Rift Valley University initially conceived as College, was established in Adama City of East Shawa Zone, Oromia National Regional State in October 2000 G.C, foreseeing the core values of good governance, commitment to quality services and community development, gender sensitivity, secularism and non-partisan, creativity, responsiveness, team work spirit, and work culture parallel to the nation’s development goals along with the purpose of producing competent, ethical and skilled manpower without making any distinction between people of different ethnic, religious, social, economic and political backgrounds. After securing its legal personality, the then Rift Valley College strongly worked on the accreditation processes of its training and education programs from all regulatory bodies, and managed to get full accreditation from Higher Education Relevance and Quality Agency and Regional States TVET Agencies. Taking its flourishing capacity and quality service into account, the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with HERQA, granted the rank of University College in August 2007 G.C. This was not an easy task and a simple success story for the institution. The two regulatory bodies had conducted rigorous evaluation of the systems of the institution, physical facilities and learning resources of its campuses and faculties to come to decision of such status change. Afterwards, Rift Valley University College rigorously worked towards becoming a full-fledged university and realized itself as Rift Valley University in August 2014 G.C. Currently, Rift Valley University being a pioneer and the largest Private Higher Learning Institution in Ethiopia has been delivering quality education to the citizens and foreigners who have lived in the country for different purposes. Furthermore, the University has 50 Campuses (among which Finfine Campus is one), 3 TVET Colleges and College of Open and Distance Education (32 accredited branches) with diversified fields of study across the country. Over the last two decades, thousands have joined and graduated with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Bachelor’s degree, and Master’s degree that enabled them to support themselves and their families. Others have also managed to create their own jobs whereby they exhibited the merits of their training and education at Rift Valley University in fostering the already established development goals of the country. Rift Valley University initially conceived as College, was established in Adama City of East Shawa Zone, Oromia National Regional State in October 2000 G.C, foreseeing the core values of good governance, commitment to quality services and community development, gender sensitivity, secularism and non-partisan, creativity, responsiveness, team work spirit, and work culture parallel to the nation’s development goals along with the purpose of producing competent, ethical and skilled manpower without making any distinction between people of d

1. Advanced Research Methods- Quantitative
and qualitative (DVMT 523)
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SGaDS

2. Advanced Research Methods- Quantitative
and qualitative
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Chapter I: Introduction to Social Science
Research
Best J.W., and Kahn, J.V. (1993) Research in Education, 7th ed. Allyn & Bacon
Rolfe, G. (nd). Philosophical basis for research.

3. What is research? Meaning and definition
The philosophical basis of empirical research
The Scientific Method
Types and Nature of Research
Research designs
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4. 8/18/2023 4
 A growing tendency to see a research as a procedure for
which people can be trained with rules and guidelines
governing aspects, from submitting research proposal to
writing final report (Rolfe, nd.).
 a practice in which every new situation throws up fresh
challenges and where the standard procedures often need to
be modified and improvised in order to take account of
unexpected developments(Rolfe, nd.).
 “…the systematic and objective analysis and recording of
controlled observations that may lead to the development of
generalizations, principles, or theories, resulting in prediction
and possibly ultimate control of events (Best and Khan
,1995:p20).

5. Research is:
 directed towards the solution of a problem:- discover
cause-effect relation between variables.
 emphasizes on the development of generalization,
principles, or theories that will be helpful in predicting
future occurrences.
 based upon observable experience or empirical
evidence.
 demands accurate observation and description- using
quantitative or qualitative measuring devices. Involving valid
and reliable data gathering procedures.
 involves gathering new data from primary or first hand
sources or using existing data for a new purposes.
 involves carefully defined procedures that apply rigorous
analysis
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6.  requires expertise.
 strives to be objective and logical, applying
every possible test to validate the procedure
employed, the data collected, and the
conclusions reached.
 involves the quest for answers to unsolved
problems/originality/novelty.
 characterized by patient and unhurried
activity – rarely spectacular, expect
disappointment, discouragement
 should be carefully recorded and reported.
 sometimes requires courage.
