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See Also: An Overview of Methods |
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See Also: Research Design |
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1. Selecting a Topic: Finding the topic is the first step in research design |
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2. Formulate the Thesis |
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3. Choose the Types of Analyses |
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4. Research & Write a Literature Review & Refine the Thesis |
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5. Formulate Research Objectives ( ROs ) from the Types of Analysis ( TOA ) |
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6. Conceptualization of the topic |
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7. Choose the methodology / the Research Instrument |
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8. Operationalization |
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9. The formulation of the Data
Collection Strategy determines the procdures
by which the Research Instrument will be applied to suitable Research Participants; e.g. what are the procdures used for giving out a survey |
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Delineate suitable Participants
Confirm Experimental Design Formulate Instructions to Participants Formulate Data Collection Procedures Choose a Sampling Method |
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There are FOUR questions to be answered during the Research Design
in choosing the Research Instrument & Collection Method |
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Note: these questions must be answered in conjunction w/ choosing the Research Instrument, as discussed above |
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a. How much personal contact is necessary to gather the data? |
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b. Must subjects be contacted in person? |
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c. How much time & expense are involved? |
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d. Would it suffice to contact subject by mail or telephone? |
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Choose a sampling strategy |
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Here the researcher must determine how to apply the instrument to a sample of the total population |
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Choose a source of data |
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After/while choosing a topic & formulating major concepts,
variables, measures, & instruments the researcher must decide where to look for the info needed |
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You know what you want to generalize about
You need to determine what you will generalize from |
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We can look at any of the levels of social life |
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Choosing data source is in part a practical issue |
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Some types of data are more expensive & time consuming to collect |
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Data source must also be influenced by theoretical concerns |
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Data source must reflect the level of human interaction that the
researcher is most comfortable w/ |
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Major types of research examine relationships btwn
btwn 2 individuals individual & group btwn groups ( groups being broadly defined here to include groups, complex organizations, institutions, social structures ) |
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A topic may be examined from any or all of these levels |
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Choose a time frame |
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Cross-sectional design: a single, unrepeated survey |
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Longitudinal design: survey is
repeated in order to determine the amount, direction, or rate of change
Each survey is based a different sample of subjects from the same pop |
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Panel design: long design that uses the same sample of subjects |
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Examples of choosing a data source |
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Big biz
data about corporations exec's or data about corps |
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Politics
data about politicians voters via interviews or secondary data |
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Strategies for data collection |
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There is no one best technique |
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Choice depends on |
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a. How well formulated is your thesis / theory / hypothesis? |
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b. What level of social interaction you need or wish to
observe?
Micro: Individuals, small groups, peer groups, family, small biz, etc... Mid range: groups of families, churches, large biz... Macro: nation, the economy, religion(s), the military... |
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c. The "type" of info you want to know
i. demographic ii. knowledge iii. activities iv. beliefs ( including values, opinions, etc. ) |
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d. Resources you have for research
i. time ii. money iii. access.... |
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There are FOUR kinds of Survey Execution:
a. The Single Self or Researcher-Administered Survey b. The Group Self or Researcher-Administered Survey c. The Mass Self-Administered Survey d. The Researcher-Administered Interview |
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Some features are common to all Surveys |
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The longer the questionnaire, the lower the response rate |
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a. The Single Self or Researcher-Administered Survey |
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b. The Group Self or Researcher-Administered Survey |
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c. The Mass Self-Administered Survey |
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These surveys are usually mailed, but they can |
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Main problem here is low rate of return |
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Mailed surveys are often mistaken for junk mail |
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Thus mail surveys must stick to the essentials |
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Because they seem less impersonal, prestamped, individually typed
return envelopes produce higher return rates than do business-reply enveloped |
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Mail surveys require aggressive & unrelenting follow-up |
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Second & 3rd mailing may prod subject into responding |
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Telephoning can help |
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Through follow-up campaigns, response rate can increase to 50% |
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d. The Researcher-Administered Interview |
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See: Consent & Confidentiality in Research & the Researcher's Letter of Introduction to the Participant |
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| See: Moral, Ethical & Privacy Issues in Social Research |
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See: Sampling Issues should be contemplated throughout
the Researgn Design Process,
but must be finalized during Operationalization of the Research Instrucment |
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10. Obtain HIC Approval |
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11. Perform a Pilot Study: the Senior Project is a Pilot Study & so no addition study will be required |
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12. Collect Data utilizing efficient, effective & ethical methodological practices |
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13. Prepare the Data for processing & analysis |
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14. Process & Analyze Data |
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15. Interpret & make Inferences about Data |
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16. Write the Final Report |
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17. Write Final HIC Report |
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