Research Methodology

Research methodology
Quantitative Methods
Qualitative procedures
ISM20 – Project management and Research Methods

Quantitative Methods
 A definition
• A survey or experiment that provides as output a
quantitative or numeric description of some
fraction of the population, called the sample.
ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods

Components of a survey method
 The survey design

 The population and sample
 The instrumentation
 Variables in the study
 Data analysis

The survey design
 Purpose of the survey
 The research question
 Type of survey
• Cross sectional
• Longitudinal
 Form of data collection

The population and sample
 Description of the population
 Sampling design
• Single stage
• Multistage
• Stratified
 Sample selection

The instrumentation
 The instrument (tool)
• Existing
• New
 Rating scale
• Likert scale: Rating the Items. 1-to-5 rating scale where:
1. = strongly unfavorable to the concept
2. = somewhat unfavorable to the concept
3. = undecided
4. = somewhat favorable to the concept
5. = strongly favorable to the concept
 Pilot
 Administration
• Postal survey
• email

Variables and analysis
 The research question
 Variable in the research
• E.g. Number of years of academic study
 The questions in the instrument
• E.g. How many years of study in a University
• As an undergraduate?
• As a postgraduate?
 Data analysis
• Steps
• Bias in the data
• Non-response
• Statistics, e.g. mean, standard deviation etc.

Components of an experimental method
 Subjects
 Instruments and materials
 The experimental design

Subjects
 Selection
• Conveniently
• Random (RCT)
 Group assignment
• Random
• Matched. E.g. Ability, Age
• Size
 Variables
• Dependent
• Independent

Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
A true experiment, in which the researcher
randomly assigns some patients to at least
one maneuver (treatment) and other patients
to a placebo, or usual treatment. Key
features = the classic way to evaluate
effectiveness of drugs (or exercise, diet,
counseling). Patients are followed over time
(Prospective). If properly done, an RCT can
be used to determine cause and effect

Instrumentation and Materials
 Description
 Validation
• Pilot
• Content validity
• Prediction validity
 Materials

The experimental design
 Type
• Pre-experimental
• No control group
• Quasi-experimental
• Control group, but not randomly assigned
• Single subject design (over time)
• Pure experiment
• Repeated measures
• Change groups

Overview of Qualitative Research
Design
• Historical routes in anthropology
• Generates new understanding by naming and framing
concepts and themes
• Removes bias by questioning preconceived assumptions of
the social group under study
• Promotes neutrality through adoption by the researcher of
naïve stance or critical discussion, challenges pre-conceived
assumptions of both the researcher and the social group under
study
• Produces new understanding about the world, changes the
way power, culture and social interaction are understood

Data Collection in Qualitative Research
•Observation (Videoed, non-participant, semi-participant and

participant observation, field notes)
•Interviews (individual and group - known as focus groups,
tape recorded and transcribed, field notes)
•Secondary data analysis (using written material collected for
purposes other than research)
•Questionnaires (unstructured, postal, interviews)
•A mixture of all four

Questions in Qualitative Research
In qualitative research questions are open-ended.
Sometimes a check list or topic guide will be used by the
researcher to ensure all the relevant areas are covered. This
is known as semi-structured data collection. It is used in all
four methods of data collection
Sometimes the only guide is the topic itself and the
researcher collects verbatim or naturally occurring data.
This is known as unstructured data collection. It is used in
all four methods of data collection

Sampling in Qualitative Research
The sampling method of choice is theoretical sampling

(queuing behaviour)
However, often this is not possible and people resort to
convenience sampling (students) and
snowball sampling (mental health in black and ethnic
minority communities)
Neither of the latter two methods are considered strong
but maybe all that can be achieved. Research must be
viable.

Data Analysis in Qualitative Research
•Read and re-read data, become engrossed in it.
•Identify themes: common, conflicting, minority
•Test themes across the data set, where are they common, under
what circumstances are they found, not found. This sets the
parameters on the interpretation and generalisation of data
•Get more than one person to analyse the data independently then
together
•Demonstrate trustworthiness in data analysis
•Examples
•Biographical continuity
•Nursing routines as a method of managing a transient workforce

Qualitative research
 Interpretative research
 Process orientated
 Researcher(s) are the primary data
collection instrument
 Descriptive research
 Outputs are an inductive process

References
 MSc project web pages
http://www.comp.glam.ac.uk/gis/start.asp?whatfile=gis/gisrc/msc-proj.htm
 Creswell, J. W. (1994) Research design :

qualitative and quantitative approaches. -
Thousand Oaks, Calif.; London : Sage
Publications, ISBN 0803952546

Research Methodology

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Research methodology

ISM20 – Project management and Research Methods

ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods

 The survey design

ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods

ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods

ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods

ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods

ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods

ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods

ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods

ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods

ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods

ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods

ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods

•Observation (Videoed, non-participant, semi-participant and

ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods

ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods

The sampling method of choice is theoretical sampling

ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods

ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods

ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods

 Creswell, J. W. (1994) Research design :

ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods

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