The document outlines the 9 main stages of conducting research: 1) Identifying a topic, 2) Background research, 3) Developing objectives, 4) Research strategy, 5) Data collection planning, 6) Data collection, 7) Analysis, 8) Creating a report, and 9) Evaluation. It then provides more details on common data collection methods like interviews, questionnaires, observation, and experiments. Key advice includes having clear objectives, reviewing existing literature, developing ethical and unbiased collection strategies, and analyzing results both quantitatively and qualitatively.

2. The process of research

4. Stage 1
Identify a research
topic
Stage 2
Do background
research
Stage 3
Develop a
Research
Objective
Stage 4
Develop a
Research Strategy
& timeline
Stage 5
Plan your data
collection
Stage 6
Collect your
information/data
Stage 7
Review and
analyse your
information/data
Stage 8
Create your report
Stage 9
Evaluate the
process

5. Have clear aims and objectives for
the project. Ensure you know what
you want to get out of the survey at
the beginning of the project and
NOT at the end.

6. Find out what information already exists
about your topic. Existing sources, can be
used to support, add to or provide a new
way at looking at the primary data you
have collected or are about to collect.
In addition, having background
knowledge on your topic will help you
develop better questions .

7. 4 common forms of collection methodologies
 Interviews
 Observation
 Questionnaires (in person, email, online)
 Experimental Research.

9. Research Project Subject Advice and Strategies 2rp10-SAS01-Ethical Research.doc (April 2011) © SACE Board of South Australia 2011

10. Interviews are useful if you need a lot
of detailed information

11. Appropriate for small numbers of
people
Use open-ended questions
Provide explanatory and evaluative
research
For example “Investigating attitudes
towards refugees”

13.  Be clear about the purpose of the
interview
 Prepare a list of research objectives,
setting out the information that you intend
to gather
 Structure your questions around each issue
you want to address
 Decide what is essential, and what is just
“nice to know”

15.  Start with introductory questions – easy to
answer and provide specific information
about the person
 Next use broad-based questions that allow
the respondent to talk more freely and
openly about the issue.
 Finish with follow up questions which pick
up on particular issues.

16. Topic 1: Lessons

17. Topic 2: Teachers

18. Topic 3: Corporal Punishment

20. Questionnaires involve the gathering
of information from people using a
formally designed set of questions

21. Public opinion (e.g. Opinions about
junk food in school canteens)
User profile (e.g. Use of school
library)
Group profile (e.g. Young people and
social networking)

23.  Establish the purpose of the survey
 Decide what information is required and
from whom
 Note down the major issues you would like
to collect data about
 Structure your questions around each issue
you want to address
 Think about any extension questions you
can include

24.  Household survey
 Street survey
 Telephone survey
 Mail survey
 Site or user survey
 Captive group survey
 Interviewer-completed
 Respondent-completed

25.  The best results are obtained when you are
able to collect data from the entire
population
 If not possible, sampling is used
 What is the ideal sample size?
 Sample needs to be representative of your
target population

26.  Select respondents so all members of the
population as far as possible has the same
chance of being chosen.
 The aim is to avoid bias.
 Nature of the population is used in the
sample selection process

27. A survey is being conducted in Hartley Road
to gauge community reaction to the proposed
change of route of the local bus service.
There are 200 houses in the street and one
person is being interviewed in every fourth
house, giving a planned sample of 50 people

29.  Use simple language
 Avoid ambiguity
 Avoid leading questions
 Ask one question at a time

30. How often do you recycle?
A more appropriate way of phrasing the question…
How many times have you filled your
recycling bin in the past six months?

31. Do you agree that humans are the major cause
behind recent climate change?
 Yes
 No
A more appropriate way of phrasing the question…
What do you believe are the major forces behind
recent climate change?
 Natural causes
 Human causes
 Combination of the two

32. QUAULITATIVE QUANTITATIVE
 good starting questions
 exploratory
 sometimes called open-
ended
 respondents choose from a
range of answers or options
 can be attitude and opinion
questions
 attitude or statement scales
are used to direct answers
 sometimes called closed-ended
The responses are judged and
measured by feel rather than
mathematics
Responses can be measured
mathematically

33. qualitative quantitative
1. What is your opinion on
the proposed change of
route for the local bus
service?

34.  Tables
 Graphs
 Calculation of percentages and averages

36. Australian Bureau of Statistics

37. Observation research is concerned with
looking at or observing some form of
behaviour

38.  Peoples use of a place or service
 Situations where communication is difficult.
 Antisocial or illegal behaviour
 Things that are essentially visual (e.g. art,
fashion, displays etc.)

40.  Choose and inspect a site that will provide
suitable conditions for observation
 Make sure you see the entire site from your
observation point
 Explore if the observation point will effect your
results
 Choice of time important as variations in the
use of the site might be effected by time of
the year, week, or day.

41.  Continuous counting gives a complete picture
but requires a great deal of time.
 Spot counts involves counting involved counting
the number of people present at particular
times.
 How often you undertake observations depends
on the rate of change in the use of the site.

42.  numbers
 activities
 user characteristics.
 If you are observing a large area you may
need to create zones and you might need to
get help with the observation.

44.  Design a data recording sheet before you
carry out the observation
 It should be designed so you can quickly
record your observations.

45.  Observation should be straightforward if
well planned
 Video or photography may be helpful –
ethical considerations
 Be safe

46.  Tables
 Graphs
 Calculation of percentages and averages

47. Experimental Research is concerned
with testing a hypothesis.

48.  Assessing the effects of lack of light in plant
growth
 Exploring the effects of watching excessive
amounts of TV on student achievement in
year 12
 Exploring if there is any correlation between
time spent on social media and school grades
 Brand name goods versus generic goods

49.  Report on your findings and give a
presentation if required.
 Note any problems encountered which may
affect the interpretation of the results.
 Refer to original objective to see if it has
been met.