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RESEARCH MODULE 3
GRADE 10
NAME: ________________________________
Methods/Techniques that are used for conducting research are termed as research
methods or research techniques.

Different Types of Research Methods

The 3 Basic Types of Descriptive Research Methods One of the goals of science
is description (other goals include prediction and explanation). Descriptive research
methods are pretty much as they sound — they describe situations. They do not
make accurate predictions, and they do not determine cause and effect.

There are three main types of descriptive methods: observational methods, case-
study methods and survey methods. This article will briefly describe each of these
methods, their advantages, and their drawbacks. This may help you better
understand research findings, whether reported in the mainstream media, or when
reading a research study on your own.

Observational Method

With the observational method (sometimes referred to as field observation)

animal and human behavior is closely observed. There are two main categories of
the observational method — naturalistic observation and laboratory observation.

The biggest advantage of the naturalistic method of research is that researchers

view participants in their natural environments. This leads to greater ecological
validity than laboratory observation, proponents say.

Ecological validity refers to the extent to which research can be used in real-life
situations.

Proponents of laboratory observation often suggest that due to more control in

the laboratory, the results found when using laboratory observation are more
meaningful than those obtained with naturalistic observation.

Laboratory observations are usually less time-consuming and cheaper than

naturalistic observations. Of course, both naturalistic and laboratory observation
are important in regard to the advancement of scientific knowledge. Experimental
methods are under Observational Method

The Experimental Method

Experimental method is the most common method used in research, one of the
group serves as a control The experimental method is usually taken to be the most
scientific of all methods, the 'method of choice'. The main problem with all the non-
experimental methods is lack of control over the situation. The experimental method
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is a means of trying to overcome this problem. The experiment is sometimes

described as the cornerstone of psychology: This is partly due to the central role
experiments play in many of the physical sciences and also to psychology's
historical view of itself as a science. A considerable amount of psychological
research uses the experimental method.

An experiment is a study of cause and effect. It differs from non-experimental

methods in that it involves the deliberate manipulation of one variable, while trying to
keep all other variables constant.

Experiments in the Laboratory:

In psychological experiments (like experiments in other fields) we try to keep all

aspects of the situation constant except one - the one we are looking at. For
example, suppose we want to investigate which of two methods is more successful
at teaching children to read. The aspect that we vary is called the independent
variable (IV) and we change this in a very precise way. In this example the teaching
method is the independent variable. We call the factor which we then measure, in
our example it would be some measure of the children’s reading ability, the
dependent variable (DV), because, if our ideas are correct, it depends on the
independent variable. In our example, the children’s reading ability depends on the
teaching method used.

The variable which is being manipulated by the researcher is therefore called the
independent variable and the dependent variable is the change in behavior
measured by the researcher.

All other variables which might affect the results and therefore give us a false set
of results are called confounding variables (also referred to as random variables).
Examples of confounding variables in the example given might include the following

Differences in the instructions given by an experimenter or in the stimulus

materials being used (which could be overcome by standardizing instructions and
materials for all those taking part)

Case Study Method

Case study research involves an in-depth study of an individual or group of

individuals. Case studies often lead to testable hypotheses and allow us to study
rare phenomena. Case studies should not be used to determine cause and effect,
and they have limited use for making accurate predictions.

There are two serious problems with case studies — expectancy effects and
atypical individuals. Expectancy effects include the experimenter’s underlying biases
that might affect the actions taken while conducting research. These biases can
lead to misrepresenting participants’ descriptions. Describing atypical individuals
may lead to poor generalizations and detract from external validity.
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Survey Method

Surveys involve collecting and gathering information from the general public. In
survey method research, participants answer questions administered through
interviews or questionnaires. After participants answer the questions, researchers
describe the responses given. In order for the survey to be both reliable and valid it
is important that the questions are constructed properly. Questions should be
written so they are clear and easy to comprehend.

Questionnaire

Questionnaires are a good way to obtain information from a large number of

people and/or people who may not have the time to attend an interview or take part
in experiments. Questionnaire gathering information by checking the selection
answer/perceptions listed.

