Shirley A.

Bayoneta

RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
Research Methodology
The term methodology refers to the overall approaches &
perspectives to the research process as a whole and is concerned
with the following main issues:
 Why you collected certain data?
 What data you collected?
 Where you collected it?
 How you collected it?
 How you analyzed it?
Chapter 3- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Design
Respondents of the Study
Data Gathering Tool
Data Gathering Procedure
Statistical Tools/Data Analysis
 What is
Research
Design?
RESEARCH DESIGN
• A research design is simply the framework or plan
for a study that is used as a guide in collecting and
analyzing the data.
• It is a blueprint that is followed in completing a
study.
• It is a map that is usually developed to guide the
research.
• Research design is the conceptual structure within
which research would be conducted.
The research methodology section of any academic
research paper allows you to convince your readers that
your research is useful and will contribute to your field
of study. An effective research methodology is
grounded in your overall approach – whether
qualitative or quantitative – and adequately describes
the methods you used.
Common Types of
Quantitative
Research Design
Common Types of Quantitative Research Design
1. Descriptive Research Design
2. Comparative Research Design
3. Correlational Research Design
4. Descriptive Correlational Research Design
5. Comparative Correlational Research Design
6. Experimental Research Design
7. Quasi-Experimental Research Design
Types of Quantitative Research Designs and the Applicable
Statistical Tools
1. Descriptive Research Design-Statistical Tools to be used in this
research design
- Frequency and Percentage
- Weighted Mean (Major Statistical Tool)
- Mixed Methods of Qualitative and Quantitative can also
belong here.
2. Comparative Research Design-Statistical Tools to be used in this
research design
- t-test
- Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
3. Correlational Research Design-Statistical Tools to be used in this
research design
- Pearson’s r
- Spearman’s Rho
- Chi-square
4. Descriptive Correlational Research Design-Statistical Tools are
combination of descriptive and correlational statistical tools. For
instance, mean and Pearson’s r.
5. Comparative Correlational Research Design -Statistical Tools
are combination of comparative and correlational statistical
tools. For instance, t-test and Pearson’s r or ANOVA and
Pearson’s r.
6. Experimental Research Design
Statistical Tools to be used in this research design
- t-test
- Analysis of Variance
7. Quasi-Experimental Research Design
Statistical Tools to be used in this research design
- t-test
- Analysis of Variance
RESPONDENTS OF THE STUDY

 Under this section, the researcher must explain how

and where the subjects/respondents will be
taken/selected.
 Sampling technique to be used should be

explained as to its appropriateness.

 Sampling Procedure and Samples

Sampling procedure is a process of choosing part of a

population to use to usually test hypotheses about the entire
population. It is used to choose the number of respondents
from a large group of people (population). Since survey
research has a larger scope of respondents, sampling
technique is very necessary.
Sampling Procedure and Samples
 Data Gathering Methods
Data gathering methods Data Gathering
Methods refer to the specific techniques or
tools used to collect data. This includes
methods like surveys, interviews, observations,
or experiments. Essentially, it’s the "how" of
data collection—what instruments or
approaches you are using to gather your data.
 Data Gathering Methods
Data gathering methods refer to the various techniques and
procedures used to collect information, facts, or observations for the
purpose of analysis, research, or decision-making. These methods are
essential in acquiring data that can be used to draw conclusions, make
informed decisions, or test hypotheses. The choice of data gathering
methods depends on the nature of the research question, the type of
data needed, the resources available, and ethical considerations. Here
are some common data gathering methods: Surveys and
Questionnaires; Interviews; Observation; Experiments; Case Studies;
Archival Research; Ethnography; Sensor Data Collection; Focus Groups
and Online Data Collection.
CHECKLIST is a list of items or specific lines that a researcher wants to verify for inquiries, steps, or
actions being taken, or have been already taken by the respondents.
CHECKLIST is commonly used to determine the personal factors (profile) of the respondents. The
following is an example of checklist.
SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE is a set of questions used to gather data from a pre-
defined group of respondents to gain statistical information and insights on various
topics of interest.
Survey questionnaire can be effective means of measuring the bahaviors, attitudes,
preferences, opinions and intentions of relatively large number of respondents more
cheaply and quickly than other methods. The following are examples of s survey
questionnaire.
 Data Gathering
Methods in
Qualitative Research
(Review Lesson)
Data Gathering Methods in Qualitative Research (Review
Lesson)
Participant/Process • Diary Counts
Observation • Voice Recording
• Interview
• Video Recording
• Focus Group Discussion
(FGD) • Photography
• Participatory Rapid Appraisal • Archival Materials
(Immersion) • Grounded Theory
• Open-ended question • Content Analysis
• Ethnography • Historical Analysis
• Document Analysis (Review
of Records)
COMMONLY EMPLOYED STATISTICAL TOOLS

Statistical Tools for Gathering Data in Quantitative Research

Commonly Applied Descriptive Statistical Tools
 Standard Deviation
 Mean
 Frequency
 Percentage
 Simple Mean
 Weighted Mean
 Ranking
Commonly Applied Inferential
Statistical Tools
 Pearson r
 t-test
 Chi-square
 z-test
 Spearman’s Rho
 Analysis of
Variance (ANOVA) Correlation

 Ranking  Regression
Remember:
There is no formula for selecting the best method to
be used when gathering data. It depends on the
researcher’s design of the study. The type of data.
The time allotment to complete the study and the
researcher’s financial capacity.
Data Gathering Tool

 Instruments include tests, questionnaires, interviews,

scales, etc.
 All these devices including the laboratory equipment

and apparatus used should be described in detail.

