Chapter III

Methodology
Research Design and Approach
• Step 1: Describe the research design and approach that you have
chosen, such as case study, ethnography, or grounded theory.
• Step 2: Explain why you chose this approach and how it aligns with
your research questions and objectives.
• Step 3: Describe the key features of your approach, such as the role of
the researcher, the type of data collected, and the expected
outcomes.
• Step 4: Discuss any potential limitations or challenges associated with
your chosen approach.
Data Collection Method
• Step 1: Describe the data collection methods that you have used,
such as interviews, observation, or document analysis.
• Step 2: Explain why you chose these methods and how they align
with your research questions and objectives.
• Step 3: Describe the procedures and techniques used for each
method, including any relevant tools or equipment.
• Step 4: Discuss any challenges or limitations that you encountered
during data collection and how you addressed them.
Sampling Strategy and Participant Selection
• Step 1: Describe the sampling strategy that you have used, such as
purposive sampling or snowball sampling.
• Step 2: Explain why you chose this strategy and how it aligns with
your research questions and objectives.
• Step 3: Describe the criteria that you used to select participants, such
as age, gender, occupation, or other relevant factors.
• Step 4: Discuss any challenges or limitations that you encountered
during participant selection and how you addressed them.
Data Analysis Method
• Step 1: Describe the data analysis methods that you have used, such as
thematic analysis, discourse analysis, or content analysis.
• Step 2: Explain why you chose these methods and how they align with
your research questions and objectives.
• Step 3: Describe the procedures and techniques used for each method,
including any relevant software or tools.
• Step 4: Provide examples of how you have applied each method to
your data.
• Step 5: Discuss any challenges or limitations that you encountered
during data analysis and how you addressed them.
Trustworthiness and Rigor
• Step 1: Explain the steps that you have taken to ensure the
trustworthiness and rigor of your study.
• Step 2: Describe how you have addressed issues such as credibility,
transferability, dependability, and confirmability.
• Step 3: Provide examples of how you have used strategies such as
member checking, triangulation, and reflexivity to enhance the
trustworthiness and rigor of your study.
• Step 4: Discuss any limitations or challenges associated with ensuring
the trustworthiness and rigor of your study.
Ethical Considerations
• Step 1: Discuss the ethical considerations that you have taken into
account in your research, such as informed consent, confidentiality,
and privacy.
• Step 2: Describe the steps that you have taken to ensure that your
research is conducted in an ethical and responsible manner.
• Step 3: Discuss any challenges or issues that you have encountered
while addressing ethical considerations.
Sampling Schemes
Purposive Sampling
• Purposeful sampling: This technique involves selecting participants
who are most likely to provide rich, detailed information related to
the research questions. Purposeful sampling is often used in
qualitative research as it allows researchers to gather in-depth
insights and perspectives on specific topics.
Convenience Sampling
• Convenience sampling: This technique involves selecting participants
who are easily accessible and available to participate in the study.
Convenience sampling is commonly used in qualitative research when
time and resources are limited.
Snowball Sampling
• Snowball sampling: This technique involves selecting participants
based on referrals from other participants. Snowball sampling is
useful when the target population is difficult to identify or access, and
it can help researchers identify new participants who may not have
been previously known.
Theoretical Sampling
• Theoretical sampling: This technique involves selecting participants
based on the emerging themes and concepts that are identified
during the data collection and analysis process. Theoretical sampling
is commonly used in grounded theory research to ensure that the
data collected are relevant and informative for developing and
refining theoretical concepts.
Stratified Purposive Sampling
• Stratified purposive sampling: This technique involves selecting
participants from different subgroups within the target population,
with the aim of ensuring that the sample is diverse and representative
of the population of interest. Stratified purposive sampling is useful
when researchers want to ensure that the sample includes
participants who represent different perspectives or experiences.
Maximum Variation Sampling
• Maximum variation sampling: This technique involves selecting
participants who represent a wide range of variation on the variables
of interest. Maximum variation sampling is useful when researchers
want to ensure that the sample includes participants who have
different experiences or perspectives on the research topic.
Data Analysis Methods for
Qualitative Research
Thematic analysis:
• This is a method for identifying patterns or themes within qualitative
data. Themes are identified through a process of coding, categorizing,
and interpreting the data.
Grounded theory:
• This is a method for developing theories based on qualitative data.
The researcher begins with an open mind and collects data, and then
systematically analyzes the data to develop a theory that is grounded
in the data.
Discourse analysis:
• This is a method for analyzing language in use. Discourse analysis
examines how language is used to construct meaning, and how
different social groups use language to represent themselves and
others.
Content analysis:
• This is a method for analyzing text-based data. Content analysis
involves identifying patterns within the data, such as keywords or
themes, and using those patterns to draw conclusions about the
meaning of the text.
Narrative analysis:
• This is a method for analyzing the stories that people tell. Narrative
analysis involves identifying the themes, structure, and language of
stories and using those elements to gain insights into the ways that
people construct and make sense of their experiences.
Phenomenological analysis:
• This is a method for analyzing the meaning of lived experiences.
Phenomenological analysis involves identifying the essential features
of an experience, such as the emotions, thoughts, and sensations that
are associated with it.
Coding, Categorizing & Interpreting
Coding:
• Coding involves assigning labels or codes to segments of the data that
relate to particular concepts or themes. To perform coding, students
should read through the data carefully and identify meaningful units,
such as words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs. They should then
assign codes to these units based on the themes or concepts that
they represent. For example, if the data relates to experiences of
discrimination, your students might use codes such as "racism,"
"sexism," "stereotyping," and so on.
Categorizing:
• Categorizing involves grouping codes together into broader categories
or themes. To perform categorizing, students should look for patterns
in the codes they have assigned and group them together based on
their similarity. They might use a spreadsheet or a table to organize
their codes and categories.
Interpreting:
• Interpreting involves making sense of the data in light of the research
questions and theoretical framework. To perform interpreting,
students should review their categories and themes and look for
connections between them. They should then develop an overall
interpretation of the data that addresses the research questions and
provides insights into the phenomenon under study.