Another consideration when designing questions is whether to include open-

ended, closed-ended, partially open-ended, or rating-scale questions (for detailed
discussions refer to Jackson, 2009). Advantages and disadvantages can be found
with each type:

Open-ended questions allow for a greater variety of responses from participants

but are difficult to analyze statistically because the data must be coded or reduced in
some manner. Closed-ended questions are easy to analyze statistically, but they
seriously limit the responses that participants can give. Many researchers prefer to
use a Likert-type scale because it’s very easy to analyze statistically. (Jackson,
2009, p. 89)

In addition to the methods listed above some individuals also include qualitative
(as a distinct method) and archival methods when discussing descriptive research
methods.

It is important to emphasize that descriptive research methods can only describe

a set of observations or the data collected. It cannot draw conclusions from that data
about which way the relationship goes — Does A cause B, or does B cause A?

Unfortunately, in many studies published today, researchers forget this

fundamental limitation of their research and suggest their data can actually
demonstrate or “suggest” causal relationships. Nothing could be further from the
truth.

Interviews
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Interview are usually carried out asking or questioning respondents in person i.e.
face to face but can also be administered by telephone or using more advance
computer technology such as Skype.

Case Studies

Case studies usually involve the detailed study or special case or situation of a
particular case (a person or small group). Various methods of data collection and
analysis are used but this typically includes observation and interviews and may
involve consulting other people and personal or public records.

Participant and Non-participant Observation

Studies which involve observing people can be divided into two main categories,
namely participant observation and non-participant observation. In participant
observation studies, the researcher becomes (or is already) part of the group to be
observed. This involves fitting in, gaining the trust of members of the group and at
the time remaining sufficiently detached as to be able to carry out the observation.

Studies using the Delphi Method

The Delphi method was developed in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s
in the military domain. It has been considered particularly useful in helping
researchers determine the range of opinions which exist on a particular subject, in
investigating issues of policy or clinical relevance and in trying to come to a
consensus on controversial issues.

References

Jackson, S.L. (2009). Research Methods and Statistics: A Critical Thinking

Approach 3rd edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
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ACTIVITY

Part I. Answer the following by writing the letter on the line provided (2 points each)

___________ 1. What is the most common method used in research. One of the group
serves as a control?
a. Testing c. Observation
b. Surveys d. Experimental

___________ 2. This method usually used for field observation and notes. Gathering
information from the general public.
a. Testing c. Analysis
b. Observation d. Surveys

___________3.This method used selection check list with close and open ended
(question clarity to reader essential).
a. Survey Form c. Descriptive
b. Data Form d. Questionnaire

___________ 4. Questioning the respondents face-to-face has good response rate but
time and cost high.
.
a. Participant observation c. Field notes
b. Questionnaire d. Interview
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___________ 5. This research method usually involved the detailed of special situation
on a particular case.
a. Special Study c. Records
b. Personal interview d. Case Study

___________ 6. This is a research where the researcher becomes part of the group to
be observed.

a. Observation only c. Observation and Non-observation

b. Participant only d. Participant and Non-participant

____________ 7. This research method is intended for study health issue observation
in large groups in natural setting.
a. Experimental method c. Survey method
b. Questionnaire d. Observational trials

____________ 8. This method determined the range of opinions which exist on a

particular subject.
a. Interview
b. Survey
c. Observation
d. Delphi.

___________ 9. What method used to describe what people think/do/believe in

gathering information in public?
a. Interview c. Observation
b. Data Collection d. Survey

Part II. Identify all methods of different researchers

1. _____________
2. _____________
3. _____________
4. _____________
5. _____________
6. _____________
7. _____________
8. _____________

Part III. True or False! (Direction: put YES on the line if the statement is true and NO if
the statement is false)
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1. Research method is to survey the population. _____

2. Research method is to gather information. _____
3. Research method is to observe and to know the result. _____
4. Research method is to test hypothesis. _____
5. Method of research is necessary in all kind of researches. _____