This chapter outlines the methodology used in a research project or thesis. It should describe the purpose, objectives, operational framework as a flowchart, type of research (e.g. descriptive, experimental), design (e.g. survey, case study), population, sampling technique, data gathering procedures, instrument validation, and data analysis procedures in enough detail that another researcher could replicate the study. The level of detail and specific elements covered may vary depending on the type of research or project.

1. CHAPTER III
AED 615
Fall 2006
Dr. Franklin

2. Chapter Overview
• Chapter III is your thesis or project
“recipe”.
• You describe the steps you took to conduct
your research or designed your project.
• How detailed should it be?
• The reader should have enough
information that he/she could replicate
your research with the same or similar
population and arrive at the same results.

3. Re-Introduce the Reader
• What is it again you are doing?
– Purpose statement
– Objective
– A paragraph or two.
• If the reader is interested in your
methodology, he/she does not have to go
back and forth through Chapter I to revisit
the purpose and objectives.

4. Operational Framework
• A visual representation of your steps to
complete your research.
• Construct a flow-chart with labels.
• Make it a “figure” for your document.
• Follow APA style for formatting a “figure”.
• Be sure to have a narrative of your
Operational Framework.
• Tell the reader what occurs at each step.

5. Methodology
• Type of research
• Design
• Population
• Sample & sampling
• Data gathering procedure
• Data analysis procedure

6. Type of Research of Project
• Descriptive
• Experimental
• Historical
• Qualititative
• Project (Curriculum design)

7. Design
• Survey
• Interrelationships studies
• Developmental studies
• Experimental studies

8. Surveys
• School surveys (ie. Teachers, students,
administrators, etc.)
• Job analysis
• Documentary analysis
• Public opinion surveys
• Community surveys

9. Interrelationships
• Case studies
• Causal comparative
• Correlational studies

10. Developmental Studies
• Growth studies
• Trend studies
• Model or system development

11. Experimental Studies
• True experimental designs
• Quasi-experimental designs
• Pre-experimental designs

12. Data Gathering Procedures
• Instrument development
• Instrument description
• Validity
• Reliability
• How will you get the information?
– Self-administered survey questionnaire
• Mailed
• On-line
• Ask in person
• Ask over the phone

13. Data Gathering Procedures
– Interview
• Face to face
• Open-ended
• Follow-up questions
– Observation (Ethnographic)
• Watching
• Listening
• Recording
• Non-participatory

14. Instrument Validation
• Does the instrument measure the
constructs we intend to measure?
• Is the instrument reliable?
– If we retest the subjects with the same
instrument over a period of time (with no
treatment in between), will they respond the
same?
– Is there inter-item reliability?

15. Instrument Validation
• Is the instrument valid?
• Does it measure what you want it to
measure?

16. Population
• Describe the subjects of your study.
• What characteristics do they share that
includes them in your population of
interest?
• Will you include all members of the
population in your study? (Census).
• What is the total number? (N)

17. Sampling
• Is the size of our population so big that a census
is too costly, or will take too much time?
• Sample the population
– Random
– Stratification
– Proportional
– Clusters
– Purposive
• Sample must be representative of the population

18. Response Rate
• How many participants responded to your
survey?
– Early vs late respondents
– Respondents vs non-respondents
– Controlling for non-response error
• Reporting your response rate

19. Data Analysis Procedures
• Statistical procedures (ie. use of SAS,
SPSS, or another analysis software
program)
• Descriptive
• Inferential
• Qualitative – transcription of interviews
(coding, categorizing, etc.)
• Use of specialized procedures