3. Methodology
Methodology
is a very important chapter of dissertation or thesis.
a)
First
of all, in the methodology chapter describe the philosophical background to
your selected research methods.
b)
Describe
whether you are using qualitative or quantitative methods, or a mixture of research.
c)
Why
you selected these methods of research.
1.
What a Methodology chapter Includes:
a)
Population of study: All people about whom you are conducting study.
b)
Sample of study: Small number of people from population.
c)
Instrument of study: Test, Questionnaire, Interviews etc.
d)
Instrument validation information of questionnaire or interview guide etc.
e)
Data collection methods
f)
Tools of research
Carefully select tools for your research. There are many tools
that can be used for conducting research. Few research tools are described
below
2.
Interviews
One of the widely used method for gaining qualitative
information is the interview. An interview is a guided conversation
between a researcher and participant. Structure of interview can vary one
of them is semi-structured interview and
other one is structured interview.
3.
Semi-structured interviews
The interviewer develops a guide to
the topics that he or she wants to cover in the interview, However, the
interviewer can also ask other questions freely from the interviewee, it is a good
tool for acquisition of detailed information .it is not suitable for gaining
information from large numbers of sample.
4.
Structured interviews:
The interviewer develops a complete questionnaire of
questions that he or she wants to cover in the interview, and the interviewer
can not ask other questions from the interviewee, it is also a good tools for
acquisition of detailed information .it saves time .However, it is not suitable
for gaining information from large numbers of sample.
5.
Observations
If a researcher wants to know about the behavior of people,
this is the most straightforward way to get this type of information.
Observations is used in both quantitative or qualitative research.
6.
Types of observation
There are two types of observation. Participant
observation and non-participant observation.
7.
Participant observation:
a)
In
participant observation people knows they are being observed.
b)
The
researcher observes the people with permission.
c)
Researcher
makes checklist and records the event.
8.
Non-participant observation:
a)
It
is not a direct observation.
b)
It
involves restrictions.
c)
Researcher
did not disturb peoples or setting.
9.
Questionnaires
a)
If
you want to collect standardized information from your sample, then
questionnaires are the best method to use for data collection.
b)
You
can use Questionnaires to collect both quantitative and qualitative data.
c)
You
will not collect detailed data in qualitative responses to a questionnaire that
you can collect in an interview.
d)
Designing
Questionnaires require a great deal of effort.
e)
Questionnaire
requires validation.
f)
Pre-developed
questionnaires save time.
g)
A
questionnaire can be distributed to a much larger number of sample.
Data
Analysis:
Describe
clearly how you are going to analyses the data.
What methods
you are using to analyze the data. For example, qualitative analysis,
quantitative analysis, grounded theory, thematic analysis, descriptive analysis,
predictive analysis etc.
Write
clearly without grammatical mistakes.
Data
analysis should be unbiased.
Provide
honest and accurate analysis.
Must
consider Reliability and Validity issues.
Researcher
must have necessary skills to analyze data.
Write about
used software Carefully select software for data analysis spas etc.
4. ETHICS OF RESEARCH
Ethics are
the Morals that guides throughout the process of research. It shapes the
behavior of researcher towards the research participants.
Ethical
issues that should be considered while conducting research:
·
A
researcher have Informed Consent from the institution where he is conducting
research
·
A
researcher should follow the rules of institution where he is conducting
research.
·
A
researcher must
present data with Honesty. Do not fabricate, data to benefits any one.
·
A
researcher should protect the participants Anonymity & Confidentiality.
However, if participants allow researcher to reveal identity researcher can do
it.
·
A
researcher should Respect
for privacy of participants.
·
A
researcher should maintain
the Objectivity of research. Researcher should not bias in presenting and
analyzing data.
·
A
researcher should carefully analyses the data. Error can change the results.
·
A
researcher should not use unpublished or published data without permission.
·
Researcher
should present others work with proper references.
·
Researcher
cannot force any one to participate in research without his permission.
·
A
researcher should not plagiarize the research. Follow the plagiarism rules of
his institution.
·
While
defining ethics of research, The American Sociological Association (ASA) reported
a researcher must be Professionally competent, maintain Integrity, accept his Professional
and scientific responsibility, Respect for people’s rights, dignity, and diversity
and take Social responsibility as researcher.
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