Investigative Project Research Methods Investigative Project

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHOD This section of your IP comes after your introduction. The words for this section are not counted in the total word count.

As noted in the IP guidelines the research design and method should include: A brief outline of the research design and method. Sampling methods Size of sample Participants Materials used Procedures Ethical procedures

A brief outline of the research design and method “To address/explore/gain an understanding [insert your research aim] qualitative data was gathered using [insert research method]…” e.g. “To explore how masculinity is constructed in Australian television programs, and the subsequent effects this has on gender inequality, qualitative data was gathered using a series of semi-structured, in-depth interviews.”

You will need to select an appropriate research method for your study. For the IP I strongly encourage you to select from the following options: Semi-structured in-depth interview Questionnaire Content analysis Focus group

Semi-structured in-depth interview In person (ideally) or over the phone or via email. A set of prepared questions (with flexibility). Less people, more depth. Lived experience. Those directly involved and experts/academics Rich, qualitative data.

Questionnaire Give people to complete in your presence or over the via email. A set of prepared questions and statements (not flexible). More people, less depth. Might be better for some sensitive issues (mental health) and to gauge general attitudes towards something. Those directly involved (no experts/academics) Quantitative and some qualitative data.

Content Analysis Unobtrusive research method the study of recorded human communications: television shows, films, books, magazines, web pages, poems, newspapers, songs, art, speeches, letters, email messages, social media content, laws etc. Good for studying institution of media “Who says what, to whom, why, how, and with what effect?” Consider time frame and quantity Coding system (manifest and latent) Quantitative and qualitative data.

Sampling method For the IPs we will use a non-probability sampling method. In particular, we will use a convenience sampling method. Why?

Size of sample The size of the sample will depend upon a number of factors: The research method you are using (e.g. it will be easier to give 20 people a questionnaire than it would be to interview 20 people). If you are going to conduct semi-structured in-depth interviews, I encourage you to interview 4-6 people. The complexity of the research topic (e.g. the type of participants you need to access) The resources you have access to (e.g. number of researchers – in this case: only one – financial resources and time available).

Participants The people who did end up participating in the study (do not include names). e.g. The participants consisted of three mature-aged individuals from various non-western, ethnic backgrounds, who now reside in Australia; and one participant of a Western background having also migrated to Australia.

Materials used Remember that you are trying to write your methods, so that another social scientist (sociologist) could repeat this study if necessary – therefore, they would need to know what materials/equipment was used for the study. Materials: recording device(s), copies of questionnaire, copies of ethic consent forms etc.

Procedures What was done to obtain data/information (your primary research)? Must be in past tense. E.g. “Open-ended, consecutive questions were asked of the participants, whilst the conversations were recorded simultaneously on a digital audio recording device.”

Ethical procedures VERY IMPORTANT Ethical consent forms Informed consent Invasion of privacy Confidentiality Deception Lasting harm Debriefing