The purpose of this Independent research project is to explore and gain

extended knowledge around the topic of domestic violence (DV) against

men in order to educate others. The focus of this research is to
demonstrate the lack of community education in regards to DV against
males.
Sampling
The definition of sampling is the process of choosing the people, place
and time to collect primary data. The scope of the research influences the
amount of individuals used in a sample. The sample group is used to
collect primary data which represents an entire population in relation to
research. Sections involved in sampling are methods of sampling, sample
group and sample size.
Sample group
A sample group is the final group of participants that have been chosen to
participate in research. Depending on the nature of the research this
group will be diverse, such as age, sex, geographic location, religion,
occupation and interests. This group should be chosen in a matter that
eliminates bias, and their responses should represent a true indication of
the larger population in focus. Bias is overcome by using appropriate
sampling methods to make sure that participants are chosen fairly.
The research for this IRP is focusing on sample groups from two population
groups. The first are individuals from the general community of Macarthur.
The second are police officers from the domestic violence unit. Through
the use of random and Quota (see above section) methods of sampling
the researcher is able to eliminate bias in her research.
Sample size
The size of the sample essentially depends on the scope of the study. The
larger and diverse a sample group size, the more accurate the results of
the researchers study. The researcher is completing an IRP, and the
standard average is around 20 responses. The researcher believes that

she will need more then this amount to make sure that the Macarthur
regions population perspective on DV against men is accurate.

Methods of Sampling
Random sampling is when all possible participants are given an assigned
number. Then a random number generator choses random number, what
the participants with those specific numbers are chosen to participant in
the sample. The researcher has decided to use this method of sampling
because she endeavours to collect data for people of all walks of life, to
get a rounded perception of what the Macarthur region believe about
community education in regards to DV against men.
Stratified sampling is using either random or systematic sampling to
choose participants. Then the research places the chosen participants into
categorized groups for example male/female, young/aged or smokers/nonsmokers. The research has chosen to use this sampling method. When
sorting collected data she will be able to split male and female responses
and also responses from varied age groups.
Quota sampling involves the participants having pre-requisites about the
individuals research topic. For this IRP in particular, the research will use
this method in her research. This is because she will be undergoing
research with police officers from the domestic violence unit, who will be
able to answer specific questions as a result of personal experience and
knowledge from working in the unit.
Snowball sampling involves the initial respondent sourced and further
respondents are referred to the researcher from the initial respondent.
This method of sampling is similar to a referral system. The researcher
intends to use this method to extend her research findings. This method
will give the researcher better participant involvement and response
findings. It will also reveal various perceptions of DV against men.
Sources of data

A researcher is able to access many sources of data when researching.

These include individuals and groups and print and digital resources.
Depending on the nature of the individuals research project, certain
resources are more appropriate. For example, the researcher is going to
conduct primary research and therefore will access individuals from a
group whereas if she was going to conduct secondary research, she would
use print and digital sources of data.
Individuals and groups
Data is able to be collected from people. This type of data is usually
primary data, and its based on the participants ideas, values and opinion
about the focus issue being researched. Advantages and disadvantages of
using individuals and groups in research are:

Advantages
The person is easy to access
willing to take the time to assist
with the research
Able to clarify points through
interviewing
The person may be an expert on
the topic and be able to provide
valid and accurate information
Allows the first hand data to be
collected
Networking possibilities

Limitations
The individual is not be willing to
assist in research
Interviewing can be time
consuming
People dont want to complete a
survey/questionnaire
People may not provide serious
responses to questions asked
May be biased

The researcher is able to approach individuals that can assist in their

research and ask to schedule an interview or ask them to fill out a
questionnaire on the focus topic, DV against men.
Print and digital
Data is also able to be collected through print and digital data sources.
Print and digital sources of data are used as secondary data. They include
books, websites, newspapers, articles, journals, reports and statistics; all
of these when used in a research have relevance to the focus of the study.
Advantages and disadvantages of print and digital are:

Advantages
Wide range of resources available
on a range of subjects and styles
If a book/text or journals may be
an expert on the topic
Newspaper, magazines, journals
may be reporting on current and
contemporary information on the
topic

Limitations
information may not be accurate
Resources might be too general,
not specific enough
Not as immediate as using
electronic sources so may be more
time consuming
Information may be subjective
Information may be out-of-date
Space required to store and use
May not be original research but
reflect other works

The researcher has collected a large variety of articles and pulled out the
themes found within them. She has explored them in great detail in her
literature review, making sure that the chosen articles are valid and
reliable.

