fundamental
Sample method: Random
Everyone in the population has an equal chance of being chosen.
Research fundamental
Sample method: Random positives and negatives
Positive:
- Equal chance
- Random final sample group
Negative:
- Some people chosen may not suit the topic
- The final group can be part of one category e.g. girls only
Research fundamental
Sample method: Systematic
- Desired sample size
- still random
- e.g. every fifth name
Research fundamental
Sample method: Systematic positives and negatives
Positive:
- Random final sample group
- Ensure biased is avoided
- Is reliable
Negative:
- Final sample group could be all one type
Research fundamental
Sample method: Cluster
- Various subgroups in the sample
- The cluster has commonalities between them
Research fundamental
Sample method: Cluster positives and negatives
Positive:
- Is reliable
- Gives a good representation
Negative:
- Hard to use for a small project
Research fundamental
Sample method: Convenience
- People chosen may not suit the topic
- Results are not reliable
- Creates bias within the project
Research fundamental
Sample method: Convenience positives and negatives
Positives:
- Easy for the researcher especially within a time frame
Negatives:
- People chosen may not suit the topic
- Results are not reliable as they don’t represent a whole
- Creates bias
Research fundamental
Sample method: Stratified
- Categories the population in groups e.g. Male or Female
- Randomly chooses a sample of each group
Research fundamental
Sample method: Stratified positive and negative
positive:
- Matches the topic
- More reliable and credible
- Less likely to be biased
Research fundamental
Sample Group
- Final group that the researcher has chose for its topic.
- the group will ideally include a
diverse group of people who differ based on demographic factors
-
Research fundamental
Sample Size
- The size of the sample will mostly depend on the scale of the study.
Research fundamental
Types of Data
- Primary and secondary
- Qualitative and quantitative
Research fundamental
Types of Data: Primary and secondary
Primary:
- Involves collecting ‘new’ data, that is, data that
does not exist before the research is undertaken.
Secondary:
- Involves collecting data from existing research.
Research fundamental
Types of Data: Qualitative and quantitative
Qualitative:
- Collects information in a social context.
- More detail about beliefs, feelings, values and attitudes.
- Includes observations, interviews, case studies and questionnaires.
Quantitative:
- Collects numerical data.
- Focuses on measuring, collecting and drawing relationships between facts through statistical analysis.
- Includes questionnaires and interviews.
Research fundamental
Sources of data
Individuals
groups
digital
print
Research fundamental
Sources of data: Individuals ans groups
Researchers can collect and record data from individuals and groups in the form of interviews and questionnaires.
Research fundamental
Sources of data: Digital and prints
Researchers can collect and record data from print and digital means in the form of a case study (primary) or literature review (secondary).
- Any information in a hard copy
Research fundamental
Reliability and validity
Reliability: Consistency in relation to the research findings.
An example of an unreliable project is to compare a project conducted on the northern beaches vs the same research project done using people across the nation using different research methodologies
Validity: legitimacy in relation to the findings – the test has to test the correct thing.
For example – a valid project is when the findings include referenced sources of information from people, organisations, electronic sources,
libraries and print sources.
