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The Importance of Research Methodology
Comparison of different methodologies of research
The Importance of Research Methodology
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Research methods refer to different critical procedures which researchers apply in collection and analysis of data aimed at making a correct decision. In the selection of a certain sociological research method, researchers identify themselves with a research approach which best fits their subject of study by giving the most appropriate data thus correct decision making. In sociology, research methods are extensive. Sociology covers qualitative, quantitative, primary and secondary sources of data which is arrived at by use of varied research methods. This paper will focus on defining and discussing the similarities and differences between survey, participant observation and experiment as they apply in sociology.
Definitions.
Survey is a social
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It is an information gathering approach which is designed to completely show features of a certain group of study concerning their social way of life in a natural outlook. In this approach, the researcher remains different from the community which he/she is gathering information about. At times, the researcher tries to observe and functionally gets involved in developing the setting being studied. As such they share information with the community being studied and design critical research notes according to the experiences they observe and hear. This forms a basis for researchers to analyze the topic of …show more content…
The methods differ in suitability and fields of application. Survey is more appropriate in behavioral and social sciences, and experiments are applied in natural and physical disciplines while participant observation best fits in different fieldworks.
The methods also differ in goals and objectives of the study. Participant observation aims at providing detailed notes on what was observed during the study, and surveys focus on explaining desires of every member in a certain sample group while experiment aims at explaining features of participants and other aspects.
Survey information uses a set of precisely defined questions and instructions where responses are recorded. Participant observation information can be presented in the form of pictures, sketches, maps and recording among others. Experiments provide a written response concerning the readings and findings(Gravetter& Forzano, 2018).
The research methods use different sample population size. Surveys use relatively large sample population while experiments and participant observation use relatively small sample population. This creates a difference in the response rate and the time has taken in arriving at the final decision. Moreover, the methods are applied in varied forms of research. Experiments are used when the research is experimental, whereas surveys are applied when the study is descriptive. On the other hand, the participant observation approach is used when the research is observational in
The laboratory experiment gives the experimenter a greater chance to control the conditions and enables you to measure behaviour with greater precision. This method also allows for quantative research and also enables greater control of variables. Although it gives the experimenter greater control, this can also seem daunting to the subject who may feel more uncomfortable and is less likely to ...
The scientific method is how psychologists gain knowledge about the mind and behavior. It is used by all scientists. The experimental method is the one way to engage the scientific method, and the only way to find a cause and effect in relationships. It is summarized in five steps, observing some phenomenon in the world, forming a hypothesis which is an educated prediction about relationships between two or more variables, examining the gathered information by using empirical research, determining what the results are and drawing them, and evaluating the results whether it will support the hypothesis or not. Researchers, at the end, submit their work for publication for all to see and read (King, 2016). There are three types of psychological research in the scientific method, descriptive research, correlation, and experimental research (King, 2016). The article The Effects of Negative Body Talk in an Ethnically Diverse Sample of College Students (Katrevich, Register, & Aruguete, 2014) is an example of the experimental method.
Answer The process of participant observation allows the researcher to study and gather data in various ways. For many years participant observation has been the baseline used in numerous fields of study such as anthropology and sociology. However, in more recent years there has an increase in the number of qualitative studies for information and data gathering purposes. There are several advantages to participant observation such as: •
Participant observation is a method of collecting information and data about a culture and is carried out by the researcher immersing themselves in the culture they observing. The researcher becomes known in the community, getting to know and understand the culture in a more intimate and detailed way than would be possible from any other approach. This is done by observing and participating in the community’s daily activities. The method is so effective because the researcher is able to directly approach the people in the community in a natural context as opposed to taking the participant out of their environment. The aim of participant observation is to gain an understanding the subject’s life from their perspective, with the purpose of collecting more detailed information about a community’s habits, opinions, relationships and issues.
A field research method is everyday situations, for example, Piliavin et al. (1969) Good Samaritanism. Laboratory research method is a controlled situation; for example, Zimbardo (1973) Stanford Prison Experiment.
