*Constitutes the blueprint for the collection,

measurement, and analysis of data.

*A systematic approach that a researcher uses to
conduct a scientific study. It is the overall
synchronization of identified components and data
resulting in a plausible outcome.
*Aids the researcher in the allocation of limited
resources by posing crucial choices in methodology.
*Expresses both the structure of the research problem—
the frame-work, organization, or configuration of the
relationships among variables of a study—and the plan
of investigation used to obtain empirical evidence on
those relationships.
1.Exploration of the situation
2.Collection of data
3.Analysis and interpretation of
results.
 The degree to which the research question has been
crystallized:
1. Exploratory studies, develop hypotheses or questions for further
research.
2. Formal study, begins where the exploration leaves off- to test
the hypotheses or answer the research questions posed.
The method of data collection
1. Monitoring inspects the activities of a subject or the nature of
some material without attempting to elicit responses from
anyone.
2. Communication study, questions the subjects and collects their
responses by personal or impersonal means.
The power of the researcher to produce effects in the
variables under study
1. Experimental, the researcher attempts to control and/or manipulate
the variables in the study.
2. Ex post facto, investigators have no control over the variables in the
sense of being able to manipulate them.

The purpose of the study

1. Descriptive, research is concerned with finding out who,
what, where, when, or how much.
2. Causal, concerned with learning why—that is, how one
variable produces changes in another.
The time dimension
1. Cross-sectional studies are carried out once and represent a
snapshot of one point in time.
2. Longitudinal studies are repeated over an extended period.
1. Exploratory
-Exploration is particularly useful when researchers lack a
clear idea of the problems they will meet during the
study. Through exploration, researchers develop concepts
more clearly, establish priorities, develop operational
definitions, and improve the final research design.
Exploration may also save time and money. If the problem
is not as important as first thought, more formal studies
can be canceled.
2. Descriptive
In contrast to exploratory studies, more formalized studies
are typically structured with clearly stated hypotheses or
investigative questions. Formal studies serve a variety of
research objectives:
• Descriptions of phenomena or characteristics associated
with a subject population (the who, what, when, where,
and how of a topic).
• Estimates of the proportions of a population that have these
characteristics.
• Discovery of associations among different variables
3. Causal
-seek to discover the effect that a variable(s) has on another (or
others) or why certain outcomes are obtained. The concept of
causality is grounded in the logic of hypothesis testing, which, in
turn, produces inductive conclusions. Such conclusions are
probabilistic and thus can never be demonstrated with certainty.
* is a scientific method of observation to gather non-numerical data.
* refers to the meanings, concepts definitions, characteristics,
metaphors, symbols, and description of things" and not to their
"counts or measures.
* It seeks to answer the questions what and how.
Qualitative research draws data from a variety of sources, including
the following:
• People (individuals or groups).
• Organizations or institutions.
• Texts (published, including virtual ones).
• Settings and environments (visual/sensory and virtual material).
• Objects, artifacts, media products (textual/visual/sensory and
virtual material).
• Events and happenings (textual/visual/sensory and virtual material).
 Qualitative Methods Quantitative Methods
• Methods include focus groups, in-depth • Surveys, structured interviews &
interviews, and reviews of documents for observations, and reviews of records or
types of themes documents for numeric information
• Primarily inductive process used to formulate • Primarily deductive process used to test pre-
theory or hypotheses specified concepts, constructs, and
hypotheses that make up a theory

• More subjective: describes a problem or • More objective: provides observed effects

condition from the point of view of those (interpreted by researchers) of a program on
experiencing it a problem or condition
• Text-based • Number-based
• Unstructured or semi-structured response • Fixed response options
options
• No statistical tests • Statistical tests are used for analysis

• Can be valid and reliable: largely depends • Can be valid and reliable: largely depends
on skill and rigor of the researcher on the measurement device or instrument
used
• Time expenditure lighter on the planning end • Time expenditure heavier on the planning
and heavier during the analysis phase phase and lighter on the analysis phase
• Less generalizable • More generalizable
1. Determine Research Questions.
2. Design the Study.
3. Collect Data.
4. Analyze Data.
5. Generate Findings.
6. Validate findings.
7. Report.
• Method 1: In-depth interviews
One-to-one interviews are the most commonly used
qualitative research method. They are semi-structured,
which means that the questions to be asked and issues to
be addressed are fluid and take shape as the interview
unfolds.
• Method 2: Focus group discussions (FGDs)
An interviewer talks to a group of people about their
perceptions, opinions, beliefs and attitudes towards an
idea, concept, service, product, etc.
• Method 3: Observations
Observation is a qualitative research method where
researchers gather data by observing people’s behavior or
events in their natural setting.
“Don’t promise when you’re
happy. Don’t reply when
you’re angry and don’t
decide when you’re sad”