RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

RESEARCH IS TO EXTEND KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING AND RAISE AWARENESS OF INDIVIDUALS

DEFINITION OF RESEARCH
When you say that you are undertaking a research study to find answers to a question, you are implying the following process. Undertaking research within a chosen field. Using procedures, methods, techniques that have been tested for validity and reliable.[examplesGovernment and National Health service internet web sites, also books, journals. Your research is designed to be unbiased and objective.

VALIDITY & RELIABILITY

Validity The correct procedure have been applied to find answers to a question. Reliability Refers to the quality of a measurement procedures that provides repeatability and accuracy.

CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH
Research is a process of collecting, analysing and interpreting information to answer questions. To qualify as research, the process must have certain characteristic: it must, as far as possible , be controlled, rigorous, valid and verifiable.

PROCESS
Topic? Research question or hypothesis Design- methods and sampling? Ethics [ data protection Act 1998] Collect information Present information. Analyse. Evaluate (Squire 2007)

PRIMARY RESEARCH
Gather information by doing research Formal and informal observation Questionnaires Structured interviews Scientific experiment measurements

SECONDARY RESEARCH
Use information collected by others. Website Journals Media Books E-resources Review (extract information) Interpret data graphs tables statistics

ACTIVITY- WRITE A BRIEF DEFINITION OF WHAT EACH

How much do you know about research? 1. Research 2. Methodology 3. Ethics 4. Sampling 5. Qualitative 6. Quantitative 7. Survey 8. Secondary research 9. primary research

ANSWERS !
RESEARCH A way in which new things are found out.

Methodology The study of the research techniques which can be used

ANSWERS !
Ethics Something that influences the way the research is carried out- ensuring it is morally correct.

Sampling Sampling in the decision about who you are going to use in your research and how many people.

ANSWERS
Qualitative Research methods which get personal views and opinions from people [they generate a lot of information rather than figures] Quantitative Research methods which tend to produce a lot of numbers and statistics [they do not tend to be indepth research methods]

ANSWERS
Survey An umbrella term for questionnaires , interviews and data collection surveys

Secondary research Research which draws on material which has been written and or published by someone else

ANSWERS !
Primary research Research which is first hand to the researchers, ie something they carry out themselves.

ONE LAST POINT !

Longitudinal studies As study which goes on over a period of time, for example one year.

Over the year , your unit will cover all the above points. HOW ? Assignments, evidence, data, questionnaires etc.