Mixed Methods 2- Surveys, Action & Historical research

Question 1

What are the purpose of surveys?

Answer 1

• Can be quantitative and qualitative
• Describes reality
• They provide data regarding prevalence, incidence, trends, attitudes, experiences and behaviours.

Question 2

Are surveys more qualitative or quantitative?

Answer 2

• Often take a quantitative approach with the collection of quantifiable data from large representative sample. However, takes a more qualitative approach if the researcher is collecting information about thoughts.

Question 3

What are the two different types of surveys:

Answer 3

• Descriptive survey: aims to describe as accurately as possible the situation as it is.
• Explanatory survey or analytic survey: establish cause and effect relationships or association between variables without the use of experimental manipulation.

Question 4

What are the methods of data collection used in surveys ?

Answer 4

• Questionnaires
• Interviews
• Focus groups
• Observations
• Diaries

Question 5

What are the advantages of surveys ?

Answer 5

• Wide range of topic can be researched
• Efficient
• Extensive amount of data is generated.
• Few ethical implications

Question 6

What are the disadvantage of surveys ?

Answer 6

• Less response rate

- Often carried out without adequate planning.

Question 7

What is action research ?

Answer 7

• Collaborative research
• Problem solving approach
• Requires the collaboration of a team useful mechanism for empowering.
• Commonly used in educational or feminist approach
• For an action research to be successful everyone in the team should pitch in which can be hard when working with different people.

Question 8

What are the 4 stages of the first cycle of action research ?

Answer 8

• Assess: the nature and extent of the problem is assessed
• Plan: an intervention or change is identified
• Implement: the intervention or change is implemented
• Evaluate: the impact of intervention is evaluated
• The research is concluded when the initial problem has been addressed and a theory is developed.

Question 9

What are the methods of data collection in action research ?

Answer 9

• Data collection should be determined by the nature of the study.
• Interviews
• Questionnaires
• Focus groups
• Less traditional: story telling, photography, role play and artwork.

Question 10

What is historical research ?

Answer 10

• Involves the collection and analysis of data that relate to people, places and events in the past
• Obtain new insight and to develop our understanding about the foundations of the profession
• Prevent us from ‘reinventing the wheel’
• Foundation for further studies
• Needs to be organised and systematic

Question 11

How is historical research set out ?

Answer 11

1. The identification of a topic
2. Research question
3. Existence, location and accessibility of the data
4. Analyse the data

• Can be time consuming and expensive
• Sources of data can be primary or secondary.
• Historical data is becoming more available as they can be accessed via the internet rather than libraries and archives.
• Determining the reliability and authenticity of the data can be hard
• The data should be analysed in the context of social, cultural, religious, economic and political.