Reliability and Validity

Reliability refers to how well an IRP generates consistent and stable
results. Reliability can be measure through the test-retest method, which
means administering the same test twice at two different times with the
same group of individuals. This will ensure that truthful information was
given.
(Sampling) Validity makes certain that the research method covers a
broad range of subjects in relation to the research. Research documents
must go through a sampling process where a panel of experts can read,
correct and suggest improvements to make it easier for the participant to
fill out. This also helps to eliminate bias by the researcher.
Ethical Behaviour
Ethics are the method, procedure or perspective for deciding how to act
and for analysing complex problems and issues (David B. Resnik, May 1,
2011). They are also expressed as the norms that are applied to research,
such as social responsibility, human rights, and animal welfare,
compliance with the law and health and safety. Ethical behaviour is
designed to protect intellectual property, opinion and ideas while

encouraging participation in research. It is also to ensure the recognition

of anyones work cited in your research. Ethical behaviour is important to
ensure that no harm is inflicted on any research participant. Ethical
behaviours include respect, integrity, privacy and bias need to be
considered when researching.
Respect
In research, participants need to feel that their ideas, opinions and beliefs
are respected. This is particularly important when researching sensitive
focus areas and emotional topics. Individuals are less likely to give truthful
and meaningful answers if they are upset or have a lack of trust for the
researcher. This would result negatively with ineffective misleading
research findings. Showing respect for all participants is an ethical
behaviour and will result in effectively enhancing the findings of the
researcher. The IRP researcher would use respect to help the participant
trust the researcher and give truthful responses to aid in her in her
research.

Integrity
Integrity is the principles, values and standards of the researcher. An
ethical researcher with be truthful and honesty within her research. In a
reliable manner the researcher collects, records, interprets and analyses
her data. The researcher will approach research methods fairly and with
an open mind, they are just, truthful and morally upright in regards to
their research focus area.
Privacy
Consideration is needed about the privacy of the participant in research.
All information connected to the participants must be kept confidential.
Before the researcher is able to use responses she must first obtain
permission through the use of a consent form. It may be the participants
wish that their responses are to remain anonymous. It is of both ethical

and legal obligation of the researcher to consider and respect the privacy
of individuals. If privacy is not up-held, the participant could become at
risk, trust and integrity would be lost and research cancelled by law.
Research Bias
It is human nature to have our own individual views and opinions. Bias is
the distortion of research because of the influence of the researchers own
ideas, values and opinions. It is necessary for participants to be as
objective as possible when researching. Results should be based on
accurate facts instead of personal opinion. If the researcher is subjective,
the results will contain bias and are not a true representation of the issue.
This will diminish the integrity of the research and the researcher.

Types of Data
Data relates to the facts, statistics or opinion collected in research and
used for analysis or reference in a study. Types of data include primary,
secondary, qualitative and quantitative. Each of these variations of data
helps the research to draw conclusions about their particular focus topic.

Research Methods
Research methods are the methods used by a researcher to collect data.
The types of data collected from these methods include qualitative,
quantitative, primary and secondary. These research methods include
questionaries, interviews, case studies, observations and literature
reviews. The research has chosen to use questionnaires and interviews to
collect primary data, as she believes this is the best way to receive
opinion based research around her focus topic DV against men. Also she
has completed a detail literature review in relation to her topic.
Qualitative data

Qualitative data involves collecting facts and information regarding

individuals beliefs, feelings, attitudes and opinion to gain insight into the
researchers focus area. This type of data is more susceptible to bias when
compared to quantitative data. The researcher is collecting qualitative
data in her questionnaire by using written responses for some answers.
The researcher is also able to collect qualitative data from her interviews,
as she is able to ask the opinion of the participant about DV against men.
Quantitative data
Quantitative data is research that involves collecting facts in the form of
numerical data, which can be analysed through counting, graphing and
measuring. This type of data is more objective and reliable because its
subject to less research bias than qualitative data. The researcher is
collecting quantitative data by using demographic questions such as age
and gender, tick-a-box, Likert scale, multiple choice and rankings in her
questionnaire. In her interpretation and analysis, she will be able use this
numerical data to draw conclusions about the lack of education round the
focus topic of DV against males.

Primary data
Primary data is data observed or collected directly from first hand
involvement or experience. The information is obtained directly by
watching a groups behaviour of asking people questions through an
interview or questionnaire. The researcher is going to undertake in both
interviews and questionnaires with people of the general public and of
police officers who work in the Campbelltown DV unit.

