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Transcript

Research in Education

S T A R T

Title 3

Research methodologiesand methods

https://tinyurl.com/lseresmethods

What do these words mean? How might they be relevant to your research project? What do the words quantitative and qualitative mean? How might these words relate to the words subjective and objective?

SubjectiveObjective

Subjective: based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions. Often considered Qualitative Objective: not influenced by personal feelings or opinions. Impartial and factual. Often considered Quantitative Qualitative: descriptions based on qualities, feelings or characteristics rather than on some quantity or measured value. Quantitative: of or relating to the quantity or amount of something. Measurable.

Quantitative and Qualitative

Objectives of the Session

- Identify & evaluate different types of research methodology- Recognise and explore data collection methods

Benefits and Limitations

Quantitative

Qualitative

What do you think are the benefits and limitations of quantitative and qualitative research methods?

Qualitative Research Benefits:

  • Because of close researcher involvement, the researcher gains an insider's view of the field. This allows the researcher to find issues that are often missed (such as subtleties and complexities) by the scientific, more positivistic inquiries.
  • Qualitative descriptions can play the important role of suggesting possible relationships, causes, effects and dynamic processes.
  • Qualitative analysis allows for ambiguities/contradictions in the data, which are a reflection of social reality.
  • Qualitative research uses a descriptive, narrative style; this research might be of particular benefit to the practitioner as she or he could turn to qualitative reports in order to examine forms of knowledge that might otherwise be unavailable, thereby gaining new insight.
Limitations:
  • Lacks generalizability
  • Prone to researcher bias
  • Cannot be replicated
  • Lacks objectivity
  • Time consuming
  • Generates a lot of ‘irrelevant’ material

Quantitative Research Benefits:

  • Scientific objectivity: Quantitative data can be interpreted with statistical analysis, and since statistics are based on the principles of mathematics, the quantitative approach is viewed as scientifically objective, and rational.
  • Useful for testing and validating already constructed theories. Rapid analysis: Sophisticated software removes much of the need for prolonged data analysis, especially with large volumes of data involved.
  • Replication: Quantitative data is based on measured values and can be checked by others because numerical data is less open to ambiguities of interpretation. Hypotheses can also be tested because of the used of statistical analysis.
Limitations:
  • Reduces reality to measurable instances
  • Neutralizes researcher role
  • Reality is not objective and fixed
  • Separates object from context
  • Lack of flexibility

Methodology and methods

Ways of collecting data that should complement your overall methodology For example: structured observation, survey, interviews

The overall approach or theoretical framework to your research For example: qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods,.ethnographic

Methodology

Methods

Deductive & Inductive reasoning

Inductive reasoning moves from the specific to the general - this is informally called the "bottom up" approach. In inductive reasoning, we begin with specific observations and measures, begin to detect patterns and regularities, formulate some tentative hypotheses that we can explore, and finally end up developing some general conclusions or theories.

Deductive reasoning works from the general to the specific - this is informally called a "top-down" approach. We might begin with thinking up a theory about our topic of interest. We then narrow that down into more specific hypotheses that we can test. We narrow down even further when we collect observations to address the hypotheses. This leads us to be able to test the hypotheses with specific data.

Collecting Data

There are a range of ways to collect data. You will need to justify your choice of strategy - this will largely be informed by the type of research project you are conducting (quantitative / qualitative).

Quantitativetechniques

Qualitative techniques

How to...

Quantitative Data Self-completion questionnaires A series of questions that the respondent answers on their own. Self-completion questionnaires are good for collecting data on relatively simple topics, and for gaining a general overview of an issue. Questionnaires need to have clear questions, an easy to follow design, and not be too long. Structured interviews Similar to a self-completion questionnaire, except that the questions that are asked by an interviewer to the interviewee. The same questions are read out in the same way to all respondents. There will typically be a fixed choice of answers for the respondents. Structured observation Watching people and recording systematically their behaviour. Prior to the observation, an observation schedule will be produced which details what exactly the researcher should look for and how those observations should be recorded.

Qualitative Data In-depth interviews A way of asking questions which allows the interviewee to have more control of the interview. The interview could be semi-structured, which uses an interview schedule to keep some control of the interview, but also allows for some flexibility in terms of the interviewee’s responses. The interview could be unstructured, here the aim is to explore the interviewee’s feelings about the issue being explored and the style of questioning is very informal. Or the interview could be a life history where the interviewer tries to find out about the whole life, or a portion of the person’s life. Focus groups A form of interviewing where there are several participants; there is an emphasis in the questioning on a tightly defined topic; the accent is on interaction within the group and the joint construction of meaning. The moderator tries to provide a relatively free rein to the discussion. Participant observation This involves studying people in naturally occurring settings. The researcher participates directly in the setting and collects data in a systematic manner. The researcher will observe behaviour, listen to conversations, and ask questions.

Move through the slides for a more detailed guide of each method. Data collection strategies from Lee Hazeldine

Ethnographic Research

Ethnographic research is the observation of groups of people or a culture in the field or, in other words, in a natural setting. Observations are the main form of data collection, but interviews are often used to clarify the researcher's observations. The researcher pays attention to the context, artifacts, and environments of the subjects in addition to their interactions with each other.

Action Research

Action research can be defined as “an approach in which the action researcher and a [teacher / learner] collaborate in the diagnosis of the problem and in the development of a solution based on the diagnosis”. In other words, one of the main characteristic traits of action research in education relates to collaboration between researcher and members of an educational organisation in order to solve problems. Action study assumes social world to be constantly changing, both, researcher and research being one part of that change

An example of cross-curricular research

Benefits and limitations

Advantages of Action Research

  • High level of practical relevance of the research;
  • Can be used with quantitative, as well as, qualitative data;
  • Possibility to gain in-depth knowledge about the problem.
Disadvantages of Action Research
  • Difficulties in distinguishing between action and research and ensuring the application of both;
  • Delays in completion of action research due to a wide range of reasons
  • Lack of repeatability and rigour

Collecting Data

Primary & Secondary data

Primary dataThat which you collect first hand, such as: Questionnaires- open and closed; quantitative and/or qualitative Interviews- structured/semi-structured/un-structured Observations and conversations ethnographyYourself- auto-ethnography

Secondary dataThat which has been collected for other research projectsThis may help guide you in deciding on your own primary data collection

Research informed, research engaged practitioners

Click on the image here to view the document on developing research informed and research engaged practitioners.

Individually, produce a research question related to a cross curricular topic you want to study – for example:

  • An analysis of achievement gains generated by incorporating music within the maths curriculum.
  • An exploration into the effectivness of using cross curricular questions to enhance pupils' knowledge about disciplines.
Remember: a research question should be a concise summary of a research projectWhat different disciplines will be involved in your cross-curricular study?

Activity 1

research planning

research planning

Examine the different types of research methods. Select a quantitative and / or qualitative strategy to be applied to your question. Be prepared to justify your choice.How would you conduct your research methodology and analyse the data / content in which to address your research question? What methods would you use? Who will be your participants?Peer review - share your cross curricular research strategy wihin the group. Identify the strengths and weaknesses within each other's strategy and highlight areas for improvement.

Activity 2

Types of research method. Data collection strategies from Lee Hazeldine