Research

Methodology

A set of strategies in the

execution of the various tasks
related to a research;

Includes the proper

conceptualization of the
research problem,
organization of theoretical or
conceptual framework, the
construction of a research
design, and documentation.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Problem Conceptualization
Scenario building
The broad concern related to the
research problem is completely but
briefly discussed.
Problem analysis
The problem(s) related to the study
are identified and articulated clearly.
Project focusing
The objectives, scope and
limitations of the research to be
undertaken are clearly describe.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Organization of the Theoretical
Framework
Includes facts from books
and theories from journals
and theses.
Shows the conceptual model
of the study.
Includes the definition of
terms.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The plan, the structure, and strategy
of investigation in order to obtain
answers to research questions and to
control variance, otherwise known as
research design.
Construction of a Research Design
COMPONENTS
1. Observations or
Measures
2. Treatments or
Programs
3. Groups
4. Assignment to
Group

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD DESIGN
Theory-Grounded: Reflects the
theories which are being
investigated
Situational: Indicates the settings or
conditions of the
investigation
Feasible: Can be implemented
Redundant: Provides multiple
processing particularly
for validation
Efficient: Maintains a balance between
redundancy and the
tendency to over-design

RESEARCH METHODS

Primary Research
Involves the collection of data
that does not already exist.
This can be through
numerous forms, including
questionnaires and telephone
interviews amongst others.

RESEARCH METHODS

Secondary Research
Involves the summary,
collation and/or synthesis of
existing research rather than
primary research, where data
are collected from, for
example, research subjects or
experiments.

RESEARCH METHODS
Experiment
A set of observations performed in the
context of solving a particular problem or
question to retain or falsify a hypothesis or
research concerning phenomena.
Mathematical Modeling
The use of mathematical language to
describe a system. The representation of
the essential aspects of an existing or
future system which represents knowledge
of that system in usable form.
Simulation
An imitation of some real thing, state of
affairs, or process. The act of simulating
something generally entails representing
certain key characteristics or behaviors of
a selected physical or abstract system.

RESEARCH METHODS
Prototyping
The process of quickly putting together a
working model (a prototype in order to test
various aspects of a design, illustrate ideas
or features and gather early user feedback.
Prototyping is often treated as an integral
part of the system design process, where it is
believed to reduce project risk and cost.
Case Study
Involves an in-depth, longitudinal
examination of a single instance or event: a
case. It provides a systematic way of looking
at events, collecting data, analyzing
information and reporting the results. As a
result the researcher may gain a sharpened
understanding of why the instance
happened as it did, and what might become
important to look at more extensively in
future research.

RESEARCH METHODS
Action Research
Promotes professional development
opportunities that can make a difference
in their practice, connect to their lives as
professionals, and ultimately improve
the performance in ones workplace.
The goal of action research is to
investigate a self-selected issue in ones
workplace to effect positive changes in
the quality of results.
Cartography
The study and practice of making maps.
The application in science and
technology research is focused primarily
on spatial data transfer standards and
in the application of mathematical
packages in creating and positioning
solid images in three dimensional space.

RESEARCH METHODS
Classification
A method by which scientists group and
categorize things and concepts.

Interview
This includes recording oral narratives
and their subsequent analysis, so that
the intangible histories become
tangible. The interview provides
important primary source data for
research.
Participant observation
The process by a researcher senses and
assimilates the knowledge of a
phenomenon in its framework of
previous knowledge and ideas, or
within some scientific usages it may also
refer to data or phenomena recorded or
evaluated from a specific viewpoint as
opposed to an omniscient or objective
viewpoint.

RESEARCH METHODS
Statistical Surveys
Used to collect quantitative
information about items in a
population. A survey may focus on
opinions or factual information
depending on its purpose, and many
surveys involve administering
questions to individuals.
Statistical Analysis
Processing, interpretation or
explanation, and presentation of data.
Content or Textual Analysis
A standard methodology in the social
sciences for studying the content of
communication. Texts are studied as
to authorship, authenticity, or
meaning.

RESEARCH METHODS
Ethnography
The results of a holistic research
method founded on the idea that
a system's properties cannot
necessarily be accurately
understood independently of
each other.
Experience and Intuition
The ability to sense or know
immediately without reasoning,
using only previous experiences.

DATA
Data (singular: datum) refers to a
collection of natural phenomena
descriptors including the results of
experience, observation or experiment
or a set of premises. This may consist of
numbers, words or images, particularly
as measurements or observations of a set
of variables.
Data acquisition is the sampling of the
real world to generate data that can be
manipulated,
particularly,
by
a
computer.
Data analysis is the process of looking at
and summarizing data with the intent to
extract useful information and develop
conclusions.