V4 - RESEARCH METHODS Welcome to the next video for Research methodology. This video will focus on the next key area of the syllabus which is research methods. The video will take the time to help you learn about questionnaires, interviews, case studies, observations and literature reviews. All students need to learn to describe each of these methods as well as evaluate the suitability of each for different research topics. Lets begin by looking at a quick description of each type of method. A consists of a series of open-ended or closed questions, which are prepared in advance and may be written or oral. involve a formal or informal discussion between the researcher and an individual or a small group of people. A is a detailed and in-depth examination and analysis of a person, event or situation. involves collecting data by carefully watching a behaviour, action or event take place in a natural setting. reviews consist of the summary, evaluation and logical organisation of existing information on a particular subject. Now lets start by exploring each of these further. We will start with questionnaires. Questionnaires are characterised by the use of open or close-ended questions to gather information from participants in a group or individual setting. They can be qualitative or quantitative and be presented in written or spoken form. Close-ended questions are queries that must be answered answered with a yes, no or other predetermined response. There are advantages and disadvantages to this style of questionnaire. Researchers use close-ended questions to gather quantitative data and the responses are simpler to collate, analyse and measure. Tools like SurveyMonkey have made it in even easier for researchers to create surveys and measure the responses. However, using close-ended questions limits the type of data you can gather from participants. Researchers must anticipate the types of answers their participants are likely to give. If individuals are unable to find a suitable response they may skip questions or modify their opinions, affecting the quality and reliability of data gathered. Close-ended questions are well suited to both the written and oral format, and can be easily distributed in person, by email, or hosted online. questions allow participants to answer freely, in as much depth as they like. Researchers using this method are able to gather detailed, high quality data. Because participants are able
to respond openly, the opinions and perspectives they share can yield unexpected and unanticipated information and outcomes. The drawback of this style of questioning is that it is difficult to collate and measure the results. Individuals are also sometimes put off by the open nature of this style of questionnaire and may provide little or no information. Conducting the questionnaire in person and recording responses can help counter this reluctance, as most people find speaking easier than writing. Whether you choose an open or close-ended questionnaire it is important to ensure that the information collected is as reliable and useful as possible. You need to consider the following before creating and conducting a questionnaire: 1. Are the questions clear and concise? If participants are by the questions their responses will be less reliable, impacting the quality of the data you collect. Make sure that the questions are easy to understand by keeping them short and simple. 2. Are there any leading questions? The simplest way to corrupt data is to encourage participants to answer in a particular way. It is essential to keep questions, and predetermined responses, free of any potential. 3. Are the respondents comfortable with sharing information? Building up with participants can improve the quality of responses. The simplest way to do this is to respect the privacy of respondents and avoid asking any questions which may cause offence or embarrassment. Next we are going to look at interviews. Interviews are a qualitative method of gathering information from individuals or groups. This process can be conducted in a structured or unstructured manner. During an interview individuals or group members are asked a series of questions by the interviewer and then given time to respond. This information is typically recorded using a video camera, smart or other digital device. Structured interviews are planned, with all the questions carefully prepared in advance. This process is a formal one, with questions asked in a specific order. This can be done in-person or over the phone and is most suitable for one-on-one interviews. Interviewers can also prepare a list of anticipated responses if they want to create a more quantitative data set. Using a structured approach ensures that the data gathered is consistent and that all relevant subjects are covered during the interview. Because the questions are prepared in advance and follow a specific order the interviewer does not need to be an expert on the topic being discussed.
The to this style of interview is that the interaction between interviewer and interviewee is tightly controlled and can become stilted. Structured interviews are also less effective for group interviews. An unstructured interview is an informal discussion between an interview and an individual or group. There are no questions or pre-considered answers, instead interviewees are encouraged to speak freely and the discussion evolves naturally. This method is well suited to group discussion and situations where researchers are looking for details of personal opinions, perceptions and experiences. The unstructured format allows the development of a more natural and trusting relationship between interviewer and interviewees. The responses are more likely to be honest and sometimes the discussion can lead the the researcher to uncover unexpected information. However, because unstructured interviews are informal and unplanned they can sometimes fail to reveal any useful information. If the interviewer is inexperienced or doesn t understand the topic the discussion can stall and participants may feel uncomfortable. Arranging and conducting an interview requires thoughtful. Researchers must determine what they want to achieve and the type of information they need to gather. This is particularly important for structured interviews where questions are created in advance and must encourage participants to reveal as much useful information as possible. As with a questionnaire, questions should be easy to understand and free from bias. Researchers should also avoid two-part questions and ensure that all queries relate directly to the research topic. One of the major drawbacks of the interview method is that it is difficult to the verify data participants provide. This does not mean that the data is not useful, but it does mean the researcher must properly evaluate all information before deciding to include it in their findings. Researchers should take detailed notes and review recordings so that they can consider the context and potential subjectivity of the information provided. The next method we will look at are Case studies Case studies involve a qualitative, in-depth analysis of a particular event, person or setting. Rather than creating new research data, researchers who use this method gather existing data. They thoroughly examine and evaluate the information with the intention of offering new insight. A case study is more of a research process than a technique. Researchers may rely on a range of research data and methods, ranging from interviews, questionnaires and observations and reports, articles and other resources. The focused nature of case studies makes them ideal for exploring complex at a local or micro level. However, because case studies are so narrow in scope, usually the results can not be measured, generalised or applied to the larger population.
The process of conducting a case study typically involves: Developing a research question or hypothesis Carefully selecting a case to study Deciding which research methods to use Collecting a wide range of data from primary and secondary sources Evaluating and analysing all the information gathered Presenting the results in a written report Next we will look at observations as a research method. There are two types of observational research: participatory and non-participatory. Both methods consist of carefully watching the actions, attitudes and behaviours of research subjects to gain a deeper understanding of a specific issue or topic. Although the information gathered from observation is subjective, and potentially inaccurate, this method of research can provide valuable insight into group dynamics and social conduct. During a participatory research study, researchers become part of the community, subculture or group they are investigating. During the course of the study they adopt the beliefs, customs and behaviours of the group members, to better understand them. This builds between the researcher and the research subjects, encouraging participants to behave in natural and authentic ways and increasing the reliability and validity of the research data. The drawback of this method is that researchers may lose their objectivity as they become closer to the people they are studying. Participant observation is sometimes referred to as direct or reactive. When conducting non-participatory observation, researchers observe a community or subculture from outside the group. This approach is more objective as researchers have no direct contact with the subjects they are examining. This type of observation is also known as unobtrusive observation as the people being studied should not notice the presence of the researcher. Although non-participation allows the researcher to more easily maintain their objectivity, they may miss nuances and details of social behaviour by keeping a distance. There are implications involved in both methods of observation. Researchers may be exposed to intimate details of their subject s lives. Before disclosing any information, researchers should share the data they gathered with the participants and seek their approval before publishing it in any reports. This is particularly important during a non-participatory study as subjects are often not aware they are being observed.
Finally we take a look at Literature reviews A literature review is a qualitative research technique involving the collection, collation and comparison of works. The objective is to logically and methodically arrange information, identifying key arguments and patterns. Researchers seek out data relating to the study topic and may use a mixture of print and digital resources. After reading broadly on the subject, researchers are able to group the data into particular discussions, critically analysing and comparing the information. The structure of the review will be dictated by the quality, quantity and content of the information available. The review should include a summary of the topic, an evaluation of the literature on the subject and a critical analysis of any gaps or errors in the existing research. It is essential that researchers investigate a range of arguments and correctly cite and all sources.