Research Methodology Basic Terminology

Basic Terminology
Validity & Reliability Deduction & Induction Qualitative &Quantitative Methods Research Strategies

Validity & Reliability

Validity
It refers to the degree to which a study accurately reflects or assesses the specific concept that the researcher is attempting to measure.

It ascertains whether the research instrument allow you to hit "the bulls eye" of your research object?

Validity
Kind of Validity What it Means? It is the validity of a test at face value
A test can be said to have face validity if it "looks like" it is going to measure what it is supposed to measure.

Face Validity Content Validity

It refers to a measurement devices ability to be generalized to the entire content of what is being measured

Concurrent or Predictive Validity

It is a measure of how well a particular test correlates with a previously validated measure.
Researchers give a group of students a new test, designed to measure mathematical aptitude. They then compare this with the test scores already held by the school, a recognized and reliable judge of mathematical ability.

Construct Validity It seeks agreement between a theoretical concept and a

specific measuring device or procedure.
A researcher inventing a new IQ test might spend a great deal of time attempting to "define" intelligence in order to reach an acceptable level of construct validity.

Reliability
Reliability is a criterion that refers to the consistency of data stemming from the use of a particular research method. A Measure is reliable if its repeated application under the same conditions gives the same result.

One method of assessing reliability is the TEST-RETEST method, where research is exactly replicated.

Deduction and Induction

Deduction
A research process that starts with a theory, hypothesis or concept, usually drawn from scholarly literature and proceeds to test its applicability in a specific context could be labeled Deductive

Induction
A research process starting from an empirical data and proceeding to draw generally applicable conclusions from it, could be termed as Inductive.

Qualitative and Quantitative Methods

Qualitative Method
It denotes methods that generate data that is verbal (devoid of numbers).
Interviews, Observations, Documentary Analysis, Questionnaires

Quantitative Method
It denotes methods that generate data comprising numbers

Research Strategies
Case Studies
When the phenomenon is not easily separated from the context. It is characterized by an in-depth study of one or a couple of smaller organizations, or 2-3 departments in the same organization.

Surveys
It seeks to gain an understanding of a particular facet of a defined population by directing the enquiry to a subset of that population, through taking a sample.

Research Strategies
Action Research
Action Research is best suited to research in a single workplace where the focus is upon improving working practices and addressing specific problems. The distinctive characteristic of Action Research is a collaboration of the researcher with those who comprise the subject of research.

Experimental Strategy
It is a usual strategy in material sciences where materials are amenable to experimentation of all kinds.

The 3 Dimensions of Research Methodology

Research Research Strategies Dimensions Case Studies Surveys Action Research Experimental Design Interviews Questionnaires Observation Documentary Analysis

Research Methods

Data Types

Qualitative Semi-Qualitative Quantitative