Reviewer in PR2

Reviewer in PR2
 Humans are 'intuitive' scientists .... always asking questions and testing theories about
themselves, others, events, the environment, and the world around them.
 Research is asking a question and finding out the answer
 We all engage in or do social research as we act on the basis and results of our own research
and theorizing, therefore, what we think affects the way we behave
 We research people and their behavior, opinions, attitudes, trends, and patterns, also politics,
animals, health, and illness.
 Research can be conducted either informally for our own benefit
 Research may be carried out in our own lives
Our views - personal, social, community and worldwide and our own identities are socially constructed
through our own theorizing.
Research gives us information about:
1. Thoughts and opinions
2. Attitudes
3. Habits
4. Culture
5. Norms
6. Scientific facts
7. Medical information
 We research in order to understand society and social processes, as well as to test and or
create theories in order that we are better able to inform about social action and potentially
'improve' social conditions.
Social Research Methods are the tools used to explain social phenomena and often it is more possible
to challenge conclusions if you are at least conversant with the variety of methodologies and tools
applied.
TYPES OF RESEARCH METHODS:
Quantitative
 trying to quantify things

 look to quantify data and generalize results from a sample of the population of interest
 to measure the incidence of various views and opinions in a chosen sample
AIM: The aim is to count things in an attempt to explain what is observed.
PURPOSE: Generalizability, prediction, causal explanations
TOOLS: as surveys, to collect numerical data
DATA COLLECTION: Structured
OUTPUT: Data is in the form of numbers and statistics.
SAMPLE: a large number of cases representing the population of interest. Randomly selected
Respondents
OBJECTIVE/SUBJECTIVE: seeks precise measurement & analysis
RESEARCHER ROLE: Researcher tends to remain objectively separated from the subject matter.
ANALYSIS: Statistical
Qualitative
 concerned with a quality of information

 to gain an understanding of the underlying reasons and motivations for actions and establish
how people interpret their experiences
 provide insights into the setting of a problem, generating ideas and/or hypotheses
AIM: The aim is a complete, detailed description of what is observed.
PURPOSE: Contextualisation, interpretation, understanding perspectives
TOOLS: Researcher is the data gathering instrument.
DATA COLLECTION: Unstructured
OUTPUT: Unstructured
SAMPLE: a small number of representative cases. Respondents selected on their experience
OBJECTIVE/SUBJECTIVE: individuals’ interpretation of
events are important
RESEARCHER ROLE: tends to become subjectively immersed in the subject matter
ANALYSIS: Interpretive
CHARACTERISTICS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
 Your goal in conducting quantitative research study is to determine the relationship between
one thing [an independent variable] and another [a dependent or outcome variable] within a
population.
 Quantitative research designs are either descriptive [subjects usually measured once] or
experimental [subjects measured before and after a treatment].
 A descriptive study establishes only associations between variables
 An experimental study establishes causality.
 deals in numbers, logic, and an objective stance
 focuses on numeric and unchanging data and detailed, convergent reasoning rather than
divergent reasoning
Four (4) main types of quantitative designs:
1. Descriptive research - a study designed to depict the participants in an accurate way.

• Observational - method of viewing and recording the participants
• Case study - an in-depth study of an individual or group of
Individuals
• Survey - a brief interview or discussion with an individual about a specific topic
2. Correlational study - a quantitative method of research in which you have 2 or more
quantitative variables from the same group of subjects, & you are trying to determine if there is
a relationship
3. Quasi-experimental design - involves selecting groups, upon which a variable is tested, without
any random pre-selection processes.
4. Experimental research - commonly used in sciences
 a collection of research designs which use manipulation and controlled testing to
understand causal processes
 The experimental method is a systematic and scientific approach to research in which the
researcher manipulates one or more variables, and controls and measures any change in
other variables.
 an experiment where the researcher manipulates one variable, and control/randomizes the
rest of the variables
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS
 Surveys are a popular method of collecting primary data

 Surveys are a useful a means of gathering data from businesses, community organizations
and residents, and survey research is one of the most important areas of measurement in
applied social research.
 it is important to understand who you want to survey, how you are going to select them,
how you are going to survey them, what you want to ask them and how you are going to
organize the task
CENSUS - secondary data sources that will give you a population count
Sampling
 The sample is the section of the wider population that will be engaged in the survey and
sampling is the process of identifying who you will aim to contact from that population.
‘Population’ - is used to describe the target group
Sampling frame - a list of members of a population from which members of a sample are
then selected
Statistical significance
 Understanding your population, sample size, and response rates are important for
calculating interval and confidence levels, which are vital in determining how many people
you need to interview in order to get results that reflect the target population as precisely as
needed.
Format
 Cross-sectional surveys - are used to gather information on a population at a single point in

time.
 Longitudinal surveys - gather data over a period of time.
The three main types of longitudinal surveys are trend studies, cohort studies, and panel
studies
Questions
 Closed questions – these have a number of possible answers in a list for respondents to
choose from
 Ranking scales – these are most commonly used when trying to ascertain the level of
importance of a number of items.
 Sliding scales – these are used to discover respondents’ strength of feeling towards an issue.
Administration
 The costs, required facilities, time, and personnel needed to conduct an effective survey are
often underestimated.
 The most common resource underestimated is time.
Surveys can be delivered in a variety of ways:
• Postal surveys;
• Telephone surveys;
• Email/internet surveys;
• Street surveys/administered surveys.
Survey data - is the question answers, such as ‘yes’ or ‘no’ or perhaps a number, where a person has
ranked a question on a scale
Web based programmes
Internet based survey tools - can distribute your survey via email and also collect your results, often
allowing you to view your results as they are collected in real-time.
Excel
Microsoft Excel - is useful for data summary, presentation, and for other basic statistical analysis.
Analysis ToolPak - a set of data analysis tools
Microsoft website.
SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Scientists)
- among the most widely used program for statistical analysis in social science.
- This is a data analysis package for quantitative research.
- It is particularly useful for the analysis of survey data as it covers a broad range of statistical
procedures.

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Reviewer in PR2

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Reviewer in PR2

Research gives us information about:

1. Thoughts and opinions

TYPES OF RESEARCH METHODS:

 trying to quantify things

 concerned with a quality of information

CHARACTERISTICS OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

Four (4) main types of quantitative designs:

1. Descriptive research - a study designed to depict the participants in an accurate way.

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS

 Surveys are a popular method of collecting primary data

 Cross-sectional surveys - are used to gather information on a population at a single point in

Surveys can be delivered in a variety of ways:

• Street surveys/administered surveys.

Web based programmes

Analysis ToolPak - a set of data analysis tools

SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Scientists)

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