Research Methodology Flashcards
What is the purpose of research?
Discover new information, advance knowledge, increase understanding, educate others and inform practice.
What is the focus of research?
Evaluate existing information and assess what is not known or what has been left out. Develop hypothesis to base research on.
What are the types of Sampling used?
Methods, Sample group and Sample size.
What is Methods?
How the group is chosen, e.g. random, systematic, clustered, convenience, quota, snowball, stratified.
What is Sample group?
Final group of individuals chosen to participate in research.
What is Sample size?
Dependent on scale of study e.g. research on IRPs might only have a sample of 5 but research on electricity rates across Australia may have sample of 20,000.
What are the types of data?
Primary, secondary, qualitative and quantitative.
What is a primary research?
Collection of ‘new’ data i.e. does not exist prior to research.
What is a secondary research?
Collection of data from existing research.
What is qualitative?
Data that includes opinion, responses and reflection. Allows interviewee to explain their answers in depth.
What is quantitative?
Data that deals in numbers. Derives from questionnaires and observation.
What are the sources of data?
Individuals, groups, print and digital.
What are individuals?
Accessed to help locate existing data or to help discover new data.
What are groups?
Groups may be used to access certain information or used to help gather new information.
What is print?
Data or information that is hard copy e.g. books, magazines, journals, newspapers.
What is digital?
Data or information that is accessed electronically e.g. websites, documentaries, news programs, blogs.
What is reliability?
Consistency of research findings. Participants must be trusted and correct in giving their information.
What is validity?
Legitimacy of findings, nature, of entire research process and justification of results.
Assess the importance of ethical behaviours when conducting research by considering the types of ethical behaviours.
Ethical behaviour: the ‘norms’ of conduct, the way people are expected to behave and perform. The types of ethical behaviours are respect, integrity, privacy and bias.
What is respect in the ethical behaviour?
Respecting involved individuals and their ideas, opinions, and beliefs. Showing respect can enhances the value and level of data one will get,
What is integrity in ethical behaviour?
Principles and standards of researcher. Ethical researcher will be honest and truthful in their research.
What is privacy In ethical behaviour?
Researchers need to consider freedom of privacy of individuals involved in their research, information should be kept confidential and researcher must have permission to use information gathered.
What is bias in ethical behaviour?
Distortion of research and results due to unfair influence from individual’s ideals, values and opinions.
What are the research methods?
Questionnaires, interviews, case studies, observations, literature review, planning for research, conducting research and interpreting research.