The father of quantitative analysis, Rene Descartes, thought that in order to know and understand something, you have to measure it (Kover, 2008). Quantitative research has two main types of sampling used, probabilistic and purposive. Probabilistic sampling is when there is equal chance of anyone within the studied population to be included. Purposive sampling is used when some benchmarks are used to replace the discrepancy among errors. The primary collection of data is from tests or standardized questionnaires, structured interviews, and closed-ended observational protocols. The secondary means for data collection includes official documents. In this study, the data is analyzed to test one or more expressed hypotheses. Descriptive and inferential analyses are the two types of data analysis used and advance from descriptive to inferential. The next step in the process is data interpretation, and the goal is to give meaning to the results in regards to the hypothesis the theory was derived from. Data interpretation techniques used are generalization, theory-driven, and interpretation of theory (Gelo, Braakmann, Benetka, 2008). The discussion should bring together findings and put them into context of the framework, guiding the study (Black, Gray, Airasain, Hector, Hopkins, Nenty, Ouyang, n.d.). The discussion should include an interpretation of the results; descriptions of themes, trends, and relationships; meanings of the results, and the limitations of the study. In the conclusion, one wants to end the study by providing a synopsis and final comments. It should include a summary of findings, recommendations, and future research (Black, Gray, Airasain, Hector, Hopkins, Nenty, Ouyang, n.d.). Deductive reasoning is used in studies...
Participant Observation Participant observation (PO) is a qualitative method that derives from ethnography. It usually lives among distant people to understand their way of life with a mixture of involvement and detachment. By emerging oneself into the environment, PO helps to focus on understanding the nature, more than just assessing the magnitude and distribution of phenomena quantitatively. For writers such as Spradley, he used the term PO to refer to the general approach of fieldwork in ethnographic research and Agar used PO as a cover term for all the observation and formal and informal interviewing in which anthropologists engage (Dewalt & Dewalt, 2001). Hence, the term is accepted universally as the central and defining method of
Kawulich, B. (2005). Participant observation as a data collection method. Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 6(2). Retrieved from http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0502430
The first method to be discussed and analysed are experimental methods. There is a variety of experimental methods including; laboratory, field and natural experiments. These methods are the most scientific method due to them being highly objective and systematic. In addition, this method is regarded as the most powerful research method used in psychology because of the potential to investigate the causes of events and therefore, identifying the cause and effect relationship. When carrying out an experiment the researcher intervenes directly in the situation being investigated. The researcher manipulates an independent variable (IV) in order to investigate whether there is a change in the dependent variable (DV). Any other variables that could have an
In this paper, I will define quantitative and qualitative research methods and provide examples in the context of social issues which will hopefully provide insight into how this methods are properly applied.
The Advantages and Limitations of Social Surveys in Sociological Research To survey something, is to carry out a systematic overview so that a researcher can produce a comprehensive general report on it. Survey method is often used by positivist sociologists seeking to test their hypotheses, and to investigate causes and examine variables. As with every other sociological research, survey has its own advantages and limitations. Positivist research, which is in the scientific tradition, begins with a hypothesis that can be either confirmed or rejected according to the data collected. One of the significant advantages of survey method is that, it can be used to collect data that is a representative of a larger population.
The observational method is when researchers use their senses to observe, examine, and record behaviors in a natural setting. This means there is no interruption or manipulation by the researcher. In order to enhance this type of research,
Experiments use inquiry skills and methods to make estimates, predictions, gather and analyze data, draw conclusions, and present findings. Examples include texting sink or float objects, growth conditions, and steps needed to create an electrical circuit.
Qualitative and quantitative research methods take different approaches to gathering and analysing information. Whether it is a qualitative or quantitative study, the research study begins with a question or series of questions. Both use rigorously designed studies to get the most accurate, detailed and complete results. Qualitative studies common methods are interviews, surveys and observation. A qualitative study aims to provide a detailed description of the study results, often using pictures and written descriptions to describe what the research revealed. A qualitative study looks at the big picture, helping researchers to narrow in on points of interest that then can be followed up on in a quantitative study. While a quantitative study has a narrower focus, it attempts to provide a detailed explanation of the study focus, along with this using numbers and statistics. And the results from a quantitative study can reveal bigger questions that call for qualitative study. Or vice versa a qualitative study may reveal at analysis that a more focus and direct approach may be needed. With both methods analysis is a key part of any study whether qualitative or quantitative.
The second method is their in-depth interviewing of the local people. The anthropologist interview the local people in order to know what their intake/opinion is on the matter at hand and how is it affecting them as the community. And the anthropologist interviews the community’s leaders to understand their point of view. In this type of method they use statistic questionnaires to conclude their research. The anthropologist needs to use the statistic questionnaire to produce direct and quantified result.