Chapter 4: Formulating the Method SFM 651: Research Methods Dr. Johnson

Methods section Participants Instruments used Procedures Design and analysis

Why bother To explain how the study was conducted What did you do How did you do it Who did you use and why How did you identify them

Detail In a thesis, you have time / room / space / words to write things out. In an article, space is usually limited Page numbers Words

Why do it To make sure that people know EXACTLY what you did and how you did it Get the same result if they do the same study To show that what you did actually occurred Your result Did we miss something Increased shoes size relates to more Math knowledge

Don’t overdo it Start with a simple idea. Do not try to make your study too complex or too detailed Do something you can manage

Participants How do you get them Need to identify a target Need to ask permission Tell them what they would be doing Explain risks Sign a form Is it a good sample Who they represent Total number 10 vs 100

Telling about them Tell us details Exact numbers Include any omitted data Quit the study Failed to collect data Equipment malfunctions What other details ae important

Instruments What types of “stuff” did you use Why did you chose to use it Easy Reliable Trained on it Could something else have been used How and when did you use them

Procedures This is where you explain how the data was obtained Who gave the tests How they were given How much time was taken Order (if important) Explanations to participants

Pilot studies Smaller versions of the larger study Done to “try it out” first Fix any mistakes before doing a bigger study

Design and analysis How did you control your variables Isolate them Only looked at the one variable – all others constant How was the data analyzed What types of tests used What systems

Cause and effect Did one thing really cause another to happen Or was it coincidence Do Dogs hate cats, or does THAT dog hate THAT cat?

Manipulation How do you make sure that your data is accurate Devices No one is cheating Devices Heart rate monitor FitBit Other?

Flaws Is the hypothesis logical Are assumptions good Do you have the “right” participants Are treatments correct Are measures valid and reliable Is data collection being done carefully Are variables controlled