Ciara Robison

Research Methods in Communications

Dr. Gasoi
October 25th, 2022
Methodology and Method

When conducting research understanding methods and methodology is vital for the success of

the research outcome. Using quantitative research methods would result in gaining a more

scientific or coded understanding of any information being collected; whereas, qualitative

research allows for a broader and more humanistic and subjective understanding of the

information. I adjusted my research question in order to gain a more concrete understanding of

what method and methodology would be best, focusing on the impact social media has on

generations. Does age and understanding of social media affect how individuals view Missing

and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG)?

For my research question, I believe that quantitative survey research would be the best

method and methodology to collect information. In his writing, Creswell defines quantitative

research as the ability to test theories by examining the relationship between variables (Creswell,

2014, p.2), by using survey research I would be able to directly identify the relationship between

age and perception of MMIWG. The questions I would ask in the survey would have to do with

age, previous knowledge of MMIWG, access to social media, and their perception or opinion of

MMIWG; although questions that are opinion-based may be seen as qualitative, finding common

themes within answers would allow me to categorize the answers and find the trends that exist

within them. Quantitative research is the best methodology for my research question because I

am able to gain a clear understanding of the correlation between age, knowledge of social media,

and opinion or perception of MMIWG.

 In order to conduct the survey research I would create a form of some sort, using a

platform such as Google Forms and add my questions to it. Each question would surround topics

like age, understanding of social media, access or usage of social media, primary resources for

information, and opinions on MMIWG. The most difficult part of conducting my research would

be going through the process of finding people to complete the survey, specifically an older age

demographic. A younger age range would be easy to connect with through social media

specifically as the survey would be digital, connecting with an older age demographic would be

an obstacle within my research as social media may not be an accessible way of distributing my

survey. The simplest way of gathering information from an older age demographic may be to ask

older family members or people I know to complete the survey, allowing me to have as

well-rounded data as possible even with a lack of connection with older ages. The specific

method of research I chose will allow for the most well-rounded understanding of the variables

within my question.

To conclude, quantitative survey research is the best method and methodology for observing

relationships between age, understanding of social media, and opinion or perception of

MMIWG. The survey specifically will allow me to pinpoint how the variables affect one another

while giving me a broad subject group through my methods of distributing the survey. A

quantitative method is best due to the fact that my question requires a more scientific approach

surrounding the demographics I would be using, qualitative methods would not provide me with

this. Using the most appropriate method and methodology for my research question would give

me the highest rate of success when answering my research question.

 Works Cited

Creswell, John W. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches.

SAGE, 2014.