Deciding on a research methodology

Neil Haigh c. 2015

First Thoughts

What is a research methodology?

What is a research method/technique?

How to decide on a methodology – what to consider and take into account?

Individual thoughts, pair-share, sample

Confusion and Clarification?

Confusion• Variable meanings

• Sometimes used as synonyms

Clarification

Clarification - Methodology

Methodology in its narrowest sense is the collection of methods or rules by which a particular piece of research is undertaken and judged to be valid. However, it can be used in a broader sense to mean the whole system of principles, theories and values that underpin a particular approach to research (Somekh and Lewin, 2011)

Methodology refers to how you go about finding out knowledge and carrying out your research. It is your strategic approach, rather than your techniques and data analysis (Wainright, 1997).

Crudely, methods are best understood as the tools and procedures we use for ourinquiries and methodology is about the framework within which they sit.(Cousin, 2009, p. 6)

A project’s methodology ...is concerned with ...how a particular piece of research should be undertaken and can be understood as the critical study of research methods and their use. The term refers to the choice of research strategy undertaken by a particular scholar as opposed to other, alternative strategies...methodology is driven by certain ontological and epistemological assumptions (Grix, 2001, 36)

The most common definitions suggest that methodology is the overall approach to research linked to the paradigm or theoretical framework while the method refers to systematic modes, procedures or tools used for collection and analysis of data. (Mackenzie and Knipe, 2006)

Clarification - Methodology

the study of methodology involves theories about how and how far the research design enables us to draw sound inferences to conclusions that provide answers to our research questions, or that determine how far our hypotheses are supported or undermined. (6 and Bellamy, 2011, 12)

Philosophical assumptions and beliefs about reality form the ontology or world view of a paradigm. Different paradigms are built on different assumptions and beliefs. Epistemology is about knowledge ... And how concepts like belief, doubt and knowledge can be understood within a certain view of reality. Methodology is tied with ontology and epistemology in that given the nature of reality and beliefs about knowledge of that reality, it shows how to generate new knowledge that is consistent with the epistemology and ontology. Methodology is about the how. (Daly, Speedy, Jackson, Lambert and Lambert, 2005, 100)

Methodology is first and foremost associated with conducting research. The etymological and traceable meaning of methodology (deduced from Greek methodos =meta hodos) is ‘the way along which’, in other words aimed at following a certain route. In this case methodology implies: the way (or route) the researcher will need to take in order to achieve a certain result (knowledge, insight, design, intervention, solution). (Jonker and Pennink, 2009, 31)

Methodology: the strategy, plan of action, process, or design lying behind the choice

and use of particular methods and linking the choice and use of methods to the desired

outcomes. (Crotty, 1998, 166)

Clarification - MethodsMethods (also often and rather confusingly called methodologies in many textbooks) indicate specific steps (or actions, phases,

step-wise approaches, etc.) that should be taken in a certain – eventually stringent – order during the research.

(Jonker and Pennink (2009, 33)

Techniques or procedures used to collate and analyze data (Blaikie, 2000, 8)

the set of techniques recognised by most social scientists as being appropriate for the creation, collection, coding, organisation and analysis of data.

Data creation methods are used to produce the raw material of research, namely well structured data – or sets of information – that can be used to perform further investigations of the kind described below. Data creation methods include ethnographic or participant observation, focus groups, individual interviews, questionnaire surveys and so on.

Data collection methods are procedures for capturing what is important for answering the research question from the data that have been created. They may involve scanning text for particular themes, codes or content or undertaking counts or more advanced quantitative procedures However, we can only count or code once we have decided how to identify what is important

Data coding methods are procedures for determining whether the information indicated by a particular datum or set of data meet the standards or thresholds required for them to be classified under a category, where that category is related to the research question or hypothesis.

Data organisation methods are procedures for laying out whole sets or series of data, that have either been created, collected and coded by the researcher for the purposes of the project, or been taken from another source

Data analysis methods are procedures for manipulating data so that the research question can be answered, usually by identifying important patterns. Statistical procedures are obvious examples. There are many qualitative analysis techniques too, such as open-ended content analysis, and a variety of theory-based comparative techniques for handling historical qualitative data

(Perri and Bellamy, 2011, 10)

Note: linked to the research questions and the sources and types of data to be gathered. Are free from ontological and epistemological assumptions.

In your own words now

CONCEPTUALIZING A RESEARCH PROJECT

Identify

• topic

• thesis

• question

Establish a case

Research Contribution

• replication undertaken

• gap filled

• limitations addressed,

improvements made

• generalization checked

Practical benefits

Acknowledge

• paradigm

ontology

epistemology

methodology

• values

• theories

• ethics

Decide on

• data

• methodology

• data gathering methods

• data analysis methods

• reporting

Assess Feasibility

N.Haigh, 2012

Ontological/Epistemological positioning and choice of methodology: Frameworks

Review

Niglas, K. (2001). Paradigms and methodology in educational research. (Presents two frameworks to assist decision-making.)

From Niglas, (2001)

Holden, M. And Lynch, (2005). Choosing an appropriate methodology: Understanding research philosophy, 4(4), 397-409.

Gray, D. (2005). Doing Reasearch in the Real World. Sage Publications – See chapter 2 – Theoretical perspectrives and research methodologies.

From Niglas, (2001)

Figure 1. Types of qualitative research as classified by Tesch (1990)

What methodologies are you familiar with – have used?

Your choices, explanations, justifications.

Implications for Your Current Research Planning

Some Readings and Resources about Methodologies

Case, J. and Light, G. (2011). Emerging methodologies in engineering education research. Journal of Engineering Education, 100(1), 186-210.

Gray, D. (2014). Doing research in the Real World. Sage Publications.See Chapter Two – Theoretical perspectives and research methodologies (available at http://www.sagepub.com/upm-data/58626_Gray__Doing_Research_in_the_Real_World.pdf

Hamilton, M., Smith, L. and Worthington, K. (2008) Fitting the Methodology with theResearch: An exploration of narrative, self-study and auto-ethnography, Studying Teacher Education, 4(1), 17-28.

Holden, T. Choosing the Appropriate Methodology: Understanding Research Philosophy Waterford Institute of Technology. Retrieve from http://repository.wit.ie/1466/1/Choosing_the_Appropriate_Methodology_Understanding_Research_Philosophy_(RIKON_Group).pdf

Jonker, J. and Pennink, B. (2010). The Essence of Research Methodology,Berrlin, Springer-Verlag. (See Chapter Two)

Niglas, K. (2001). Paradigms and Methodology in Educational Research. Paper presented at the European Conference on Educational Research, Lille, 5-8 September 2001. Retrieve from http://www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/documents/00001840.htm

Some Readings and Resources about Methodologies

6, P. and Bellamy, C. (2011). Principles of methodology: Research design in Social Sciences. Sage.This book provides a comprehensive, accessible guide to social science methodology. In so doing, it establishes methodology as distinct from both methods and philosophy.

Rangahau. Methodology (an online resource on Kaupapa Maori research) Retrieve from http://www.rangahau.co.nz/methodology/(Note: The rangahau website was inspired by Dr Leonie Pihama, Māori and Indigenous Analysis Ltd. The resource has been conceptualised and developed by Rautaki Ltd and Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga. This website is part of a larger project called kaupapamaori.com, a collaborative development between Te Whare Wānanga o Awānuirangi, Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga and Māori and Indigenous Research Institute (IRI) The University of Auckland, and funded by the Tertiary Education Commission.