Research Methods slide encompassing the introduction to research methods and how to write a research paper.

1. CHOOSING THE APPROPRIATE
METHODOLOGY FOR YOUR
RESEARCH PROJECT – Part One
John Osae-Kwapong, Ph.D.
The John A Kufuor Foundation, Young Scholars
Program
December 24th, 2023.
7:30pm – 8:30pm

2. A Few Key Points To Note About
Research

3. Some terms you hear often associated with
research
Procedures, Methods, and
Techniques
Procedures, Procedures,
Validity
Procedures, Procedures,
Reliability
Procedures, Procedures,
Unbiased and
objective
Procedures, Procedures,
Empirical
Procedures, Procedures,
Replicable
Procedures, Procedures,
Controlled
Procedures, Procedures,
Rigorous

4. Why do we do research?
We undertake research to accomplish four main goals:
● To capture and describe in detail the general patterns of behavior with regards to
a given phenomenon (Descriptive research)
● To capture and show in detail the relationship between two or more phenomena
(Correlation research )
● To explain in detail the general patterns of behavior with regards to given
phenomenon (Explanatory research)
● To capture and show in detail the effect of an intervention to address an issue or
program (Evaluation research)

5. How to think about your research project
● Think of it as an activity consisting of three key stages but
interconnected
● Also think of the activities that must be completed at each
stage. The number of activities will depend on the stage of
the research

6. The Research Journey
Specify A Research Topic;
Narrow the focus ;
Create initial questions;
Conduct the literature review;
Revise and confirm the
narrowed focus;
Define and operationalize all
concepts including knowing
your variables;
Settle on research questions;
Develop research hypothesis if
applicable;
Determine the research
objectives
STAGE ONE
Laying The
Foundation For The
Journey
STAGE TWO
Designing A
Roadmap For The
Journey
Choosing The Appropriate
Research Methodology
Research Designs
Data collection
Sampling
Making sense of the data
STAGE THREE
Embarking on and
completing the journey
Collecting the data and avoiding
the pitfalls
Analyzing the collected data
Settling on research findings
Writing the research report
Presenting the research report
Publishing the research report

7. Our Focus Today
Choosing The Appropriate Methodolgy

8. Before Choosing The Appropriate Methodology
(1)
Specify A Research Topic
(4)
Conduct the literature review
(5)
Revise and confirm the
narrowed focus
(2)
Narrow the focus
(3)
Create initial questions
(6)
Define and operationalize all
concepts
(7)
Settle on the research questions
and know your research variables
(8)
Develop your research
hypothesis if applicable
(9)
Determine Your Research
Objectives

9. Choosing The Appropriate Methodology
RESEARCH
QUESTION(S)
RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
RESEARCH
ANSWER(S)
A blueprint or plan that details how the researcher intends to answer the
research question(s) with the aim of ensuring that the procedures are
adequate to obtain valid, objective and accurate answers to the research
question(s).

10. Choosing The Appropriate Methodology – Why
Is It Important?
It helps you identify all the procedures and tasks required to complete the research
study
It ensures that the procedures selected are adequate to obtain valid, objective and
accurate answers to the research questions.
It serves as a guide as the research study progresses
It is the critical link between the research question(s) and the research answer(s)

11. Choosing The Appropriate Methodology –
Things To Keep In Mind
Recall all the completed steps in stage one of the research journey with particular focus on
the research question
Understand that the research methodology will have two key components – the design (the
logical framework needed to get from research question to research answers) and methods
(the operational tasks that supports the research design)
Understand that choosing a design is not primarily a decision of whether the study will be a
quantitative study or a quality study. The research question drives the choice - the most
logical choice that produces valid answers

12. Choosing The Appropriate Methodology
Some basic questions

13. Choosing The Appropriate Methodology -
Some basic questions
● Which broad methodological approach?
● Which specific inquiry strategy?
● What kind of data will you collect?
● How will you collect the data?

14. Choosing The Appropriate Methodology -
Some basic questions
● Where will you collect the data from?
● How much data will you collect?
● From whom will you collect the data?
● How will you make sense of the data?

15. Choosing The Appropriate Methodology – Design
Options
Quantitative Qualitative Mixed Methods
Experimental Designs
Quasi Experimental Designs
Non Experimental Designs
Case Study
Phenomenology
Narrative
Grounded Theory
Triangulation
Embedded
Explanatory
Exploratory

16. Choosing The Appropriate Methodology – Operational
Options (Collecting Data)
PRIMARY
DATAResearcher constructs
instruments to collect the
data which is nonexistent
Observations
Interviews
Surveys
SECONDARY DATAData
already exists. Research accesses
the data and selects applicable
information for the study
Census
Operational
Indices
Guiding questions, knowing the pitfalls and avoiding them, advantages and disadvantages

17. Choosing The Appropriate Methodology –
Operational Options (Sampling)
NON PROBABILITY SAMPLING. Each member of
the general population does not have an independent
and equal chance of being selected. The selection is
also not random
PROBABILITY SAMPLING. Each
member of the general population has an
independent and equal chance of being
selected. The selection is also random
Options
1. Simple random
2. Systematic
3. Stratified
4. Cluster
Options
1. Quota
2. Accidental
3. Judgmental/Purposive
4. Snowball
Guiding questions, knowing the pitfalls and avoiding them, advantages and disadvantages

18. Choosing The Appropriate Methodology – Operational
Options (How will you make sense of the data)
Quantitative Data
Type of analysis
Type of statistics
Tools
Framework
Qualitative Data
Type of analysis
Tools
Framework
Guiding questions, knowing the pitfalls and avoiding them, advantages and disadvantages

19. Choosing The Appropriate Methodology
For Your Research Project
Part Two – Date and time to be
determined