tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81475192602540968042024-03-13T07:57:25.026-07:00INF1240H: Research Methods DialoguesINF1240H - GROUP 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/03549803164486876634noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147519260254096804.post-84053139899118555322010-12-05T18:55:00.000-08:002010-12-05T19:49:19.197-08:00How would you sample this blog?<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">I ask because my research proposal involves a population of texts produced over a long period of time—a much, much longer period of time than this blog represents, but not so different from a methodological point of view. Let's say you have a research question that involves changes over time, meaning that you want to compare the content of posts produced in September, October, November, and December. (You could stratify them some other way, but let's keep this simple.) When I submit this post, the count will look like this:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Sept: 15</span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Oct: 30</span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Nov: 21</span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Dec: 12</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">(Okay, so there's no need to sample from such a small population, but play along.) Can you simply take a random sample of, say, 10 posts from each month? If you did, your sample would have something like 33% of October's posts and 88% of December's posts. Then again, since the purpose of the study is comparison and not overall generalization, you don't have to worry about your samples being uneven. As long as you can generalize about October from the October samples, you're fine. Still, maybe it would be better to take 50% of each month. I don't know. If you start taking percentages, then do you risk some kind of distortion? Is 6 of 12 as representative as 15 of 30? I need to go back to the textbooks.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">For what it's worth, I think that my research design is going to involve nonproportionate stratified sampling. That would be relevant to this hypothetical study if, for example, October had 30 posts and September had 5. There's just no way you could sample from 5 and get a representative picture of the content of the blog posts. I suppose, though, that I have to think about the ways in which nonproportionate sampling constrains and affects the comparison.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Karl</span><br /><br /><br /></span>Karl Nilsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10780315766009483991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147519260254096804.post-56916890925860336222010-12-05T16:22:00.000-08:002010-12-05T17:07:39.624-08:00Hello and goodbye<div>Before we turn the lights out on this forum, I want to say thank you to all of you who shared thoughts and observations about this process of designing a research project. So much more there than we knew, wasn't there? Thank you Professor Grimes for selecting such a range of readings which I found introduced me to so much new information - games theory, ethnography's intimacies -- and enlightened me in unexpected ways, as light shone into corners i didn't even know were dark . Who knew how difficult it could be to isolate a meaningful research question! Only when I had to make it consistent with all the other parts -- methodology, analysis framework -- did I appreciate how coherent a concept has to be, to have even potential value. As a research investigation anyway. <br /><br />And thank you also for lectures that were always full of visual as well as intellectual interest. </div><br /><div> All tonight's blogs have something in them that resonate; i also feel frightened --at the thought of "going live" with a research project involving people ever again; the ethics talk <em>was</em> excellent, especially as an antidote to grandiose plans; I have used an extra observer to record observations of the "subjects" to capture even more information (that people don't know they're giving even though they have agreed to the process); and my writing process is also bedevilling me right now. Thanks and good luck to all! </div>larissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03177443079899849398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147519260254096804.post-47483976487356746502010-12-05T10:46:00.001-08:002010-12-05T11:14:25.036-08:00I suppose this is my final post for this blog. I would just like to say how helpful I have found this process, both for getting a sense of other people's ideas and projects as well as constructing and making sense of my own.<br /><br />In reading Chapter 7 of Knight, I began to think a lot about whether or not note taking or using recording devices would be more appropriate in my interviews. The crux of the issue seems to be that in taking notes, there is more of a chance that you can miss something, as well as not being able to be as attentive to the interviewees. These implications can be somewhat avoided if you have two researchers as Knight suggests (168). At the same time, it is still difficult to capture all of what someone says by transcribing it. Using recording devices can assist with this problem, but there is the potential for recording devices to influence behaviour. Ethical considerations would necessitate letting the interviewee know that they are being recorded in any way, so they must be aware of this. It is suggested by Knight that if they are smaller, the interviewees may forget about them and make them more comfortable and thus less influenced by the device in their responses.