Chapter 7 Designing a Research Plan Zina O’Leary

From Questions to Answers There are often a number of ways to credibly move from questions to answers, with each path giving a different perspective. Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

From Questions to Answers The Path… Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

From Questions to Answers Multiple Paths… Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

From Questions to Answers Paths and Perspective… Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

Prerequisites of Methodological Design Methodological options may be diverse, but credible design is reliant on three key prerequisites: the design addresses the question it is suited to the researcher you have the ethics approval, resources, time, and access necessary to accomplish the task. Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

Getting your Methodological Design on Target Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

Addressing the Question A strong methodological plan has logical links between aims, questions and eventuating methodology. Clarity and precision in your question can readily lead to a range of method possibilities that should be considered on the basis of both their logic and practicality. Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

Suited to the Researcher As a researcher you need to design methods that sit well with your own epistemological frameworks, interests, and skills. You will also need to be comfortable taking on particular roles such as: Theorist - the ‘philosopher’ or ‘thinker’   Scientist - the ‘objective expert’  Change agent - the ‘emancipator’ Bricoleur - the ‘jack of all trades’ Choreographer - the ‘coordinator of a dance’. Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

Practicalities Regardless of how appropriate your methodological design might be for you and your question, if you do not have: ethics approval adequate funds/resources enough time access you will need to rethink your approach. Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

Getting Down to the Nuts and Bolts of Design Getting down to the nitty gritty of design involves being able to answer basic questions of: who, where, when, what, and how Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

Who Who do you want to be able to speak about? Who do you plan to speak to/ observe? Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

Where What is the physical domain of your sample? Are settings relevant to the credibility of your methods? Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

When How do your methods fit into your timeframe? Is timing relevant to the credibility of your methods? Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

How How will I collect my data? How will I conduct my methods? Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

What What will you look for/ what will you ask? Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

Emergent Methodological Design With an emergent design researchers do not predetermine all of the details of their methodological protocols in advance of going into the field. This is quite distinct from haphazard or ill-defined designs. For example, in the case of both grounded theory and action research, emergence itself is a well-considered and planned part of the process. These methodologies require as much rigour as do more traditional approaches to research. Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage