1.3 Museum Research Methods Social Research Fundamentals

Museum Research Methods MUSM7034 Semester 1 2009 Session 1.3 Social research fundamentals www.arts.usyd.edu.au/departs/museum http://musm7034.ning.com/

Scientific method

What is data

Research techniques

Ethics

Validity and reliability

Discuss Bielefeld

Assessment 1

1. Introduction

2. Scientific Method

Francis Bacon (1561-1626)

Start with systematic data collection

Use inductive reasoning to compose a theory

Credited with establishing scientific method

Thomas Kuhn (1922-1996)

Science proceeds by paradigm shifts

Scientific revolutions

Karl Popper (1902-1994)

Science cannot verify the truth of our theories, it can only show when they are wrong (Empirical Falsification).

Theories that survive falsification better are a better ‘fit’ with reality.

Like biological evolution, theories that survive more and more falsification are able to explain increasingly complex problems. Over time, stronger theories emerge. .

2. Scientific Method

OBSERVATION

Valid data

EXPLANATION

Logical & sensible

PREDICT

So what?

TEST

Confirm or deny

Define the question

Gather information and resources (observe)

Form hypothesis

Perform experiment and collect data

Analyze data

Interpret data and draw conclusions that serve as a starting point for new hypothesis

Publish results

Retest (frequently done by other scientists)

3. What is data

Data is information in any form – numbers, words, paragraphs, images, diagrams, drawings, etc.

Systematic data is more useful

Data Processing – organising data into more useful forms

Data Analysis – more organising! Often using complex maths to test real effects (more on that later)

4. Research techniques

Quantitative (numbers)

Survey

Face to face, telephone, online, self-completion, mail

Qualitative (not numeric)

Focus groups

Semi-structured interviews

Workshops

Observation

Tracking

Timing & counting

Noting behaviours

Literature Review

Desk Analysis

Data mining

Ethnography

5. Ethics

Do no harm

Privacy legislation

Code of Professional Behaviour

Australian Market and Social Research Society

http://www.mrsa.com.au/index.cfm?a=detail&id=2649&eid=138

Children

Sensitive topics

Opt-in, permission-based contact

Do Not Call register

6. Validity and reliability

Reliability

consistency of measurement

degree to which an instrument measures the same way each time it is used under the same condition with the same subjects

Validity

1. Conclusion validity – is there a relationship between the intervention and the observed outcome?

2. Internal Validity – if there is a relationship between the intervention and the outcome we saw, is it a causal relationship?

3. Construct validity – is there a relationship between how I operationalised my concepts in this study to the actual causal relationship I'm trying to study?

4. External validity – can we generalize the results of our study to other settings?

Group work – Bielefeld

Group 1

What kind of non-profits does Bielefeld have in mind? How relevant is this to museums?

What’s wrong with the paragraph on p398, “This also seems…”

Describe the positivist approach.

Group 2

Who is this paper written for?

What is the difference between basic and applied research?

In what ways is academia relevant to visitor research in museums?

Assessment 1

Social research in the museum sector follows the basic principles of the scientific method to generate information that is objective in order to provide a reliable basis for effective decision-making.