Research methodology
Quantitative Methods
Qualitative procedures
ISM20 – Project management and Research Methods
Quantitative Methods
A definition
• A survey or experiment that provides as output a
quantitative or numeric description of some
fraction of the population, called the sample.
ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods
Components of a survey method
The survey design
The population and sample
The instrumentation
Variables in the study
Data analysis
ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods
The survey design
Purpose of the survey
The research question
Type of survey
• Cross sectional
• Longitudinal
Form of data collection
ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods
The population and sample
Description of the population
Sampling design
• Single stage
• Multistage
• Stratified
Sample selection
ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods
The instrumentation
The instrument (tool)
• Existing
• New
Rating scale
• Likert scale: Rating the Items. 1-to-5 rating scale where:
1. = strongly unfavorable to the concept
2. = somewhat unfavorable to the concept
3. = undecided
4. = somewhat favorable to the concept
5. = strongly favorable to the concept
Pilot
Administration
• Postal survey
• email
ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods
Variables and analysis
The research question
Variable in the research
• E.g. Number of years of academic study
The questions in the instrument
• E.g. How many years of study in a University
• As an undergraduate?
• As a postgraduate?
Data analysis
• Steps
• Bias in the data
• Non-response
• Statistics, e.g. mean, standard deviation etc.
ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods
Components of an experimental method
Subjects
Instruments and materials
The experimental design
ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods
Subjects
Selection
• Conveniently
• Random (RCT)
Group assignment
• Random
• Matched. E.g. Ability, Age
• Size
Variables
• Dependent
• Independent
ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
A true experiment, in which the researcher
randomly assigns some patients to at least
one maneuver (treatment) and other patients
to a placebo, or usual treatment. Key
features = the classic way to evaluate
effectiveness of drugs (or exercise, diet,
counseling). Patients are followed over time
(Prospective). If properly done, an RCT can
be used to determine cause and effect
ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods
Instrumentation and Materials
Description
Validation
• Pilot
• Content validity
• Prediction validity
Materials
ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods
The experimental design
Type
• Pre-experimental
• No control group
• Quasi-experimental
• Control group, but not randomly assigned
• Single subject design (over time)
• Pure experiment
• Repeated measures
• Change groups
ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods
Overview of Qualitative Research
Design
• Historical routes in anthropology
• Generates new understanding by naming and framing
concepts and themes
• Removes bias by questioning preconceived assumptions of
the social group under study
• Promotes neutrality through adoption by the researcher of
naïve stance or critical discussion, challenges pre-conceived
assumptions of both the researcher and the social group under
study
• Produces new understanding about the world, changes the
way power, culture and social interaction are understood
ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods
Data Collection in Qualitative Research
•Observation (Videoed, non-participant, semi-participant and
participant observation, field notes)
•Interviews (individual and group - known as focus groups,
tape recorded and transcribed, field notes)
•Secondary data analysis (using written material collected for
purposes other than research)
•Questionnaires (unstructured, postal, interviews)
•A mixture of all four
ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods
Questions in Qualitative Research
In qualitative research questions are open-ended.
Sometimes a check list or topic guide will be used by the
researcher to ensure all the relevant areas are covered. This
is known as semi-structured data collection. It is used in all
four methods of data collection
Sometimes the only guide is the topic itself and the
researcher collects verbatim or naturally occurring data.
This is known as unstructured data collection. It is used in
all four methods of data collection
ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods
Sampling in Qualitative Research
The sampling method of choice is theoretical sampling
(queuing behaviour)
However, often this is not possible and people resort to
convenience sampling (students) and
snowball sampling (mental health in black and ethnic
minority communities)
Neither of the latter two methods are considered strong
but maybe all that can be achieved. Research must be
viable.
ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods
Data Analysis in Qualitative Research
•Read and re-read data, become engrossed in it.
•Identify themes: common, conflicting, minority
•Test themes across the data set, where are they common, under
what circumstances are they found, not found. This sets the
parameters on the interpretation and generalisation of data
•Get more than one person to analyse the data independently then
together
•Demonstrate trustworthiness in data analysis
•Examples
•Biographical continuity
•Nursing routines as a method of managing a transient workforce
ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods
Qualitative research
Interpretative research
Process orientated
Researcher(s) are the primary data
collection instrument
Descriptive research
Outputs are an inductive process
ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods
References
MSc project web pages
[Link]
Creswell, J. W. (1994) Research design :
qualitative and quantitative approaches. -
Thousand Oaks, Calif.; London : Sage
Publications, ISBN 0803952546
ISM20 – Project Management and Research Methods