Pamela L. Eddy Research Methods: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Agenda Introductions Interests in attending Stage of research Need to know…. Basics Data Collection/Analysis Methods Practice Writing Introductions Interests in attending Stage of research Need to know…. Basics Data Collection/Analysis Methods Practice Writing

The Research Funnel Start with the global issues Work toward the research questions Support arguments with rationale Identify the “so what?” Building on other research Filling a research gap Creating new knowledge/theory Start with the global issues Work toward the research questions Support arguments with rationale Identify the “so what?” Building on other research Filling a research gap Creating new knowledge/theory

Methods Qualitative—description, “how,” voice Quantitative—measurements, correlations, control groups Mixed Methods—dominant format, uses both Qualitative—description, “how,” voice Quantitative—measurements, correlations, control groups Mixed Methods—dominant format, uses both

Qualitative Creswell—5 traditions of qualitative Case Study Phenomenology Narrative Ground Theory Ethnography Data collection—a few options Interviews Focus Groups Discourse Analysis Creswell—5 traditions of qualitative Case Study Phenomenology Narrative Ground Theory Ethnography Data collection—a few options Interviews Focus Groups Discourse Analysis

Data Collection Questions to consider Practice—small group 3-4 Come up with a question and probes to ask a participant (1 questioner; 1 participant; 1 observer) What surprises? Questions to consider Practice—small group 3-4 Come up with a question and probes to ask a participant (1 questioner; 1 participant; 1 observer) What surprises?

Reflexivity Ontology—Study of Reality Platonism—theory of metaphysical dualism (world of matter/world of mind) Cartesian—distinction between the inner mental life and outer physical behavior Idealism—one version holds nothing exists but minds and their content; another acknowledges there are material things in the world as well as minds but seeks to reduce mater to mind by arguing that he universe is constituted by mind Husserl’s phenomenology—concerned with the essential structures of conscious experiences Schultz—philosophical basis for phenomenological sociology and ethnomethodology Logical Positivists—openly hostile to metaphysics and any claims about reality or truth Ontology—Study of Reality Platonism—theory of metaphysical dualism (world of matter/world of mind) Cartesian—distinction between the inner mental life and outer physical behavior Idealism—one version holds nothing exists but minds and their content; another acknowledges there are material things in the world as well as minds but seeks to reduce mater to mind by arguing that he universe is constituted by mind Husserl’s phenomenology—concerned with the essential structures of conscious experiences Schultz—philosophical basis for phenomenological sociology and ethnomethodology Logical Positivists—openly hostile to metaphysics and any claims about reality or truth

Unpacking Researcher’s Backpack Questions to consider: Do you believe there is a “right” answer? Do you believe that reality is constructed? Whose voices get to be heard? Questions to consider: Do you believe there is a “right” answer? Do you believe that reality is constructed? Whose voices get to be heard?

Tools Triangulation Member check Peer reviewer Memoing Identification of biases—questioning Triangulation Member check Peer reviewer Memoing Identification of biases—questioning

Focus Groups Size (8-10) Recording—processing (A, B, C…) Note taker Observer Size (8-10) Recording—processing (A, B, C…) Note taker Observer

Ideological Perspectives Postmodernism Critique of positivist Multiple perspectives Critical Theory Address issues of domination, alienation Critique to suggest new possibilities Feminist approaches Sees gender as a basic organizing principle Includes researcher’s own role/values Postmodernism Critique of positivist Multiple perspectives Critical Theory Address issues of domination, alienation Critique to suggest new possibilities Feminist approaches Sees gender as a basic organizing principle Includes researcher’s own role/values

Analysis Importance of Theoretical Framework Veracity of findings EndNotes NiVivo/video coding Importance of Theoretical Framework Veracity of findings EndNotes NiVivo/video coding

Key Writing Details Clarity in design and methods Why this method? Can you follow the design? Evidence upon which findings are based Study is situated in a scholarly context Protocol for record keeping Clarity in design and methods Why this method? Can you follow the design? Evidence upon which findings are based Study is situated in a scholarly context Protocol for record keeping

Creswell (2007) Links between types of inquiry and format of writing Writing for the audience—academic; popular press; practitioners The language of the disciplines Links between types of inquiry and format of writing Writing for the audience—academic; popular press; practitioners The language of the disciplines

Tara Gray’s 12 Step Process Manage Time – Differentiate between urgent and important – Write daily for minutes – Record your time spent writing daily; share your records weekly Write – Write from the first day of your research project – Post your thesis on the wall and write to it Revise – Organize Around Key Sentences – Use your key sentences as an after-the-fact outline Manage Time – Differentiate between urgent and important – Write daily for minutes – Record your time spent writing daily; share your records weekly Write – Write from the first day of your research project – Post your thesis on the wall and write to it Revise – Organize Around Key Sentences – Use your key sentences as an after-the-fact outline

12 Steps cont’d Get Help Share early drafts with non-experts and later drafts with experts Learn how to listen Respond to each specific comment Polish and Let Go Read your prose out loud Kick it out the door! Get Help Share early drafts with non-experts and later drafts with experts Learn how to listen Respond to each specific comment Polish and Let Go Read your prose out loud Kick it out the door!

The Good Representation of Voice Self-reflection/learning New Theory development Contribution to the field Personal Accomplishment Representation of Voice Self-reflection/learning New Theory development Contribution to the field Personal Accomplishment

The Bad Hard work Mishaps (tapes, participants…) What you hear is more than what you ask Hard work Mishaps (tapes, participants…) What you hear is more than what you ask

The Ugly Messy Rewriting Conflict Devil’s in the details Messy Rewriting Conflict Devil’s in the details

Contact Pamela L. Eddy The College of William and Mary Jones Hall, 324 Williamsburg, VA Pamela L. Eddy The College of William and Mary Jones Hall, 324 Williamsburg, VA