ENG518 Final Term Notes

Lecture: 22

Why do a review of research

Assessment of the current state of research on a topic Identification of the experts on a particular topic Identification of key questions about a topic Determination of methodologies used in past studies of the same or similar topics.

Lecture: 23

An author basically looks for eight things when summarizing the main body of the study

1. The focus of the study
2. The research question
3. The hypothesis
4. The size of the sample and important characteristics such as age and gender
5. The variables in the study such as: Observational

Dependent Moderating

6. The procedures followed
7. The conclusion(s) that the researcher draws from the findings
8. Any other observations you have made

Lecture: 24

Outline for the review of research/ Criteria for the main body of the text

I. Introduction

The research question that your review addresses. The importance of the topic. Historical background of the topic (theory, methodological issues, previous reviews, etc.). The goal of your review. How you plan to add to the theory and information already available.

II. Method section: Details regarding the makeup of the review.

What years are covered?

What preliminary sources were used to locate the studies?

What keywords guided your search?

Criteria for deciding which studies to review. Description of the constraints that limited your selection. Rationale for choosing these constraints. What studies were excluded and why?

III. Results section: Studies summarized.

An overview of what studies will be discussed and their relation to one another and the review as a whole. At least one paragraph for each study summarizing the following: The main point of the study. The question(s)/hypothesis being studied. Samples used and how they were chosen Procedure(s) used General findings (results). Author’s interpretations/applications of the findings. Any concerns to which you might want to alert the reader.

IV. Discussion section

Give an overview of major results of your review. Compare/contrast the results between studies. Provide possible reasons for any differences. Relate results to any theoretical issues you mentioned in the introduction. Compare with past reviews if any exist. Explain any difference in findings with past reviews. Offer application of findings toward future research.

Preparing your own review of research literature

You are to review whatever number of studies you find relevant in the space allowed. You are to develop an overall picture of what is being studied in your chosen area.

Lecture: 25

Quantitative research has come mainly from the field of psychology, where there has been heavy emphasis on the use of statistics to make generalizations from samples to populations. It is characterized by the use of numbers as its data.

It produces numerical data and hard facts. It aims at establishing cause and effect relationship between two variables by using mathematical, computational and statistical methods. The research is also known as empirical research.

Qualitative research has originated with anthropologists and sociologists who rely heavily on verbal description rather than numbers. It is characterized by verbal descriptions as its data.

It is used to gain an in-depth understanding of human behavior, experience, attitudes, intentions, and motivations, on the basis of observation and interpretation. The researcher gives more weight to the views of the participants.

Misunderstanding regarding the differences between qualitative and quantitative approaches

Qualitative research does not use any numbers or statistics Qualitative is a theoretical, whereas the quantitative is not

Case study is done to shed light on a phenomenon, which is the processes, events, persons, or things of interest to the researcher. Examples of phenomena are programs, curricula, roles, and events. Once the phenomenon of interest is clarified, the researcher can select a case for intensive study. A case is a particular instance of the phenomena.

Lecture: 26

Dimensions of qualitative methods

Understanding context Understanding people Understanding interaction

Terms used in qualitative data analysis:

Theory: a set of statements that is developed through a process of continued abstractions Characteristic: a single item or event in a text Coding: the process of attaching labels to lines of text Coding sorts: compilation of similarly coded blocks of text

Important concepts in designing qualitative research

Natural setting Holism Human as a research instrument Redundancy

Steps in qualitative data analysis

1. Organize the data
2. Identify a Framework
3. Sort data in to Framework
4. Use Framework in descriptive analysis
5. Second order analysis

Types of qualitative data analysis (QDA)

Content analysis - procedure for categorization of verbal data for the purpose of classification, summarization Narrative analysis - to reformulate stories presented by people in different contexts Discourse analysis - analyzing a naturally occurring talk and all types of written texts Framework analysis - Transcribing & reading the data Grounded theory

Lecture: 27

Traditional qualitative data analysis: a labor-intensive process

Traditionally, qualitative data analysis used to be labor intensive. Researchers were used to record the source material with a word processor. They used to make multiple photocopies of the text.

Advantages of using computer software in qualitative studies

Search and retrieval of data Transcribing data Editing the data Easy storage of data Coding data Graphic mapping Preparing reports

Considerations while choosing the computer software for your study

Theoretical approaches to analysis Type and amount of data Time to analyze Level of analysis Any cost constraints Individual or working as a team

Basic steps in using software

Install the program Learn the operation Prepare a source document Open a project Import text, audio, video, picture