 The description should include the
adoption/construction, validation, and administration
of the instruments used.
Tools for Data Collection
 1. Questionnaires/Schedules
 2. Interviews
 3. Observation Techniques
 4. Rating Scales
 5. Documentary Analysis/Content Analysis
 6. Experiments
SELECTION OF APPROPRIATE METHOD FOR DATA
COLLECTION
 As such the researcher must judiciously select the method/methods for his own study, keeping
in view the following factors:
 1. Nature, scope and object of enquiry: This constitutes the most important factor affecting
the choice of a particular method. The method selected should be such that it suits the type
of enquiry that is to be conducted by the researcher.
 2. Availability of funds: Availability of funds for the research project determines to a large
extent the method to be used for the collection of data. When funds at the disposal of the
researcher are very limited, he will have to select a comparatively cheaper method which
may not be as efficient effective as some other costly method.
SELECTION OF APPROPRIATE METHOD FOR DATA
COLLECTION

 3. Time factor: Availability of time has also to be taken into account in

deciding a particular method of data collection. Some methods take
relatively more time, whereas with others the data can be collected in
a comparatively shorter duration. The time at the disposal of the
researcher, thus, affects the selection of the method by which the data
are to be collected.
 4. Precision required: Precision required is yet another important
factor to be considered at the time of selecting the method of
collection of data.
DATA GATHERING PROCEDURE
DATA GATHERING PROCEDURE
 The procedures to follow in conducting the study should likewise be
explained in complete detail.
 Tools, techniques, devises and procedures to be used should be
described.
 The reader gets to know what the researcher will do and how will it
be done.
 In the case of experiments, it includes guidelines in the formation of
groups and the experimental manipulations.
Ethical issues concerning research participants:

 i) Collecting information:
 Your request for information may put pressure or create anxiety on a
respondent. Is it ethical? Research is required to improve conditions.
Provided any piece of research is likely to help society directly or
indirectly, it is acceptable to ask questions, if you first obtain the
respondents’ informed consent. If you cannot justify the relevance of
the research you are conducting, you are wasting your respondents’
time, which is unethical.
Ethical issues concerning research participants:

 ii)Seeking consent:
 In every discipline it is considered unethical to collect information
without the knowledge of the participant, and their expressed
willingness and informed consent. Informed consent implies that
subjects are made adequately aware of the type of information you
want from them, why the information is being sought, what purpose it
will be put to, how they are expected to participate in the study, and
how it will directly or indirectly affect them. It is important that the
consent should be voluntary and without pressure of any kind.
Ethical issues concerning research participants:

 iii) Providing incentives:

 Most people do not participate in a study because of incentives, but
because they realize the importance of the study. Is it ethical to
provide incentives to respondents to share information with you
because they are giving their time? Giving a present before data
collection is unethical.
Ethical issues concerning research participants:

 iv) Seeking sensitive information:

 Certain types of information can be regarded as
sensitive or confidential by some people and thus an
invasion to their privacy, asking for such information
may upset or embarrass a respondent. For most people,
questions on drug use, pilferage, income, age, marital
status etc., are intrusive. In collecting data you need to
be careful about the sensitivities of your respondents. It
is not unethical to ask such questions provided that you
tell your respondents the type of information you are
going to ask clearly and frankly, and give them
sufficient time to decide if they want to participate,
without any major inducement.
Ethical issues concerning research participants:

 v) Seeking sensitive information: When you collect

data from respondents or involve subjects in an
experiment, you need to examine carefully whether
their involvement is likely to harm them in any way.
Harm includes research that might include hazardous
experiments, discomfort, anxiety, harassment, invasion
of privacy, or demeaning or dehumanizing procedures.
If it is likely to, you must make sure that the risk is
minimal i.e. the extent of harm or discomfort is not
greater that ordinarily encountered in daily life. If the
way information is sought creates anxiety or
harassment, you need to take steps to prevent this.
Ethical issues concerning research participants:

 vi) Maintaining confidentiality:

 Sharing information about a respondent with others
for purposes other than research is unethical.
Sometimes you need to identify your study
population to put your findings into context. In such
a situation you need to make sure that at least the
information provided by respondents is kept
anonymous. It is unethical to identify an individual’s
responses. Therefore you need to ensure that after
the information has been collected, the source
cannot be known.
Ethical issues relating to the researcher:

 i) Avoiding bias:
 Bias on the part of the researcher is unethical. Bias is a deliberate
attempt to either to hide what you have found in your study, or
highlight something disproportionately to its true existence.
 ii) Provision or deprivation of a treatment:
 Both the provision and deprivation of a treatment/ intervention may
pose an ethical dilemma for you as a researcher. Is it ethical to
provide a study population with an intervention/ treatment that has
not yet been conclusively proven effective or beneficial? But if you do
not test, how can you prove or disprove its effectiveness or benefits?
Ethical issues relating to the researcher:

 iii) Using inappropriate research methodology: It is unethical to use a

method or procedure you know to be inappropriate e.g. selecting a highly
biased sample, using an invalid instrument or drawing wrong conclusions.
 iv) Incorrect reporting: To report the findings in a way that changes or
slants them to serve your own or someone else’s interest, is unethical.
 v) Inappropriate use of the information: The use of information in a way
that directly or indirectly adversely affects the respondents is unethical. If
so, the study population needs to be protected. Sometimes it is possible to
harm individuals in the process of achieving benefits for the organizations.