1 Selecting A Research Method

2 Selecting research methods How do we answer our research questions? Methodology depends on question, budget, timing, availability of data, and ability to implement 2

3 Availability of Data What are the possible or available sources of data? –Secondary sources (for background information) –Existing datasets –Administrative data –Data that you create! If primary data is already available, is there a need to collect your own data?

4 Why collect your own data? To get the data on the variables you are interested in To get adequate coverage of the treated (and control) population To get coverage of the treated population at the appropriate time Adapted from Outcomes, indicators, and measuring impact, Rema Hanna, Harvard University. J- PAL.

5 Data Collection Is the question to answer how common something is, or the extent of change over time? –Words like “Impact,” “Extent,” “Best/ optimal,” “Frequency,” “Average” –Then to answer it, you need to collect data that are measurable –Questionnaires, observations, administrative data

6 Data Collection Is the question to describe in detail the process by which something occurs, perceptions, or the range of options how things occur? –To answer this, need to collect data that are descriptive –Case studies, focus groups, unstructured interviews

7 Data Collection What is the difference between “qualitative” and “quantitative” research? –Can qualitative data be quantified? –See References: “Differences Between Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods”

8 Selecting research methods What are some research methods? Qualitative methods –Describing perceptions and motivations –Telling a story –Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRAs) Quantitative methods –Describing with numbers – prevalence –Surveys & Questionnaires –Evaluation Research 8