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Pamela L. Eddy Research Methods: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
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Pamela L. Eddy Pamela L. Eddy
Research Methods:The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
AgendaAgenda
IntroductionsInterests in attendingStage of researchNeed to know….
BasicsData Collection/AnalysisMethodsPractice
Writing
IntroductionsInterests in attendingStage of researchNeed to know….
BasicsData Collection/AnalysisMethodsPractice
Writing
The Research FunnelThe Research Funnel
Start with the global issuesWork toward the research
questionsSupport arguments with rationale Identify the “so what?”
Building on other researchFilling a research gapCreating new knowledge/theory
Start with the global issuesWork toward the research
questionsSupport arguments with rationale Identify the “so what?”
Building on other researchFilling a research gapCreating new knowledge/theory
MethodsMethods
Qualitative—description, “how,” voice
Quantitative—measurements, correlations, control groups
Mixed Methods—dominant format, uses both
Qualitative—description, “how,” voice
Quantitative—measurements, correlations, control groups
Mixed Methods—dominant format, uses both
QualitativeQualitativeCreswell—5 traditions of qualitative
Case StudyPhenomenologyNarrativeGround TheoryEthnography
Data collection—a few optionsInterviewsFocus GroupsDiscourse Analysis
Creswell—5 traditions of qualitativeCase StudyPhenomenologyNarrativeGround TheoryEthnography
Data collection—a few optionsInterviewsFocus GroupsDiscourse Analysis
Data CollectionData Collection
Questions to consider
Practice—small group 3-4Come up with a question and probes
to ask a participant (1 questioner; 1 participant; 1 observer)
What surprises?
Questions to consider
Practice—small group 3-4Come up with a question and probes
to ask a participant (1 questioner; 1 participant; 1 observer)
What surprises?
ReflexivityReflexivity
Ontology—Study of Reality Platonism—theory of metaphysical dualism (world of matter/world of
mind) Cartesian—distinction between the inner mental life and outer
physical behavior Idealism—one version holds nothing exists but minds and their
content; another acknowledges there are material things in the world as well as minds but seeks to reduce mater to mind by arguing that he universe is constituted by mind
Husserl’s phenomenology—concerned with the essential structures of conscious experiences
Schultz—philosophical basis for phenomenological sociology and ethnomethodology
Logical Positivists—openly hostile to metaphysics and any claims about reality or truth
Ontology—Study of Reality Platonism—theory of metaphysical dualism (world of matter/world of
mind) Cartesian—distinction between the inner mental life and outer
physical behavior Idealism—one version holds nothing exists but minds and their
content; another acknowledges there are material things in the world as well as minds but seeks to reduce mater to mind by arguing that he universe is constituted by mind
Husserl’s phenomenology—concerned with the essential structures of conscious experiences
Schultz—philosophical basis for phenomenological sociology and ethnomethodology
Logical Positivists—openly hostile to metaphysics and any claims about reality or truth
Unpacking Researcher’s Backpack
Unpacking Researcher’s Backpack
Questions to consider:Do you believe there is a “right”
answer?
Do you believe that reality is constructed?
Whose voices get to be heard?
Questions to consider:Do you believe there is a “right”
answer?
Do you believe that reality is constructed?
Whose voices get to be heard?
ToolsTools
Triangulation
Member check
Peer reviewer
Memoing
Identification of biases—questioning
Triangulation
Member check
Peer reviewer
Memoing
Identification of biases—questioning
Focus GroupsFocus Groups
Size (8-10)
Recording—processing (A, B, C…)
Note taker
Observer
Size (8-10)
Recording—processing (A, B, C…)
Note taker
Observer
Ideological PerspectivesIdeological Perspectives
PostmodernismCritique of positivistMultiple perspectives
Critical TheoryAddress issues of domination, alienationCritique to suggest new possibilities
Feminist approachesSees gender as a basic organizing
principleIncludes researcher’s own role/values
PostmodernismCritique of positivistMultiple perspectives
Critical TheoryAddress issues of domination, alienationCritique to suggest new possibilities
Feminist approachesSees gender as a basic organizing
principleIncludes researcher’s own role/values
AnalysisAnalysis
Importance of Theoretical Framework
Veracity of findings
EndNotes
NiVivo/video coding
Importance of Theoretical Framework
Veracity of findings
EndNotes
NiVivo/video coding
Key Writing DetailsKey Writing Details
Clarity in design and methodsWhy this method?Can you follow the design?
Evidence upon which findings are based
Study is situated in a scholarly context
Protocol for record keeping
Clarity in design and methodsWhy this method?Can you follow the design?
Evidence upon which findings are based
Study is situated in a scholarly context
Protocol for record keeping
Creswell (2007)Creswell (2007)
Links between types of inquiry and format of writing
Writing for the audience—academic; popular press; practitioners
The language of the disciplines
Links between types of inquiry and format of writing
Writing for the audience—academic; popular press; practitioners
The language of the disciplines
Tara Gray’s 12 Step Process
Tara Gray’s 12 Step Process
• Manage Time– Differentiate between urgent and important– Write daily for 15-30 minutes– Record your time spent writing daily; share your
records weekly
• Write– Write from the first day of your research project– Post your thesis on the wall and write to it
• Revise– Organize Around Key Sentences– Use your key sentences as an after-the-fact outline
• Manage Time– Differentiate between urgent and important– Write daily for 15-30 minutes– Record your time spent writing daily; share your
records weekly
• Write– Write from the first day of your research project– Post your thesis on the wall and write to it
• Revise– Organize Around Key Sentences– Use your key sentences as an after-the-fact outline
12 Steps cont’d12 Steps cont’d
Get HelpShare early drafts with non-experts
and later drafts with expertsLearn how to listenRespond to each specific comment
Polish and Let GoRead your prose out loudKick it out the door!
Get HelpShare early drafts with non-experts
and later drafts with expertsLearn how to listenRespond to each specific comment
Polish and Let GoRead your prose out loudKick it out the door!
The GoodThe Good
Representation of Voice
Self-reflection/learning
New Theory development
Contribution to the field
Personal Accomplishment
Representation of Voice
Self-reflection/learning
New Theory development
Contribution to the field
Personal Accomplishment
The BadThe Bad
Hard work
Mishaps (tapes, participants…)
What you hear is more than what you ask
Hard work
Mishaps (tapes, participants…)
What you hear is more than what you ask
The UglyThe Ugly
Messy
Rewriting
Conflict
Devil’s in the details
Messy
Rewriting
Conflict
Devil’s in the details
ContactContact
Pamela L. EddyThe College of William and Mary
Jones Hall, 324Williamsburg, VA 23187
Pamela L. EddyThe College of William and Mary
Jones Hall, 324Williamsburg, VA 23187
