Research Methods Overview of methods and approaches

What is research? b Systematic enquiry b Approaches  Positivist  Interpretive b Popper: Falsifiable b Kuhn: Paradigm shift

Positivist Approach b Hypothesis testing b Experimental, makes measurements b Quantitative b Means not values b “Objective”

Interpretative Approach b Explanatory b Exploratory b Qualitative b Often small scale b “Subjective”

Ethics b Negotiating access b Who owns the data?  Right to know  Right to publish b Informed consent b Anonymity and Confidentiality b Insider Research

Qualitative methods b Interviews (structured/semi-structured) b Diaries b Observation b Analysis of documents b Experiments b Data tends to be information rich but specific b Analysed by careful examination of data

Quantitative methods b Experiments b Questionnaires b Structured interviews b Observation using coding protocols b Data wide ranging and usually generalisable b Analysed using mathematical/statistical methods

Other methods b Approaches rather than methods  May use multiple methods b Action research  based on own activities  Observe - Act - Monitor - Evaluate cycle b Case study  Study of a single instance  In depth study of something/someone specific