Writing and Explaining Thesis Chapters (Chapter 3)
Chapter 3 mainly about methodology of the research
study which show how the research study been conducted which includes research approach
and design, research method (research site, population,
sampling, and participant’s selection), data collection tools and instruments, pilot
study, instrument checking (validity, reliability,
and trustworthiness), data analysis plan, and ethical considerations.
1- Research Approach and Design:
There are differences
between research approach and research design which will be discussed in detail.
·
Research
Approach:
Research approach defined as the
procedure or plan which direct the research study conduction from data
collection, analysis, and interpretation with guidance the researchers by broad
assumption to focused and specific methods.
The research approaches composed of
structured framework, consider the underlining assumptions with worldview of
researcher, and allows flexibility and adaptation based on the findings.
The research approaches types are
quantitative approach with numerical and statistical analysis, qualitative
approach which focus on observation and understanding the experience and
perspectives, and mixed method research approach which composed both
quantitative and qualitative approaches.
·
Research
Design:
Research design referred to
strategical method which been used to perform research study that work as
blueprint which guide the researcher through data collection methods, sampling
and target participants of the research, data analysis techniques with
facilitation, answering research questions, enhancing validation, conceptual
and theoretical framework, and systematic with coherent approaches.
There are many
types of research design which are as follows:
-
Descriptive
design which focus on describing the characteristics of phenomenon or
population.
-
Correlational
design which examining the relationship between research variables.
-
Experimental research design which examine and
manipulate the variables to understand cause and effect relationship.
-
Causal-
comparative design which compares between groups with certain characteristics.
-
Qualitative
research design which focus on understanding experience, meaning, observation,
and point of view.
-
Quantitative
research design which emphasized on numerical and statistical analysis data.
-
Mixed-method
design which include both quantitative and qualitative design.
2- Research method:
Research method is the way or
techniques which the research study will be conducted by explaining research site and the place which study
will be conducted, target population,
sampling selected from population and be as participant’s.
3- Data collection tools and instruments
Its type of method by selecting
devices used to collect and gather data, if the research is qualitative the
instrument deferent from quantitative research.
·
In
quantitative research the instruments are surveys, questionnaire, scale, pre-post-test,
observation forms and checklist, and Likert scale.
·
In
quantitative research the instruments are focus group conversation and
discussion, interviews, observation, in-depth analysis of case studies, and
document analysis.
4- Pilot study
Pilot study is a small scale before
conducting a large scale which used to assess validity, reliability,
feasibility, safety, efficacy, and instrument problems. The pilot study
participants should be ranged from 12- 35 participants per group and according to
the study goals and nature of data.
The pilot study helps in improving
study design, increasing confidence, optimization of resources, better
participants experiencing, and accurate calculations of sample size.
5- Instrument checking (validity, reliability, and trustworthiness)
The validity, reliability, and
trustworthiness is essential in any research study to ensure the research
quality and truthiness of the data collected. Validity referred to
accuracy by insuring it’s measures what intended to measure as been categorised
as internal validity, external validity, constructive validity.
Reliability focus on consistency indicated that the instrument will obtain
similar result under deferent circumstances. The reliability has types which
are test-retest reliability, inter-rater reliability, and internal consistency
reliability.
Trustworthiness done for qualitative data instruments to recognize and encompasses
transferability, credibility, dependability, and confirmability of qualitative
instrument which ensures trusted and believed the findings.
6- Data analysis plan
In chapter 3 data analysis plan is
important that provide the reader about the strategical plan for analysis and
can give summarization on statistical analysis performed.
Data analysis is blueprint for your research statistical analysis which outline the methods, steps and strategies about how to perform analysis for your data. If you want to start planning the analysis plan the following steps is important; defining the objective and identify the goal, inspect the data by cleaning it to obtain accurate results, prepare the data for analysis by structuring and organizing research questions to easily been viewed, choosing right analytical methods for quantitative and qualitative design, establishing resources and timeline for the analysis, summarize it and start analysis with interpreting the finding, and review the analysis outcomes with refining the plan.
7- Ethical considerations.
Ethical consideration is important aspect in research study which considering guidance for researcher in protecting the right and prevention of the harm for the participants, and the key concepts are informed consent, confidentiality, anonymity, respect participants, non-maleficence, beneficence, fair subject selection, conflict of interest, honesty, accuracy of data collection, and accountability. These key points must take in consideration when performing the research study for safe practice.
References:
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S., & Khanam, D. (2023, February 4). THE RESEARCH DESIGN.
ResearchGate.
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