Research Methods week 5

• Update: APA References page

• DOI = Digital Object Identifier – more stable, long-lasting links

• When using the URL just say “ Retrieved from and the URL” -- date of retrieval is not longer required

• OWL handout

Research Methods week 5

Review: Literature Review – standard part of scholarly articles that provides empirical findings of other studies; section of peer-reviewed article that explores current literature from studies that have already been preformed

As a piece of writing the literature review must be defined by your research question.

You need to identify what information in the articles relates to your research.

You may also want to discuss those points of interest that do not relate directly to your research.

The literature review should be logically organized. You will systematically identify similarities and relationships or discrepancies and variances as the articles relates to your research question.

Research Methods week 5

Review: Literature Review

A literature review is not a list summarizing an article.

You need to present themes and identify trends that are relevant to your research.

You need to synthesize and evaluate the article in accord with you research question

Research Methods week 5

• Verifying claims• It is important when verifying claims to be sure that sources are unbiased

and present both sides of the story. In research, we rely heavily on peer-reviewed articles and text in which the authors have performed research or performed an appropriate literature review. It is very important to note the difference between primary and secondary sources.

• In course texts and peer-reviewed literature, authors often reference the research of others. Students often decide to use the reference to others' research just the same as the author of the book or literature they are reading. Doing this is called citing secondary sources and is not suggested, and often not acceptable

Research Methods week 5

• Verifying claims• Instead, students should find the article that is cited in the literature or

text they are reading, and go directly to that source. This allows the student to read the research themselves, rather than rely on the interpretation of others.

• It is important to only cite primary sources, in which the student is reading the original work of the author(s) being cited.

Research Methods week 5

The Armed Men Research

• What is the research question?• Who were the participants?• Do you think the participant pool is appropriate?• What do you think of the research design? • Do you think the measurement is Reliable?

– How consistent is it?• Do you think the measurement is Valid?

– Does the assessment measure what it is supposed to measure?

Research Methods week 5

• Data Collection: The data collection method should be appropriate to the research question. Other factors such as reliability, validity, and generalizability should also be considered when scrutinizing data collection methods.

• For example, a researcher might use an Internet survey to collect data on frequency of Internet use among all seniors. Using this method, the researcher is not collecting data on all seniors; the researcher is collecting data on all seniors who have access to and use the Internet. Therefore, this research would not be valid.

• One way to begin to make this a valid study would be to change the research question to examine frequency of Internet use among seniors who have access to and use the Internet.

Week 5 Research Methods

• Vocabulary ch.2

• informed consent - a formal signed statement obtained before starting research. The statement affirms that the subject agrees to participate and understands the risks and benefits of participation.

• beneficence - principle of compassionate behavior• Institutional Review Board - a committee the examines research proposals

for potentially harmful impact on the subjects p.33• anonymity - researcher does not know the identity of respondents & cannot link the data to specific individuals• confidentiality - researcher knows the identity of respondents but does not reveal information in any way that can be linked to individual respondents

Week 5 Research Methods

Vocabulary ch.8Interview - one-on-one sessions

• Structured interview – questionnaire that is asked by the interviewer – read verbatim

• Semi structured interview- face to face survey with a set of questions that can be expanded

• Unstructured interview – loosely structured survey that might be thought of as a conversation. The interviewer usually has a list of questions but does not necessarily repeat them word-for-word. Non response error -- when selected sample members fail to complete all or part of a survey or interview

• Interviewer effect – Bias resulting when a respondent chooses incorrect answers because the interviewer is present, for example, to impress or irritate the interviewer

• Bracketing – term used to describe how a researcher can refrain from influencing the results of the study by putting aside any bias or assumptions

Week 5 Research Methods

• Coding and themes are used to analyze research that involves hours of video &/ or voice recordings and hundreds of pages of transcripts and notes

• Observations – the method of data collection the most likely can be influenced by the interpretation and/or bias of the researcher

• Note: in qualitative research, interviews should be recorded through verbatim transcripts to ensure proper record keeping of data collected.

• Data mining is the practice of using the reference section of an article to discover other similar articles that my help in you research

Week 5 Research Methods

• Vocabulary ch.8• Stem of a question - the part of a survey item that asks the question• Double-barreled-question – question that is really more than one question• Closed-ended question – questions with short list of predefined answers, usually

called ‘response options’ i.e. multiple choice questions. * ensure uniformity of response

• Open-ended questions – questions requesting respondent to write in a response i.e. essay question. * Although open-ended questions are allowed, you should try to avoid using this type of question because the answers are very difficult to quantify / measure / evaluate

• Sequencing – determining the order of survey questions in an interview or a questionnaire

• Cover letter & consent form– describes the purpose of the study and its social contribution, gives the sponsoring agency, tells why the respondent was selected, tells why the respondent was selected, contains a statement about anonymity & / or confidentiality and says ‘Thank-You’

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Keep it short Sequencing builds trust & ensures consistency p. 193

Keep respondent’s task simple – write complete sentences p.189

Determine in advance how the responses will be coded

Provide clear instructions Determine in advance how data results will be displayed

Use simple clear / unambiguous p. 188 & specific language p. 191

Give rationale for an item whose purpose may be unclear

Check for unwarranted assumptions implicit in the ?s

Make the questionnaire attractive & professional looking

No double barreled questions p. 180 Conduct a pilot test

Word questions so they do not give clues to the preferred response p. 189 & p.191

Scrutinize the final product to make sure it addresses your needs

Response options are balanced p 189 & 191

Survey / Interview Questions

o Is the questionnaire simple and direct? If not, what words are confusing?

o Are sensitive topics addressed with tact? If not, how would you edit the insensitively worded questions?

o Are there any ethical issues standing out in this questionnaire, such as inappropriate questions or privacy issues?

o Are questions balanced? Are rating scales appropriate?

o Did you find any leading or double-barreled

Survey / Interview Questions