CAM 2B – 2025 - Tutorial classes week 13
This week is a revision of the semester’s work. In all of this semester’s tutorial, we have
discussed these aspect, but as a summary, we have compiled this list.
Week 1: What is research and why it matters
In week 1 the emphasis was that research seeks to discover aspects that we as humans, and
researchers, do not know. In other words, unearth new knowledge/s. ‘Out there’ is a whole
body of knowledge, but there are gaps in that knowledge. Research seeks answers to those
gaps in knowledge.
Discussion:
Why do we need to seek new knowledge/s?
Give examples of gaps in the scholarly body of knowledge about a particular topic
Week 2: Sampling
In week 2 we’ve investigated how sampling works, and why can’t we include ‘the whole of the
population’ in our research. Our conclusion was that one needs to identity the population of
one’s study and which participants/data sets to include in the study. In quantitative and
qualitative research below the main difference:
In quantitative studies, one needs to ‘give all in the population’ and equal chance to be
in the study.
In qualitative studies, one needs to select only a small group to have in-depth
conversations to get the ‘meaning behind’ what participants say.
That usually means a probability sample vs a non-probability sample. In quantitative research,
a probability sample is that all of the people in the population have the same probability to be
included in the study; whilst in qualitative research, a non-probability sample is drawn –
mostly on identifying characteristics/traits of people to include in one’s research project. For
both quantitative and qualitative research there are a couple of different types of samples to
be drawn.
Discussion:
From a quantitative research perspective, list the types of samples that can be drawn
and mention the characteristics of each.
From a quantitative research perspective, list the types of samples that can be drawn
and mention the characteristics of each.
Week 3: Qualitative data collection methods
In week 3, we have discussed various qualitative data collection methods.
Discussion:
Briefly consider each, and say when they would be most productive to answer the
overall objective of research.
Week 4: Quantitative data collection methods
In week 4, we have discussed various quantitative data collection methods.
Discussion:
Briefly consider each, and say when they would be most productive to answer the
overall objective of research.
Week 5: Data collection from social media
In week 5, we have discussed various social media data collection methods.
Discussion:
Briefly consider each, and say when they would be most productive to answer the
overall objective of research.
Week 6: Literature review
In week 6, we have discussed why a literature review is necessary for research. In short, it
means that one needs to 1) summarise all the research about the existing research (and other
information) about the topic at hand, 2) critically engage with it, and 3) point out
shortcomings in the scholarly body of knowledge about those (the gap that one’s research will
fill in answering questions about the particular topic under study).
Discussion:
Give examples of ‘gaps’ in the scholarly body of knowledge you can think of. Perhaps
think of your second assessment of this semester: what did you point out as a gap in
research on the topic at hand.
Week 7: Ethical considerations in research
In week 7, we have discussed the many aspects relating to ethics that one needs to consider
in a research project. If one includes human participants into research, it multiplies the ethical
considerations, especially with regards to the POPI Act.
Discussion:
Briefly mention the multitude of ethical aspects to consider in research.
If human participants are included in the sample, explain the ethical aspects to be
considered.
Briefly, in social media research, list the ethical aspects to consider.
Week 8: Quantitative research analysis
In week 8, we have discussed quantitative research analysis methods.
Discussion:
Briefly consider these aspects, focusing on the validity of findings.
Week 9: Qualitative research analysis
In week 9, we have discussed qualitative research analysis methods.
Discussion:
Briefly consider these aspects, focusing on academic rigour and the trustworthiness of
findings.
Week 10: Findings: presenting and interpreting data
In week 10, we have discussed how to present the findings of a research project in an actual
report. The focus fell on 1) presenting the data, and 2) interpreting the data.
Discussion:
Briefly consider the difference between presenting data and interpreting data.
Week 11: Rigour and trustworthiness in qualitative research
In week 11, we have taken note of the fact that it is quite easy to claim that quantitative data
is valid (the principle is that if another researcher follows the same research design, they will
come up with the same answers). However, the same can’t be said of qualitative research,
since usually only a small sample is drawn for one’s research, and that sample is oftentied to
time and place and other variables. It is thus necessary to take cognizance of the purpose of
qualitative research – to open up new views of a relatively under-researched topic. In other
words, qualitative research is not interested in how many participants of a study gave a
particular opinion, but rather, how many different views the research can elicit and then to
interpret them. For both quantitative and qualitative research (but more so for the latter), it is
necessary to consider the positionality of the researcher.
Discussion:
Briefly consider the aspects of rigour and trustworthiness in qualitative research.
Week 12: Decolonising research
In week 12, we have discussed 3 aspects: 1) the project of decoloniality, 2) decolonizing
knowledge, and 3) what the aforegoing means for research.
Discussion:
Briefly consider ways in which research can be decolonized.