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Research Methodologies: Chapter Four Research Methods

This document discusses various research methodologies. It classifies research based on field of study, approach, and whether it is pure theoretical development or applied. It also distinguishes between quantitative and qualitative research methods. Specific methods covered include action research, case studies, surveys, and experiments. Key elements of experiments are defined as a hypothesis, experimental system, quantitative measurement, use of controls, data analysis, and replication procedures.

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Tefera Kunbushu
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39 views13 pages

Research Methodologies: Chapter Four Research Methods

This document discusses various research methodologies. It classifies research based on field of study, approach, and whether it is pure theoretical development or applied. It also distinguishes between quantitative and qualitative research methods. Specific methods covered include action research, case studies, surveys, and experiments. Key elements of experiments are defined as a hypothesis, experimental system, quantitative measurement, use of controls, data analysis, and replication procedures.

Uploaded by

Tefera Kunbushu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Research Methodologies

Chapter Four
Research Methods

1
Research Classification (1)
• Research can be classified from three
different perspectives:
– Field
• Position of the research within a hierarchy
of topics
• Example:
– Artificial Intelligence  Automated
Reasoning  First-
Order Reasoning  Decidability
– Approach
• Research methods that are employed as part of the
research process
2
• Examples:
Research Classification (1) (cont’d)
– Nature
• Pure theoretical development
• Review of pure theory and evaluation of its
applicability
• Applied research

3
Research Classification (2)
• Pure theory:
– Developing theories and working on their
consequences, with regard to experimentation
or application
• Descriptive studies:
– Reviewing and evaluating existing theories,
including describing the state of the art,
comparing predictions with experimental data

4
Research Classification (2) (cont’d)
• Exploratory studies:
– Investigating an ‘entirely’ new area of research,
exploring a situation or a problem
• Explanatory studies:
– Explaining or clarifying some phenomena or
identifying the relationship between things
• Causal studies:
– Assessing the causal relationship between
things

5
Quantitative and Qualitative Research
Methods
• Quantitative research methods
– Methods associated with measurements (on
numeric scales)
– Stemming from natural sciences
– Used to test hypotheses or create observations
for inductive reasoning
– Accuracy and repeatability of vital
importance

6
Quantitative and Qualitative Research
Methods (cont’d)
• Qualitative research methods
– Methods involving case studies and surveys
– Stemming from social sciences
– Concerned with increasing understanding of an
area
– Repeatability usually a problem

7
Research Methods (1)
• Action research:
– Pursues action (or change) and understanding at
the same time Continuously alternates between
action and critical reflection, while refining
methods, data and interpretation in the light of
the understanding developed in the earlier
cycles
– Example: Reflective teaching

8
Research Methods (1) (cont’d)
• Case study:
– In-depth exploration of a single situation
– Usually generates a large amount of
(subjective) data
– Should not merely report the data obtained or
behaviour observed but attempt to generalise
from the specific details of the situation
observed
– Example: Case study of open source software
development
9
Research Methods (2)
• Survey:
– Usually undertaken using questionnaires or
interviews
– Questionnaire and interview design
important!
– Determination of sample size and sample
elements important!
• (See specialist literature for details)
– Example: Survey on popularity or use of
programming languages
10
Research Methods (2) (cont’d)
• Experiment:
– Investigation of causal relationships using tests
controlled by the researcher
– Usually performed in development, evaluation
and problem solving projects
– Example: Evaluation of processor
performance

11
Key Elements of an Experiment
• A precise hypothesis that the experiment
will confirm or refute
• A completely specified experimental
system, which will be modified in some
systematic way to elicit the effects predicted
by the hypothesis
• Quantitative measurement of the results
of modifying the experimental system
• Use of controls to ensure that the
experiment really tests the hypothesis 12
Key Elements of an Experiment (cont’d)
• Analysis of the measured data to determine
whether they are consistent with the
hypothesis
• Report of procedures and results so that
others can replicate the experiment

13

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