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7.  Philosophical worldviews or ideas often influence approaches to
research.
 Worldview may refer to “a basic set of belief that guide action”
(Guba, 1990).
 It is the philosophy of conception of the world.
 Ontology– philosophy of existence of reality /what things are
◦ A system of belief that reflects an interpretation of an
individual about what constitutes a fact.
 Epistemology–the study of how we know things or the method of
knowing existence or reality
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8. Philosophical approaches to scientific method:
 (Post)positivism /objectivism/ –there is single, universal reality
(objective truth).
 the role of science is to discover this reality-scientific method,
doing science research, empirical research
 social entities exist in reality external to social actors concerned
with their existence
 rationally justifiable assertion can be scientifically verified
 Subjectivism (Interpretivism or constructionism) –
There is no such thing as a single reality- there are multiple realities.
Because, every individual constructs his/her own realities – reality is
socially constructed.
 perceives that social phenomena is created from perceptions and
consequent actions of those social actors concerned with their
existence
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9. Due to the differences in their philosophical backdrops (ontological
positions or world outlooks), positivists and subjectivists adhere to
different scientific epistemologies.
Positivists – employ quantitative methods to objectively measure
scientific phenomena (e.g., Political attitude).
 For example, they use rating scales to study the attitude of
local people towards refugees from neighboring states.
Subjectivist (Interpretivism) – employ qualitative approach -it
focuses on description of conversational or textual (Verbal) data,
photographic and video etc…
 For example, to study the same problem mentioned above, a
researcher uses narrative interview or focus group discussion
instead of rating scales.
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10. The norms of sciences:
 Science is an objective, logical and systematic method of analysis
of phenomena, devised to permit the accumulation of reliable
knowledge (Lastrucci, 1963)
 Objective- striving for objectivity- being explicit with our
measurement so that others can easily find the errors we make-
precise and accurate
 Method – a set of techniques for gathering and handling data. 3
assumptions:
◦ Reality is out there to be discovered
◦ Direct observation is the way to discover it (including lab)
◦ Material explanations for observable phenomena are always
sufficient- metaphysical explanations are not needed
 Reliable – the information obtained must be reliable and accurate
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11.  Research follows a scientific method.
 SM is a way of thinking about problems & solving them.
 It helps to explain the problem and its alternative solutions in
an orderly way.
 It provides common ground for inquiry by those attempting to
understand reality.
 No rigid formula can be used for all scientific discovery or
scientific writing.
Two basic assumptions underlie scientific investigations:
(1) events taking place in nature can be understood if one asks
the right questions and does the right analysis, and;
(2) a systematic relationship holds between a cause & its
effects, although, random elements that give rise to error in
predictions also may be present.
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12. The scientific method has at least five major steps:
1. Identification and definition of the problem.
2. Formulation of a hypothesis-an idea as to a probable
solution to the problem, an intelligent guess or hunch.
3. Collection, organization, and analysis of data
4. Formulation of conclusions
5. Verification, rejection, or modification of the hypothesis
by the test of its consequences in a specific situation.
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13. Criteria Types
On the basis of
Objectives
Fundamental/Basic
Research
Applied
Research
Action
Research
On the Basis of
Nature of Data
Qualitative Research Quantitative
research
On the basis of
Nature of Findings
Explanatory Research Exploratory
Research
Descriptive
Research
On the basis of
Experimental
manipulations
Experimental
Research
Non-Experimental Research
On the basis of
approach involved
Longitudinal
Research
Cross Sectional Research
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14. Fundamental or basic research :
 the formal and systematic process of deductive- inductive analysis, leading
to the development of theories
 a type of research that may have limited direct application, may be later
result in further research of an applied nature.
e.g. how is the universe began?
Salient Features:
 Based on the belief ‘Knowledge for the knowledge’s sake’ or for
advancement of knowledge.
 Take place in a laboratory or a sterile environment , sometimes with
animals
 Understanding of theoretical relationship b/n variables
 Exploratory in nature
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15. Applied research -
 has the characteristics of fundamental research
 adapts the theories developed through fundamental research to the
solution of immediate societal problems.
