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Comparative Research Language
Comparative Research Language
Thammasat University
Comparative Research
SUBMITTED TO
Associate Professor Dr. Suphat Sukamolson
SUBMITTED BY
Mr. Surachai T.Vee Rodngam
5221032310
Comparative Research
Thinking without comparison is unthinkable
And, in the absence of comparison,
so is all scientific thought and scientific research
(Swanson,1971:145)
1. What is Comparative Research?
Comparative Research is the act of comparing two or more things with a view to
discovering something about one or all of the things being compared. This method provides
an explanation about the extent of relationship between two or more variables. It examines
the relationships including similarities or differences among several variables.
Heidenheimer, Arnold J.; Hugh Heclo, Carolyn Teich Adams (1983). Comparative Public Policy. St. Martin's Press.
3. Select a group that has the independent variable (the experimental group) and then
select another group of subjects that does not have the independent variable (the control or
comparison group). The two groups are then compared on the dependent variable.
4. Formulate a hypothesis and define basic terms and variables.
5. Construct an experiment plan
6. What are its typical research designs?
According to Kerlinger : Research design is the plan ,
structure and strategy of investigation conceived so as to
obtain answers to research questions and to control
variance.
According to Kinner and Taylor: A research design is the
basic plan which guides the data collection and analysis
phase of the research project. It is the framework which
specifies the type of information to be collected, the source of
data and the data collection procedure.
1. Formulating the Research problem
2. Extensive Literature survey
3. Development of working hypothesis
4. Preparing the Research design
5. Determining the Sample design
6. Collection of data
7. Execution of the project
8. Analysis of data
9. Hypothesis-testing
10. Generalizations and interpretation
11. Preparation of the report or the thesis
7. What are its typical research tools?
The typical research tools might include:
Observations /Surveys / Questionnaires (The closed or restricted form, the open or
unrestricted form)
Interviews (structured interviewed, semi-structured interview, non-structured interview)
Opened-ended questions/ Closed-ended questions
Opinion Polls / Attitude scales
Tests, Quizzes, etc.
Other types of recordings VDO recordings, Audio recordings, etc.
Validity, just as reliability, is maximized by employing existing questions what have already
been validated in some fashion.
According to Best and Kahn: A test is reliable to the extent
that it measures whatever is measuring consistently.
According to Boyd and Others: Reliability is the
characteristics of research methodology which allow it to be
repeated again and again by the same and by different
researchers.
* Reliability essentially refers to a matter of consistency.
* A data collection instrument is inferred as reliable when employing
it will produce the same result when applied to the same object, regardless of
when it is applied (instrument reliability) or who applies it (rater reliability).
* In achieving high instrument reliability, it is vital to avoid depending on
respondents inherent understanding of terms which may vary widely in meaning.
For this reason,
- Explicit definitions of terms, with concrete referents, should be employed
- Using already tested and proven question modules from existing instruments
is another mean to ensure reliability.
Think of the center of the target as the concept that you are trying to measure.
Imagine that for each person you are measuring, you are taking a shot at the target. If you
measure the concept perfectly for a person, you are hitting the center of the target. If you
don't, you are missing the center. The more you are off for that person, the further you are
from the center.
References
Best, J. W., & Kahn, J. V. (1989). Research in Education. (Eighth Ed.) Englewood Cliffs, NJ:
Prentice-Hall.