Opinion Based Research Methods
Opinion based research methods generally involve designing an experiment and collecting quantitative data. For this type of research, the measurements are usually arbitrary, following the ordinal or interval type.
Questionnaires are an effective way of quantifying data from a sample group, and testing emotions or preferences. This method is very cheap and easy, where budget is a problem, and gives an element of scale to opinion and emotion. These figures are arbitrary, but at least give a directional method of measuring intensity.
Quantifying behavior is another way of performing this research, with researchers often applying a ‘numerical scale’ to the type, or intensity, of behavior.
By definition, this experiment method must be used where emotions or behaviors are measured, as there is no other way of defining the variables. Whilst not as robust as experimental research, the methods can be replicated and the results falsified.
Observational Research Methods
Observational research is a group of different research methods where researchers try to observe a phenomenon without interfering too much.
Observational research methods, such as the case study, are probably the furthest removed from the established scientific method. This type is looked down upon, by many scientists, as ‘quasi-experimental’ research, although this is usually an unfair criticism. Observational research tends to use nominal or ordinal scales of measurement.
Observational research often has no clearly defined research problem, and questions may arise during the course of the study. For example, a researcher may notice unusual behavior and ask, ‘What is happening?’ or ‘Why?’
Observation is heavily used in social sciences, behavioral studies and anthropology, as a way of studying a group without affecting their behavior. Whilst the experiment cannot be replicated or falsified, it still offers unique insights, and will advance human knowledge.
Case studies are often used as a pre-cursor to more rigorous methods, and avoid the problem of the experiment environment affecting the behavior of an organism. Observational research methods are useful when ethics are a problem.
Conclusion
In an ideal world, experimental research methods would be used for every type of research, fulfilling all of the requirements of falsifiability and generalization.
|
Exercise 5.Answer the following questions using the information from the text. |
What does experimental research method involve?
Why is this research method considered to be one of the most difficult ?
What does opinion based research method generally involve?
What is an effective way of quantifying data?
When is opinion based experiment method usually used?
What method is used when the researcher tries to observe a phenomenon without interfering too much?
What is often used in more rigorous methods?
|
Exercise 6. Choose the right term from the table for every sentence. |
Apparatus, hypotheses, employ, quantifying data, methodology, observational, carry out |
1.We may … a procedure or an experiment or a pilot study. [preliminary study] 2. We use or, more formally, … a method or a technique or an approach or an instrument or a device. [an object or method used for a special purpose] 3. You can also use or employ any particular type of research … . 4. …, equipment for a lab experiment, is assembled and checked. 5. … research often has no clearly defined research problem. 6. Questionnaires are an effective way of … from a sample group. 7. The results are analyzed and used to test … .
|
Exercise 7. Match the synonyms from the tables A and B (words written in bold type) |
A.
Detailed; not natural; altering; do in exactly the same way; making it change; typical; comes to conclusions on the basis of; show something is not true; makes changes to; something that exists and can be seen, felt, tasted, etc. |
B. Types of research method
research method |
what the researcher does |
limitation of method |
experimental study |
Manipulates1 a variable [anything that can vary] under highly controlled conditions to see if this produces [causes] any changes in a second [dependent] variable |
done in the highly controlled setting of the laboratory - these conditions are artificial2 and may not reflect what happens in the infinitely more complex real world; other researchers often try to replicate3 successful experiments |
correlational study
|
attempts to determine the relationship between two or more variables, using mathematical techniques for summarising data |
only shows that two variables are related in a systematic way, but does not prove or disprove4 that the relationship is a cause-and-effect relationship |
naturalistic (empirical) observation (also known as field study) |
observes and records some behaviour or phenomenon5, often over a prolonged period, in its natural setting without interfering with6 the subjects or phenomena in any way |
can be very time-consuming as researcher may have to wait for some time to observe the behaviour or phenomenon of interest; difficult to observe behaviour without disrupting7 it |
survey |
makes inferences from8 data collected via interviews or questionnaires |
intentional deception, poor memory, or misunderstanding of the question can all contribute to inaccuracies in the data |
case study |
keeps in-depth9 descriptive records, as an outside observer, of an individual or group |
often involves only a single individual as the subject of the study and this person may not be representative10 of the general group or population |
|
Exercise 8. The logical structure of a research paper rests (among other things) on linking words and phrases. Say what part of research (a-f) the following expressions (1-12) refer to. |
a) Introducing Work b) Referring to the Literature c) Introducing Criticism d) Describing Methods e) Reporting Results f) Writing Conclusions/Describing Findings |
1) Of the initial cohort of 123 students, 66 were female and 57 male... 2) In the new global economy, X has become a central issue for ... 3) However, Jones (2003) points out/argues that... 4) One of the more significant findings to emerge from this study is that... 5) Several attempts have been made to ... (Jones 1999; Johnson, 2001) 6) This dissertation follows a case-study design, with in-depth analysis of... 7) This paper will focus on/examine/give an account of/address the following questions ... 8) The majority of those surveyed/respondents/those who responded felt that... 9) Qualitative and quantitative research designs were adopted to provide both descriptive, interpretive and empirical data. 10) Recent evidence suggests/have revealed that ... (Smith, 1996; Jones 1999; Johnson, 2001) 11) These findings enhance/add considerably to our understanding of ... 12) The X theory has been vigorously/strongly challenged in recent years by a number of writers. |
|
Exercise 9. Make up two lists of useful expressions (English and Russian) that you can use in your own research paper/abstract/article. Arrange them according to the headings (a-f) in task 1 on p. 71. This list makes Portfolio entry.
|
|
Exercise 10. Go to http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/ and choose 3 more phrases from the bank for each part of research. Write them down to exchange with your peers in class.
|
|
Exercise 11. Use the University library resources to get acquainted with Russian dissertations and dissertation synopses in your subject area. Write out 10-15 Russian research phrases and cliches. |
|
Exercise 12. Work in pairs. Match the following words denoting types of research with their descriptions: exploratory, descriptive, analytical, predictive
|
1) This type of research can be used to identify and classify the elements or characteristics of the subject, e.g. number of days lost because of industrial action.
2) This type of research often extends the descriptive approach to suggest or explain why or how something is happening, e.g. underlying causes of industrial action.
3) This type of research is undertaken when few or no previous studies exist.
4) The aim of this type of research is to speculate intelligently on future possibilities, based on close analysis of available evidence of cause and effect.
|
Exercise 13. Translate the following sentences into English.
|
Научная парадигма является фундаментом любого исследования. Томас Кун определяет научную парадигму как «признанные всеми научные достижения, которые в течение определённого времени дают научному сообществу модель постановки проблем и их решений».
Возможно, ученым, отшлифовавшим своё мастерство научных исследований на использовании сугубо количественных методов, качественные маркетинговые методы могут показаться недостаточно эффективными и поэтому ненадежными.
Соотношение разных методов исследования в разных областях знаний неодинаково. Основной посыл статьи состоит в необходимости компенсировать преобладающие количественные методы качественными для повышения эффективности маркетинговых исследований.
Данное научное исследование демонстрирует сдвиг в традиционном направлении исследований. Убедительность выводов обеспечивается логичной аргументацией, лежащей в основе практической части и присущей всему исследованию в целом. Небольшие недочеты не снижают достоинства данного исследования.
|
Exercise 14. Speak on the ways of organizing scientific information, use the material from the text and the table in exercise 4. |