 Aimed at improving a product or a process- testing theoretical
concepts in actual problem situations
 a type of research that has direct value to practitioners but in which the
researcher has limited control over the research setting.
Salient Features:
 solve specific or practical questions
 involves precise measurement of the characteristics and describes
relationships between variables of a studied phenomenon
 collection and analysis of data to examine the usefulness of theory in
solving practical educational problems
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16. Relationship between Basic & Applied Research
 The interaction of basic and applied research
Basic research provides the theory that produces the
concepts for solving problems
Applied research provides the data to help support,
guide, and revise the development of theory
Doing basic research ensures that applied researchers
do not need to reinvent the wheel every time they start
on a new project, because the groundwork has been
done.
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17. Action research
• focuses on immediate application, not on the development of
theory or on generalization of applications.
• it has placed its emphasis on a problem here and now in a
local setting.
• its findings are to be evaluated in terms of local applicability, not
universal validity.
 it is a systematic inquiry done by researchers to gather
information about, and subsequently improve, the ways their
particular activities operate, how they work, and how well they
impact others.
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18. 8/18/2023 18
action
change
within a
system
pave the
way for
change
build
broader
understanding
Basic/ pure
research
Action research
Critical /
radical
ethnograph
y
Applied /
evaluative
research Participatory/
emancipatory
technical/
practical
emancipate
through
action
expose &
change the
dominate
system

19. Descriptive research
 describes and interprets what is. It is concerned with conditions or
relationship that exist, opinions that are held, processes that are going
on, effects that are evident or trends that are developing.
 is non-experimental -deals with the relationship between variables, the
testing of hypotheses, the development of generalizations, principles or
theories that have a universal validity
 researcher does not manipulate the variables, decides who receive the
treatment or arrange or events to happen
 involved events that have already taken place and may be related to a
present condition.
 population census, household expenditure patterns, time use studies,
crime rate
 accurate descriptions of the level of unemployment or poverty have
historically played a key role in social policy reforms
 good description provokes the `why' questions of explanatory research
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20. Explanatory research
 focuses on the why questions. Eg.Why many postgraduate students at
HwU choose the SGaDS?
 develop explanations about why the crime rate is as high as it is, why
some types of crime are increasing or why the rate is higher in some
countries than in others.
 answering the `why' questions involves developing causal explanations.
 causal explanations argue that phenomenon Y (e.g. income level) is
affected by factor X (e.g. gender). Some causal explanations will be
simple while others will be more complex. For example, we might argue
that there is a direct effect of gender on income (i.e. simple gender
discrimination).
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21. Exploratory research
 the most useful (and appropriate) research design for those projects that
are addressing a subject about which there are high level of
uncertainty and ignorance about the subject, and when the problem
is not very well understood (i.e. very little existing research on the subject
matter).
 characterized by a high degree of flexibility & lacks a formal structure.
 main aim of exploratory research is to identify the boundaries of the
environment in which the problems, opportunities or situations of
interest are likely to reside, and to identify the salient factors or
variables that might be found there and be of relevance to the research.
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22. Experimental research
 provides a systematic and logical method for answering the question, “if
what will happen -this is done under carefully controlled conditions
 experimenters manipulate certain stimuli, treatments, or environmental
conditions and observe how the condition or behavior of the subject is
affected or changed.
 provides a method of hypothesis testing observed effects to confirm or
disconfirm it
 it is the classic method of the science laboratory, where elements
manipulated and effects observed can be controlled.
Non-experimental research
 is used where it is unethical to manipulate the independent variable, for
but instead, relies on interpretation, observation or interactions
to come to a conclusion.
 in studies whose purpose is description e.g/ survey, case studies
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23. Survey research
 provides a quantitative or numeric description of trends, attitudes,
or opinions of a population by studying a sample of that population.
 it includes cross-sectional (a specific point in time) and longitudinal
(over long period) studies using questionnaires or structured
interviews for data collection with the intent of generalizing from a
sample to a population.
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24.  Research design is the overall plan for connecting the conceptual
research problems to the pertinent (and achievable) empirical
research.
