Research Method & Ethical Issues
1. Research methodology definition
Research methodology is the philosophy or the general principle which will guide the research (Dawson C. , 2007). 2. Decide the research methods 1) Thinking about purpose
You need to think about the purpose of your research as this will help point to the most appropriate methods to use. 2) Qualitative research and quantitative research
Qualitative research explores attitudes, behavior and experiences through such methods as interviews or focus groups (Dawson C. , 2007).
Quantitative research generates statistics through the use of large-scale survey research. This type of research reaches many more people, but the contact with those people is much quicker than it is in qualitative research (Dawson C. , 2007). On the other hand, qualitative research is concerned with collecting and analyzing information in as many forms, chiefly non-numeric, as possible (Blaxter L, 2006) 3. Questionnaire 1) There are three basic types of questionnaire: closed-ended, open-ended or a combination of both. a) Closed-ended questionnaires
Closed-ended questionnaires are probably the type with which you are most familiar. Most people have experience of lengthy consumer surveys which ask about your shopping habits and promise entry into a prize draw. This type of questionnaire is used to generate statistics in quantitative research. As these questionnaires follow a set format, and as most can be scanned straight into a computer for ease of analysis, greater numbers can be produced. b) Open-ended questionnaires
Open-ended questionnaires are used in qualitative research, although some researchers will quantify the answers during the analysis stage. c) Combination of both
Many researchers tend to use a combination of both open and closed questions. That way, it is possible to find out how many people use a service and what they think about that service on the same form. Many questionnaires begin with a series of closed
Research methodology is the philosophy or the general principle which will guide the research (Dawson C. , 2007). 2. Decide the research methods 1) Thinking about purpose
You need to think about the purpose of your research as this will help point to the most appropriate methods to use. 2) Qualitative research and quantitative research
Qualitative research explores attitudes, behavior and experiences through such methods as interviews or focus groups (Dawson C. , 2007).
Quantitative research generates statistics through the use of large-scale survey research. This type of research reaches many more people, but the contact with those people is much quicker than it is in qualitative research (Dawson C. , 2007). On the other hand, qualitative research is concerned with collecting and analyzing information in as many forms, chiefly non-numeric, as possible (Blaxter L, 2006) 3. Questionnaire 1) There are three basic types of questionnaire: closed-ended, open-ended or a combination of both. a) Closed-ended questionnaires
Closed-ended questionnaires are probably the type with which you are most familiar. Most people have experience of lengthy consumer surveys which ask about your shopping habits and promise entry into a prize draw. This type of questionnaire is used to generate statistics in quantitative research. As these questionnaires follow a set format, and as most can be scanned straight into a computer for ease of analysis, greater numbers can be produced. b) Open-ended questionnaires
Open-ended questionnaires are used in qualitative research, although some researchers will quantify the answers during the analysis stage. c) Combination of both
Many researchers tend to use a combination of both open and closed questions. That way, it is possible to find out how many people use a service and what they think about that service on the same form. Many questionnaires begin with a series of closed