Discussing Methadology of Research

Discuss your methodology


What you need to discuss


In a thesis you are setting out an argument based on evidence. This evidence may have many different forms and be gathered or selected by many different methods, according to the discipline and field of inquiry. However, every thesis needs to answer these questions:
"How did you do your research?"


"Why did you do it that way?"


This covers not only the methods used to collect and analyse data, but also the theoretical framework that informs both the choice of methods and the approach to interpreting the data, and relates all of these explicitly to the research question(s) addressed in the thesis.
You may need to summarise available methods and theoretical approaches for your research topic; you will certainly need to justify choice of method(s) (where a combination of methods is used, that needs to be justified too), and indicate any relevant limitations they may have.
All this will be set out in preliminary form in the research proposal you wrote for confirmation of candidature, but it is likely that you have refined and developed it since then. In addition, you now have to report the details of how, where and when the study was actually carried out.
The detail and emphasis of what is covered will be different in different disciplines.
Scientific and technical disciplines:

• rationale for choosing materials, methods and procedures
  
• details of materials, equipment and procedures that will allow others to
  
  
  
  • replicate experiments
    
  • understand and implement technical solutions
    

Social science disciplines:

• demonstration of fit between methods chosen and research question(s)
  
• how the data was
  
  
  
  • collected
    
  • recorded
    
  • analysed
    
  
  
• rationale for sampling or choice of cases, representativity of sample or case
  

Humanities disciplines:

• what sources were used
  
• rationale for choice of sources (considering their fit with the research question, and how representative they are)
  
• approach to interpretation - what approach was chosen and why
  

Where to present it in the thesis


In the classic "Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion" thesis structure common in the experimental and social sciences, the discussion of research methods occupies a separate chapter. However, where the research consists of a series of experiments or studies that are reported separately, it is usually more appropriate to devote a chapter with its own methods section to each study.
Theses that are arranged in thematic chapters may have a discussion of methodology and theoretical framworks in the introductory chapter, or the discussion may be integrated into individual chapters.

Overview of Data Collection Techniques



Data collection techniques allows us to systematically collect information about our objects of study (people, objects and phenomenon) and about the setting in which they occur.

In the collection of data we have to be systematic. If data is collected haphazardly, it will be difficult to answer our research question in a conclusive way.



Example: -

During a nutrition survey three different weighing scales were used in three villages. The researchers did not record which scales were used in which village. After completion of the survey it was discovered that the scales were not standardized and indicated different weights when weighing the same child. It was therefore, impossible to conclude in which village malnutrition was most prevalent.


The following are the various Data-Collection Techniques

• Using available information
  
• Observation
  
• Interview (Face to Face)
  
• Administering written questionnaires
  
• Focus Group Discussion (FGD)
  

Other Data- Collection Techniques

• Nominal Group Technique
  
• Delphi Technique
  
• Life Histories
  
• Scales
  
• Essays
  
• Case Studies
  
• And Mapping
  

Dear Dr. Abuzar

Good and valued information.

Thanks

Zahid

Kabul

Dear Zahid Thanks for the encouragement!
Wish You Good Luck!!

Charachteristics and Uses of Focus Group Discussions

A Focus Group Discussion (FGD) is a Group Discussion of 6-12 persons guided by a facilitator,during which group members talk freely and spontaneously about a certain topic.

The purpose of an FDG is to obtain in-depth information on concepts,perceptions and ideas of the group. An FDG aims to be more than question-answer interaction. The idea is that the group members discuss the topic among themselves.
FDG Technique can be used to:-
1. Focus research and develop relevant research hypothesis by exploring in greater depth the problem to be investigated and its possible causes.
2. Formulate appropriate questions for more structured, large scale survey
3. Suppleementary information on community Knowledge,Beliefs,Attitude and Behaviour already available but incomplete or unclear
4. Develop appropriate messages for Health Education Programmes
5. Explore Controversial Problems

Intervention Studies!!!
In these studies, the researcher manipulates a situation and measures its effects of this manipulation. Usually (But not always) two groups are compared,one in which the intervention takes place (e.g. treatment with certain drug) and another group that remains "untouched" (e.g Treatment with a placebo or not giving anything at all)
The two types of Experimental Studies are
1. Experimental Studies
2. Quasiexperimental Studies

Experimental Studies
An experimental design is the only type of study design which can actually prove causation

In Experimental study, individuals are randomly allocated to at least two groups, one group is subject to an intervention,or experiment, while the other group(s) is not.The outcome of theintervention (effect of intervention on dependant variable/problem) is obtained by comparing the two groups

The Classical Experimental Study has three Characteristics
1. Manipulation
The Researchers does something to one group of subjects in the Study
2. Control. The researcher introduces one or more Control group(s) to Compare
with the experimental Group
3. Randomization.
The Researcher takes care to randomly assign subjects to
control and experimental groups.(each subject is given an
equal chance of being assigned to either group) e.g. by
assigning them numbers and blindly selecting the number for
each group
To be Continued-------

Quasiexperimental Study:-

in quasiexperimental study at least one of the characteristics of the True experiment is missing,either Randomization or the use of control group. A quasiexperimental study, however always include manipulation of an independant variable that serves as the intervention.

example:-

If you want to compare the vaccination coverage of two villages in a district in one of which you have launched intentive mass education while leaving the other village untouched.
Now you compare the success of vaccination coverage of the two villages and see the effect of your intervention.If you note every thing was the same as in the true experimental study except that here the village residents were not randomized,so in this study one of the 3 characteristics of the experimental study is missing.

There is also another easy type of intervention study Known as
"Before and After study"

In this study even the control group is also missing and there is only one group known as study group in which the intervention is carried out and the variable of interest is measured before the intervention and after it and the effect is measured.
The Before and after study is usually designed for mangement problems.

Retropsective Vs Prospective Study
There are Two types of Variables in most study Designs
1. Stimulus Variable e.g. Cigarettes smoking
2.Outcome Variable e.g. Lung Cancer

In Retropsective study the outcome variable is taken first and its cause is searched in the past.

In prospective Study the Stimulus Variable like smoking is taken first and its final effect i.e. the outcome variable (Lung Cancer) is searched for in the future.

Dr.abuzar

Good information.

Thanks

Zahid

Kabul