Comm Studies - Research

Missing citation formats but like who does that anymore

What is research?

Research is defined as the disciplined process of investigating and seeking facts that will lead one to discover the truth about something.

What are the two types of primary research?

qualitative and quantitative research

What is qualitative research?

a method of inquiry that explores human experiences, behaviors, and social phenomena through non-numerical data to understand meaning, context, and perspectives.

how is qualitative research carried out?

observation, interviewing and tracing patterns of behaviour.

what does qualitative research help us understand?

how people feel and why they feel as they do

Which research type has smaller sample size?

qualitative

Provide two examples of qualitative research

• Historical research

  • the study of past events

  • 
    

• Ethnographic research

  • the study of current events through the collection of extensive narrative data over a period of time in a naturalistic setting.

Quantitative research requires the use of what feed statistical analysis?

surveys

Which research type has a longer duration?

qualitative

What are two examples of quantitative research? Explain them.

• Descriptive research (e.x: consumer surveys)

  • involves the collection of data in order to answer a

    question about the current status of a subject or situation.

  • 
    

• Correlational research

  • the type of research that seeks to establish a relationship (or lack thereof) between two variables or to use relationships to make predictions (ibid). (e.x: ‘How does the performance at the CE Exams correspond to the performance of students at CXC Exams?’)

Primary research

is that which is original. It is research that the researcher designs and carries out using surveys and/or focus groups.

What is secondary research

This type of research is one that depends on accessing information that has already been researched and can be found in books, other publications and expert sources.

what does data/information refer to?

the collected facts, observations, records or statistics that allow the researcher to come to some conclusion.

What are interview schedules

tool used to plan the flow of an interview, including the questions to ask and the logistics of when and where interviews occur

What is an instrument

the method used to collect data.

In terms of research, define population

the group of individuals, items or events that the researcher wants to study.

What are some sampling methods?

• simple random sampling

• stratified sampling

• cluster sampling

• systematic sampling

explain simple random sampling

this method entails choosing a sample so that each unit has an equal chance of being selected, for example in a raffle every individual has an equal chance of being the winner.

explain stratified sampling

this entails dividing a population into distinct, non-overlapping subgroups (called strata) based on shared characteristics, and then collects a random sample from each subgroup, for example if you have the school as a population then groups may refer to forms/classes; thus one would do simple random sampling from each year group.

explain cluster sampling

a population is divided into groups (clusters), and a random selection of these clusters is studied to represent the entire population. for example all high schools in your territory are clusters; you want five schools, which you choose randomly through simple random selection. All students in those schools must be interviewed.

explain systematic sampling

the initial choice is made randomly and then, using evenly spaced intervals, the other choices are selected. For example, in a list of 100 names the 100 may be divided into groups of 10 then a number between 1 and 10 may be chosen, for example 6, and number 6 in each group becomes part of your sample.

what is validity

accuracy and whether a tool measures what it is actually supposed to measure

• Truthfulness, relevance, and freedom from systematic error.

what is reliability

consistency and reproducibility of results

What are some methods of acquiring data and their strengths and weaknesses?

Questionnaires	Can reach large numbers	Sometimes respondents reply without real thought
Face to face interviews	interviewer can clarify responses. Interviewees tend to be honest	time consuming
Phone interviews	can clarify responses	time consuming

Observation Actually records Time consuming

actions of persons

What is internal validity?

whether there are flaws in the design of the research or the

methods of data collection.

what does the external validity of results refer to?

whether your findings can apply or be generalised to a larger group or other situations.

What is précis

a careful rewrite of the original that maintains the style, point of view and tone of the original without using the actual words of the original author.

what is credibility?

the quality state or capability of being trusted or believed by others

What is bias

a strong preference or an unfair leaning for or against someone or something which stops a person from being fair or objective