LECTURE 1 - introduction and problem definition (2)

Question 1

Cross-sectional study (3)

Answer 1

• short-term research
• data is collected at one point in time
• Survey methodology

(interview a fresh sample of people each time they are carried out)

Question 2

Longitudinal study (2)

Answer 2

• Longer term research
• Research changes and develops over time

(follow same sample of people over time)

Question 3

Forms of studies (4)

Answer 3

• Exploratory
• Descriptive
• Explanatory
• Interpretive

Question 4

Exploratory studies (4)

Answer 4

• Seek to explore what is happening and ask questions about it
• decide whether worth researching or not
• Useful when not enough is known about something
• can be conducted by literature research, talking to expert, focus and group interviews

Question 5

Descriptive studies (4)

Answer 5

• Provide a picture of phenomenon as it usually occurs
• Descriptive or normative
• shows how things are related to each other
• cannot explain why an event has occured

Question 6

explanatory studies (3)

Answer 6

• explain and account for descriptive information
• asks why and how questions
• quantitative and qualitative research

Question 7

Interpretive studies

Answer 7

• explore people’s experiences and their perspectives of it

- typically inductive and often associated with qualitative approaches

Question 8

Deductive research

Answer 8

Concerned with developing a hypothesis based on existing theory, and then designing a research strategy to test the hypothesis

Question 9

Inductive research

Answer 9

In inductive reasoning, we begin with specific observations and measures -> detect patterns and regularities
-> formulate tentative hypotheses that can be explored -> developing general conclusions or theories.