R E S E A R C H ME T H O D O L O G Y

LECTURE 3A

RESEARCH PROCESS

Dr. MUTAZ HAMED

2/27/2024 JAN 2024

 LECTURE OBJECTIVES
• After completing this Lecture,the student should be
able to:
1. Know the purposes of research.

2. State six’ phases of research.

3. Design research and methodology.

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 PURPOSES OF RESEARCH
• Exploration
o gaining familiarity with a topic, discovering some of its main dimensions, and
possibly planning more structured research.

• Description
Example

o Census Bureau’s report on the number of Americans.

o Political poll predicting who will win an election.

• Explanation
o Take it one step further.
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 RESEARCH ‘MUSTS’
• Problem must be clearly recognized.

• Determine information already available and what further information is

required, as well as the best approach for obtaining it.

• Obtain and assess information objectively to help inform the decision.

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SIX’ PHASES OF RESEARCH
1. Problem definition.

2. Literature review.

3. Selection of research design, subjects, and data collection techniques.

4. Data gathering.

5. Data processing and analysis.

6. Interpreting the Results, Conclusions, and Recommendations.

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1. PROBLEM DEFINITION
▪ Describe broader context (background).

▪ State the objectives or purposes.

▪ Inform the reader about the scope of the study, including defining any
terms, limitations, or restrictions.

▪ State the hypothesis (es).

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 2. LITERATURE REVIEW
▪ Gives theoretical rationale of the problem being studied, what
research has been done and how it relates to the problem.

❑ Helpful to divide the literature into sub-topics for ease of reading.

❑ Quality of literature should be assessed.

❑ Be sure to include well-respected ‘individuals’ in the research area (if they

exist).

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 3. SELECTION OF RESEARCH DESIGN
▪ The research design indicates the steps that will need to be take and
the sequence they will occur.

▪ Each design can rely on one or more data collection technique.

▪ Assess reliability and validity.

▪ Critical consideration in determining methodology is the selection
of subjects.

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 4. DATA GATHERING
▪ Must pre-test.
▪ Design the sampling scheme.
▪ Questionnaires must be coded.

5. DATA PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS

▪ Describe the demographics of the data.
▪ Compare behavior (if applicable).
▪ Choose an appropriate statistical technique (if applicable).
▪ Look for patterns in data (if applicable).

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 6. INTERPRETING THE RESULTS
▪ Make sure to consider the audience.
▪ Discuss implications for the population of interest and future
research.

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RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
▪ In general, a research design is like a blueprint for the research.
▪ Research Methodology concerns how the design is implemented and the
research is carried out.

A FEW DESIGNS
A. Cross-Sectional Design. (will be discussed as an example )
B. Longitudinal Design.
C. Time Series Design.
D. Panel Design.
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 A) CROSS-SECTIONAL DESIGN
▪ A cross-sectional design is used for research that collects data on relevant variables
one time only from a variety of people, subjects, or phenomena.
▪ A cross-sectional design provides a snapshot of the variables included in the study,
at one particular point in time.

▪ Cross-sectional designs generally use survey techniques to gather data, for example,
the U.S. Census.

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 A) CROSS-SECTIONAL DESIGN
• Advantages:
– data on many variables,
– data from a large number of subjects,
– generate hypotheses for future research,
– data useful to many different researchers.
• Disadvantages:
– increased chances of error,
– increased cost with more subjects and each location,
– cannot measure change,
– cannot establish cause and effect,
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 R E S E A R C H ME T H O DO L O G Y

LECTURE 3B

SELF STUDY

S T E PS I N T H E R E S EAR C H PR O C E S S

Dr. MUTAZ HAMED

2/27/202 JAN 2023

4
I Have A Research Question, What
Do I Do Next?

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 LECTURE OBJECTIVES
• After completing this Lecture,the student should be
able to:
1. Know the research process: data collection.

2. Know what permissions are needed: obtaining permission.

3. Linking data collection to variables and questions.

4. Types of quantitative sampling.

5. The types of survey designs.

6. Choosing instruments: reliability & validity.

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 FIRST THINGS ….
▪ Keep IRB (Institutional Review Board ) issues in mind as you develop a plan
❑ Old data.

❑ New Data.

❑ Retrospective data.

▪ Continuing review is required annually until the project is closed.

“ The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is an administrative body established to protect the
rights and welfare of human research subjects recruited to participate in research activities
conducted under the auspices of the institution with which it is affiliated.”
http2s/:1//2/0r23esearch.oregonstate.edu 17
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FROM INITIAL IDEA TO…
▪ A specific question.

▪ Some would argue this is the most difficult part of developing your project

❑ Find out what is already known.

❑ Identify what is not known or what you can build on (e.g. with a different
population or technique).

▪ Use existing Scholarly literature from your discipline to specify your question.

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FROM INITIAL IDEA TO…
Steps for a literature review:
▪ Identify key terms.

▪ Locate literature.

▪ Critically evaluate and select the literature.

▪ Organize the literature, Write the review.

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THE RESEARCH PROCESS: DATA COLLECTION
▪ Determine the data collection method
▪ Survey (web/paper considerations)
▪ Existing measures (reliability, validity)
▪ Interviews

WHAT PERMISSIONS ARE NEEDED: OBTAINING

PERMISSION
▪ Campus approval (e.g., university or college) and Institutional Review Board (IRB)
▪ Individual participants
▪ Parents of participants who are not considered adults

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LINKING DATA COLLECTION TO VARIABLES &
QUESTIONS

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TYPES OF QUANTITATIVE SAMPLING

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THE TYPES OF SURVEY DESIGNS

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CHOOSING INSTRUMENTS: RELIABILITY & VALIDITY

▪ Reliability: Scores from measuring variables that are

stable and consistent

▪ Validity: Do the items on the scale meaningfully

represent your construct?

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REF”

• University of Gondar
Getu Degu ,TegbarYigzaw 2006 “ Research Methodology “

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