Transcript PowerPoint
LIS 570
Methods of observation - Collecting
data
Summary
Definition
Criteria for selection
Type of research
Explanatory
Descriptive
Common designs
Asking questions
Research Design: Definition
Framework which guides the collection of
data
Blueprint for the study
Goal - to select the strongest design for the
type of research
Two major types of research
descriptive
explanatory
Choice of research design (Bouma)
Depends on the hypothesis or research objective of
the study
Case study - What is happening?
Longitudinal study - Has there been a change in A
Comparison - Are A and B different?
Longitudinal comparison - Are A and B different through
time?
Experiment - Is the difference between A and B due to a
change in the independent variable?
Case study
Most primitive design
of little use when trying to analyse causal
processes
would rely on plausible conjecture
Collecting information from one group at one
point in time
Aim - description - what is going on? Is there
a relationship between A and B?
The longitudinal study
Two or more case studies of the same group
separated by an interval of time
Measurement of a variable at both points of
time
Intervention
cannot conclude a causal influence
Time 1
Intervention
Time 2
Comparison study
Cross-sectional design
Most common
Collect measures from at least two groups of
people at one point in time
Compares the extent to which the two groups
differ on the dependent variable
Comparison Study
Select variable related to the concept under study
Devise a way to measure the variables
Develop a data recording devise
Measure the same variable in the same way in two
or more groups at the same or nearly the same time
A
Are A and B different?
Time 1
B
Longitudinal comparison
Quasi-panel design
different groups of people are studied at the two
points of time
Can avoid problems of keeping track of people over
time
Problems
can’t draw causal inferences
difficulties with matching the samples at time 1
and time 2
Explanatory Research: Basic
Requirements
A relationship between the variables needs to be
established
All other reasons for the relationship must be able
to be eliminated
Strongest research design is an experimental design
Classic Experimental Designs:
Minimum Requirements
Two groups
Experimental group
Control group
Random Assignment of units of analysis to C and E
groups
Active intervention for the E group
Purposefully changes the conditions of the Independent
Variable (X)
Synonyms
Manipulation of the IV
Treatment
Measurement of Dependent Variable Y at the end of
intervention for E and C groups
Collecting data
How the data will be collected
observation
in-depth interview
content analysis
Questionnaire
Which questions to ask?
Research problem
indicators
hunches about the link between variables
Questionnaires
Explanatory research
Measures of the dependent variable
Measures of the independent variable
Measures of the test variable
Background measures
Descriptive research
the phenomenon we are describing
background characteristics
Question content
Behavior
what people do
Beliefs
what people believe is true or false
Attitudes
what people think is desirable
Attributes
characteristics
Wording questions (De Vaus, Babbie)
Is the language simple?
Can the question be shortened
Is the question double-barrelled?
Is the question leading?
Is the question negative?
Is the respondent likely to have the necessary
knowledge?
Will the words have the same meaning for
everyone?
Is there a prestige bias?
Wording questions
Is the question ambiguous?
Do you need a direct of indirect question?
Is the frame of reference for the question
sufficiently clear?
Does the question artificially create opinions?
Is personal or impersonal wording preferable?
Wording questions
Is the question wording unnecessarily
detailed or objectionable?
Does the question have dangling
alternatives?
Is the question likely to produce a response
set?
Question types (De Vaus)
Open and closed questions?
Closed question formats
Category rating scales
Semantic differential formats
Checklists
Ranking formats
Attitude choice
Conclusion
Simple case study
What is happening?
Longitudinal study
Has there been a change in A
Comparison
Are A and B Different?
Longitudinal
comparison
Are A and B different through
time?
Experiment
Is the difference between A and
B due to a change in the
independent variable