Practical Research (Module 5)

Research Design

Acts as a guide for conducting research, involving answering the 5W’s - What? Why? Who? Where? When?

Ethnography

Qualitative research approach studying a specific group in their natural settings to describe and interpret behavior.

Case Study

Provides in-depth analysis of a situation, group, or individual, using extensive data gathering methods.

Phenomenology

Focuses on studying people's experiences or reactions to a particular phenomenon.

Historical Approach

Systematic collection and evaluation of past information, such as events, documents, artifacts, for research.

Population

Complete group sharing specific characteristics required for research.

Sample

Subset of the population representing it, chosen through sampling methods.

Sampling

Process of selecting a sample, involving identifying the population, specifying a frame, method, and determining the sample size.

Identify the population of interest

When choosing your population of interest, you should think WHO will be directly affected from this study and WHO will be the potential respondents.

Specify a sampling frame

Specify WHO we want to include in our study. You may want to choose your sampling frame to a place where you are residing so that it will be easier to gather respondents.

Specify a sampling method

There are many types of sampling method for qualitative research. Here are some of the most common and easiest sampling methods to be used. You can either choose one method to use or have a mix of two or more methods:

Snowball sampling

this is done by asking relevant people if they know someone who will be willing to participate in your research. You can put criteria or other qualifications for your respondents. You can use social media for “crowd-sourcing” or ask someone in your community on who is willing and qualified to participate in your research.

Opportunistic Sampling

this is a type of sampling that takes sample or respondents that are readily available. For example, you may choose respondents in your community where you can just pick anyone within a close range. This can be people passing by.

Convenience Sampling

using this kind of sampling technique involves selecting people that are the most convenient for you as a researcher. You may use someone you already know as a respondent because it will save you time and effort in looking for someone who will participate in your study.

Determine your sample size

the sample size is the number of individuals that you are going to use for your study, and it is up to you to determine which approach you are going to use in choosing your sample size. A book on high school research by Clemente R. F., Julaton A. B. E. and Orleans, A. V. discusses how to determine your sample sizes. There can be two approaches to determine your sample size

Saturation point

the point when all participants start providing the same answers without new material. It is the indicator to stop increasing the sample size when all responses and data show repetition and patterns.

1-10 Subjects

Creswell (2013) recommended for phenomenology

20-30 subjects

Dukes (1984) stated for grounded theory

4-5 subjects

Charmaz (2006) indicated for case studies

Implement the plan

select respondents that can be a part of your research. It is important to take note of all the details because you need to write it down in your research paper.

Primary Data

Information collected directly from respondents for research purposes.

Secondary Data

Information gathered from previous research, audio recordings, or books, not collected by the researcher.

Data Collection Instruments

Tools like interviews, observations, questionnaires, and focus groups used to gather data for research.

Interviews

Common data collection method involving structured, unstructured, or semi-structured formats.

Structured Interview

has a set of predetermined questions that are ready to use. If you are using a structured interview as your instrument to gather data, take note that you should not ask beyond what is written in your interview questions.

Unstructured Interview

It required to make a set of pre-made questions, but rather make an OUTLINE or what kind of questions you want to ask your respondents. Dawson (2002) calls this type of interview as life history interview. That is because you want to understand the point of view of your respondents, hence it is not advisable to use a pre-made questions. You want them to tell you a story, your respondents are free to talk about what they want to share with a little guide question from you as a researcher.

Semi-Structured Interviews

a mix of structured and unstructured interview. It may be one of the most common types of interviews. You have to prepare a set of questions; however, you are also free to ask to follow up questions to your respondents if you want to clarify something or add information that is not available to you. This type of interview is also flexible that is why it is preferred to be used by most researchers.

Observations

Involves naturalistic, participative, or non-naturalistic observation methods to study behavior.

Naturalistic Observation

happens when a researcher observes the behavior of a group of people in their natural setting. For example, you want to observe the behavior of students inside a classroom without putting any external disturbances on them then you are using naturalistic observation.

Participative Observation

happens when a researcher takes part on the activities of the group of people that they are observing. Say for example you want to study the daily routine of a Lumad community. To have a better understanding of what their everyday activities are, you as a researcher decided to join a community so that you can immerse yourself in their daily life. This is utilizing participative observation.

Non-naturalistic Observation

happens when you take your respondents out of their natural environment and put them in an environment of your choice. You observe how people behave when they are not in their usual settings. One situation for this is taking a group of high school students and letting them attend one or two college classes where you must observe their learning behaviors. Non-naturalistic observation is where you as a researcher decides what is the “ideal” environment for you to complete your research.

Questionnaires

Common instrument for data collection, including close-ended, open-ended, or a combination of both types.

Close-ended Questionnaires

similar to a structured interview. This is mostly used when you want to conduct surveys on your respondents. This is mostly for statistical purposes and the questions are already prepared for your respondents to answer. These types of questionnaires usually have boxes for the respondents to put a checkmark.

Open-ended Questionnaires

this type of questionnaire leaves a blank space for the respondents to give their point of view about a specific question.

Combination of Both

combines both the close-ended and open-ended questionnaires. For example, you may want to ask a yes or no question to your respondents and also want them to explain why they have answered yes or no.

Focus Groups

Involves interviewing groups of people simultaneously, encouraging discussion among participants.

Select where you want to conduct your observation

This can be a classroom, community or a home where you want to observe the different behavior of the participants for your research. To do this, you need to make a communication letter to the concern authorities so that you will be allowed to have access to a particular place of observation.

Find the means to gather your observed data

This can include recording devices like cameras or phones or the more traditional recording devices like taking down notes on what you, as the researcher, have observed first-hand.

Take your time to write down the important details

You may be overwhelmed the number of things that you will be observing. Try to focus on the important details that relate to your research question. Make sure that you have your field notes with you where you will need to write the things that can be useful for your research.

What kind of observation will you be using?

Will it be a naturalistic observation? Non-naturalistic? Or participative observation? You need to have a clear indication on what will be your role as an observer.

Politely thank the participants

Thank the participants for their responses.