<br /><br />I think there is a need to find a balance between these two approaches. I believe that you can allow the interviewee to feel more comfortable about the recording by assuring confidentiality and anonymity. I think that I would definitely use 2 researchers- 1 for conducting the interview and 1 for taking notes not just on what people are saying but their body language, etc. I would also obtain an audio record of the conversation, just because I feel like this is the best way to ensure that I wouldn't miss anything important. I feel that the minor limitations that may come from using a recording device outweigh the potential loss of information from the interview that could happen if there were only transcriptions of the interview.Maggie Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07287833063216341770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147519260254096804.post-63797058749269948092010-12-04T20:24:00.000-08:002010-12-04T20:56:06.789-08:00The End.<span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >I gather that, for most of us, this blog has come to an end. </span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Endings are, of course, beginnings, and for that reason</span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" > I will write one more post after this one. So this post is not The End after all.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">I have been thinking a lot about writing lately because I need to rethink how I write papers. Not, I mean, how I put sentences together—well, yes, I need to work on that part of it—but the whole business of reading, thinking, making notes, writing, and editing. Curiously, this idea is completely appropriate to this moment because if you think back to the beginning of this course, then you will recall that we began with writing. "Start with Writing" is the first chapter of Knight's book. Here, at the end of the course, I arrive at the beginning. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">The main reason that I need to rethink how I write has to do with the fact that I write in too many separate stages. First, I read some text and make notes. Then I read my notes. Then I re-read my notes and re-read portions of the text. Then I re-read my notes and re-read portions of the text and write. Then I re-read the text. Then I re-read my notes. Then I write. And so on. Why don't I just read and write?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">So that's where I end, or begin. With a research question.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Karl</span><br /></span>Karl Nilsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10780315766009483991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147519260254096804.post-77782565182717698812010-12-03T16:32:00.000-08:002010-12-03T17:02:01.173-08:00Research ethics in unexpected places<span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Ever since our class on research ethics, which was fascinating, I have had the funny feeling that, sometime earlier this semester, I stumbled upon an ethical issue in relation to historical research. Typically, the ethical issues that we associate with historical research have to do with academic honesty or, I would add, the fair use and impartial representation of evidence. A few days ago, though, I remembered that I had come across the records of two prison libraries in the Archives of Ontario. The archives hold the library record books that, I presume, indicate which inmate borrowed which book. Interestingly, both fonds come with the following condition, which probably accompanies all prison records in the Archives:<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">"Access to these records is governed by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Requests for access to records 100 years old or less must be submitted in writing to the Information and Privacy Unit of the Archives of Ontario."<br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">It occurred to me that writing a request for access to these records would be not unlike writing a research protocol for a study involving human subjects. You should probably make an argument about the value of your research, how you will use the information, how you will secure the information, how you will protect the identities of the inmates, to whom you will disclose your results, what you will do with the information after the study, and so on.<br /><br />So, as it turns out, our training in research ethics applies just as much to textual records as it does to human subjects. Neat.<br /><br />Karl<br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span>Karl Nilsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10780315766009483991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147519260254096804.post-24090174270024915532010-12-03T12:18:00.000-08:002010-12-03T12:23:45.613-08:00Surveys as a Way of Avoiding Ethical Issues?My research proposal involves two parts. I want to gain an understanding of how librarians in the TPL view Facebook and whether they use it to reach out to young adults. I also want to see how young adults use Facebook and how they view the library and whether Facebook should be used as an outreach tool. Ideally, I would like to be doing interviews with both sets of subjects. However, interviewing minors poses an ethical risk. Therefore, I plan to do survey research in Toronto highschools. I see survey research as being less invasive and I hope to avoid any ethical dilemmas by using this method as