 The research design articulates what data is required, what
methods are going to be used to collect and analyze this data, and
how all of this is going to answer your research question.
 constitutes decisions regarding what, where, when, how
much, by what means concerning an inquiry or a research
study. What data will you gather and how will you handle these
data? How do you analyze it? Which software will you use?
 Both data and methods, and the way in which these will be
configured in the research project, need to be the most effective in
producing the answers to the research question (taking into account
practical and other constraints of the study).
 Different design logics are used for different types of study.
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25. Chapter 4
 Narrative design
Exploring individual stories to describe the lives of people.
 Ethnographic design
Exploring the shared culture of a group.
 Grounded Theory design
Exploring common experiences of individuals to
develop a theory.
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26.  All research involves the elements of observation, description,
and the analysis of what happens under certain circumstances.
 A rather simple four point analysis may be used to classify social
science research. Practically all studies fall under one, or a
combination, of these types:
 Historical research describes what was. The process involves
investigating, recording, analyzing, and interpreting the events of the
past for the purpose of discovering generalizations that are helpful in
understanding the past and the present and, to a limited extent, in
anticipating the future.
 Descriptive research (quantitative) uses quantitative methods to
describe what is, describing, recording, analyzing, and interpreting
conditions that exist. It involves some type of comparison or contrast
and attempts to discover relationships between existing non-
manipulated variables. Some form of statistical analysis is used to
describe the results of the study.
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27.  Qualitative descriptive research uses non-quantitative methods to
describe what is. Qualitative descriptive research uses systematic
procedures to discover non-quantifiable relationships between
existing variables.
 Experimental research describes what will be when certain variables
are carefully controlled or manipulated. The focus is on variable
relationships. As defined here, deliberate manipulation is always a
part of the experimental method.
 These four categories are not meant to imply that a study cannot
include more than one category. For example, a study might include
both quantitative and qualitative methods.
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28.  A hypothesis is a tentative explanation for a particular phenomena.
 Eg 1, most people believe that drinking too much coffee will lead to
heart disease.
 This is a tentative explanation for the phenomena of ‘heart disease –
but we need to do research to prove or disprove this hypothesis.
 Eg 2: After reviewing the data that shows increased female
participation in HE than 2 decades ago, I may hypothesize as follows:
 Hypothesis: There are twice as much female electrical engineers
today than they were two decades ago.
 (Observe that, in this hypothesis, there is a ‘hunch’ i.e. the double rate of enrollment
growth i.e. 15% to about 30%) . However, the proportion of female electrical engineers
may be higher than the previous or remained the same, or may be even lower). But the
researcher may prove or disprove his/her hypothesis after analyzing the data.
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29. A theory:
 is an attempt to develop a general explanation for some
phenomenon.
 defines non-observable constructs that are inferred from
observable facts and events and that are thought to have an effect
on the phenomenon under study.
 describes the relation among key variables for the purpose of
explaining current sate or predicting future occurrence.
 establishes a cause-and-effect relationship between variables with
the purpose of explaining and predicting phenomena.
 those who engage in pure research devote their energies to the
formulation and reformulation of theories and may not be
concerned with their practical applications.
 when a theory has been established, it may suggest many
applications of practical value. According to John Dewey - there
was nothing more practical than a good theory.
 Eg. Theories of the behavior of gasses were essential to the
development of refrigeration and air conditioning.
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30. Operational definitions are not the dictionary definition
of variables. Rather, it refers to the manner in which
variables are measured in your study.
Much more precise and unambiguous definitions of
variables can be stated in operational form, which
stipulates the operation by which they can be
observed and measured.
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31. Example
 Factors affecting women‘s representation in top-
leadership positions at HwU as a function of their
Educational Status in Ethiopia’
 Variables (Operationally defined)
1. Women Representation: Proportion of women in
HU above dept head
2. Top management: Leadership positions ranging from
head of dept to a president
3. Education Status: The academic qualification of
women. E.g. Diploma, Degree, MA, PhD
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32. 8/18/2023 32