Responses from people of the Macarthur region will help the researcher to
draw conclusions about the lack of awareness, knowledge education and
understanding in regards to DV against males.
Questionnaires
Questionnaires are effective in collecting both qualitative and quantitative
data through using open and closed ended questions. The questionnaire is
a form which a respondent is able to answer specific questions about the
focus question. Open-ended questions enable participants to
communicate their ideas morals and perceptions of the research area.
Closed-ended questions give the ability to choose from a selection of
possible answers. This makes the analysis stage more straightforward for
the researcher. Characteristics of an effective questionnaire are
establishing trust with the participant, avoiding leading questions and
making questions clear and concise for easy understanding.
The researcher has chosen this research method for her research, as it is
easy to collect both qualitative and quantitative in relation to her research
topic DV against men. Participants are able to answer and range of open
and closed questions which will aid the researcher collecting, analysing
and draw conclusions about lack of community education in regards to DV
against men.
The researcher increases the reliability of their research by drafting
possible questions to determine whether they prompt the expected
results. Also the researcher could run a pilot test with a small group who
will not participate in the real study.
The researcher increases the validity of the questionnaire by getting
people (10) the pilot their questionnaire. This helps the researchers to
edit, identify issues and provide guidance. Any errors of grammar issues
must be amended before the questionnaire is conducted.
Interviews
Interviews are used to collect qualitative data. They are either classified
as structured and unstructured, and a great deal of effective planning and

preparation is required. When developing an interview the researcher

needs to make sure that questions are not ambiguous and are easy to
understand. The question must only have one purpose. She must avoid
bias and be as objective as possible, as well as avoiding assumptions
based around common knowledge. When conducting the interview, make
to participant feel comfortable and aware of what your research is about.
Recording responses can be done in a written, audio or video format. The
researcher needs to get permission to take a recording of the individuals
responses
The researcher has chosen to use interviews as her second research
method. This method will help her to collect opinion-based responses
around her research topic, DV against men. The researcher will carry out
two interviews, which will give to different types of information both
relating to her focus area. One is with police officers who work in the DV
unit in the Macarthur area, and the other are general public.
The reliability of the interview is enhanced when the structure and the
presentation of the interview is the same for all participants. This means
that the researcher would present the same questions, in the same
manner, so that no participant is disadvantaged.
To ensure validity, the researcher must make certain that each
interviewee receives the same questions, and that they all specifically
relate to the hypothesis, in this cases DV against men. Also the researcher
must make sure that all responses are legitimate and that all that all data
collected is recorded approximately.

Ethical behaviours in questionnaires and interviews

The researcher has addressed the ethical behaviour of respect within her
research. The researcher has avoided sensitive topics when asking
questions as much as possible. This helps the research feel more
comfortable when answering the questionnaire. The respondents are more
likely to be truthful when answering the questions which effectively create
positive research outcome, which in this case is accurate and genuine

answers, to help the research answer her hypothesis that there is a lack
of community education in regards to DV against males.
The researcher has addressed the ethical behaviour of privacy by making
sure that all responses and personal data are keep confidential for public
eyes. This means that only the research as knowledge about the
participants. The research also must gain consent for all participants
through the signing on a consent form, to inform respondents of terms
and conditions the research will be help and used.
The researcher has addressed the ethical behaviour of bias by only asking
question specifically related to DV against men. By minimising to use of
the researchers own perspective on the issue in the asked questions the
questionnaire is more objective.
The researcher has addressed the ethical behaviour of Integrity by making
sure that ethical principles such as respect, privacy and bias are of the upmost importance. Because the researcher follows ethical principles such
as honesty, trust and openness, she is able to maintain her integrity.

Secondary data
Secondary data is data that has already been collected for another
purpose but has some relevance for your research. For instance
databases, pamphlets, reports, statistics, the internet, videos and
journals. The researcher has used various secondary data in her literature
review. They have helped her to draw out themes and gaps in research so
she can narrow down her focus. After completing her literature review the
researcher is able to reflect that there is a lack of community education
about DV against males.
Literature reviews
A literature review is a report styled piece of writing which compares and
contrasts the work of others. When reading through a variety of articles
related to you specific research focus, the researcher is able to pull out
common themes within literature and also identify gaps in research, in

relation to their topic. For this the researcher is then able to look at those
gaps in there research and make recommendation as to how future
research could potentially strive to close the gap. The literature uses is
usually secondary data, which includes newspaper articles, books,
journals, research reports and statistics.

Respect and integrity are shown in the researchers literature review by

crediting sources of data. This means that the researcher acknowledges
the use of others work within their own. This acknowledgement is shown
through the use of referencing data sources, to help make the literature
more reliable. Respect and integrity also means that the original owner of
information is not disadvantaged, but is able to help newer researchers in
expanding their knowledge on their specific focus area.
Bias is eliminated in this research as a result of the comparison a variety
of articles. These articles all reflect true facts and figures. They also have
similar themes which marry up and relate to DV against men. Different
perspectives and opinions for the review healed the researcher create a
fuller understanding of the gravity of the situation in regards to DV against
men, and that there is a lack of community education surrounding the
issue.
Reliability in a literature review is making sure that your articles have a
clear link to your focus area for you IRP. Also, making sure that your
sources are legitimate and that someone of high education is the author.
Using Wikipedia is not reliable people any person has the ability to change
or distort information.
Validity in a literature review is shown through the vast opinions of many
highly educated people, who have previously completed some research on
the researchers focus area. These people come from University teaching
level and extremely high graduation levels, which makes the research
more valid.