Lecture 04
Lecture 04
Lecture 04
Session 7
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Ms. Nilmini Rathnayake
DATA (Plural) ….. DATUM(Singular )
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TWO Types of DATA : Quantitative
and Qualitative
Quantitative:
•Data presented as numbers.
•Can be analyzed using mathematical and
statistical methods to derive conclusions.
Qualitative:
•Data NOT presented in the form of numbers.
May be of words and expressions.
•Analysis is to derive themes and patterns
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DATA
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In your research, you need to decide research methods
depending on:
your research questions
your underlying philosophy of research
your preferences and skills
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TWO ways to get data for your research
Secondary data
Data someone else has collected
Primary data
Data you collect
Qualitative QUALITATIVE
Data Collection:
RESEARCH
Focus Group
Interviews
Interviews
Observation
Observation Data
Data
Collection Case
Collection
Studies
Techniques
Techniques
Action
Research
Grounded
Theory
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INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOQVATIVE MINDS
Quantitative Data Collection:
Surveys where there are a large number of
respondents (e.g. Likert scale)
Observations (counts of numbers and/or coding
data into numbers)
Secondary data (e.g. Government data;
Company annual reports)
WHAT IS THE UNIT OF
ANALYSIS?
One of the most important ideas in a research
project is the unit of analysis.
The unit of analysis is the major entity that you
are analyzing in your study.
Examples: Individuals; Groups; Artifacts
(books, photos, newspapers); Geographical
units (town, census tract, state); Social
interactions (divorces, arrests)
Researcher need tohave a clear view of unit of
analysis.
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UNIT OF ANALYSIS,
POPULATION AND SAMPLE
Unit of Analysis
Unit of Analysis
WHERE THE DATA COME
FROM?
Secondary data
data someone else has
collected
Primary data
data you collect
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SECONDARY DATA SOURCES
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RECALL:
HOW TO DECIDED? WHICH
DATA?
If you: Then Use:
- want to conduct statistical analysis
- want to be precise Quantitative
- know what you want to measure
- want to cover a large group
- want narrative or in-depth information
- are not sure what you are able to measure Qualitative
- do not need to quantify the results
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RESEARCH AND
RESEARCH METHODS
Research methods are split broadly into quantitative and qualitative
methods
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ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
IN RESEARCH
Informed consent
Informed consent is a process of communication between you and participant that
often leads to agreement or permission
Anonymity and confidentiality
Anonymity means that there is no way for anyone (including the researcher) to
personally identify participants in the study.
Confidentiality and anonymity are distinct but related concepts; confidentiality refers
to the need to keep identifiable information about individuals private
Participants protected from potential harm
It is generally accepted that participation in research should pose no risk
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