opposed to interviews.Elizabeth Coateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05654660655938815538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147519260254096804.post-91420778192911188642010-12-03T11:48:00.000-08:002010-12-03T12:10:30.626-08:00Actually Doing the ResearchI really like how Knight's Chapter 7 says that it is okay if things go wrong during the research process. Research isn't always as neat and orderly as the methods books would have us believe. The research that I conducted was messy and emotional and confusing. It did not follow a neat, linear pattern and at times I felt lost along the way. Methods books make research seem so cut and dry. If you're interviewing you follow a set of questions and a procedure. You code a certain way and analyze results a certain way and write your paper a certain way. However, the manuals don't explain how it's going to feel when you're asking a participant really sensitive questions or what to do if they start crying. Even after you get ethics approval there's always a chance that you could emotionally harm a subject. I felt that Knight made the research process seem more real.Elizabeth Coateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05654660655938815538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147519260254096804.post-7839020452598500702010-12-03T11:24:00.000-08:002010-12-03T11:46:35.148-08:00Validity and Reliability in Qualitative ResearchWhile writing my peer review assignment on MacMillan's "Soapbox" study I came to the conclusion that qualitative research methods are inherently disadvantaged when it comes to the concepts of reliability and validity. Qualitative research can never be completely reliable because it is ultimately up to the interpretation of the researcher and interpretations can never be standardized. Similarly, when it comes to validity, it seems pretty unlikely that qualitative research will meet minimum standards for both internal and external validity. Qualitative research can never be externally valid because it is not generalizable. Maybe it can be internally valid, but I still feel like that cannot be proven.<br /><br />While doing this assignment I also read several researcher's takes on evaluating reliability and validity differently for qualitative research; using concepts such as trustworthiness instead. This really resounded with me. Quantitative research is older and more established and these concepts are clearly defined to evaluate quantitative research. It is unfair to have the same standards for a completely different type of research.Elizabeth Coateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05654660655938815538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147519260254096804.post-23869543362270939092010-12-03T10:36:00.000-08:002010-12-03T10:36:02.678-08:00PragmatismReality can be a frightening thing sometimes. That is how I felt reading ch.7 of Knight, frightened. But at the same time, realizing the hurdles of conducting academic research, no matter how daunting they may seem, is an important thing for novice researchers to absorb early on. The reason is because these challenges are going to be magnified for first-time researchers and they can be very demotivating. By devoting a whole chapter to the pragmatic challenges of doing academic research, new researchers can brace themselves for the many challenges that lie ahead, which is important for maintaining self-efficacy ( which I believe is half the battle). <br />
<br />
Not every topic deals with "benign" issues and Peter helps the researcher understand the importance of these sensitivities. I suppose this is what it means to be a professional in any undertaking, being responsive or empathetic to the will and emotions of others. I wonder though, if this can be learned and internalized from the chapter of a research methods book ? I mean, if one were to apply these tenets literally it might obstruct the flow of whatever information gathering technique is being employed. But then again, I am speaking as an a person who is not shy and quite open (if you weren't able to discern from my in class participation). Not everyone is like this however, and it is important to absorb the professional advice from Ch.7 of Knight.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147519260254096804.post-47870028902136942242010-12-03T10:08:00.000-08:002010-12-03T10:52:22.988-08:00Studying the InternetBoth Hine's and Orgad's articles on studying the Internet were really interesting. The Internet has created a whole new area of research methods. This topic also reminded me of an article I read for 1001 by Miller and Slater called <em>The Internet: An Ethnographic Approach</em>. This article was revolutionary for how Internet is studied today because it discusses seeing the Internet as integral to society and not as a virtual reality. Researchers are slowly developing a framework for analyzing and conducting online research and making it seem legitimate.<br /><br />A small-scale example of online and offline worlds coinciding in research was how I conducted my previous research on Afghan-Canadian youth. Facebook actually allowed me to conduct this research. I was able to use it to approach potential participants. Basically, I sent messages to members of an Afghan Association in Hamilton outlining my research and asking if they would be willing to meet with me and be interviewed. Because this is a marginalized group I could not ethically approach them in person or by telephone but through the Internet it was more annonymous and they could simply not respond to me if they did not want to be interviewed. This was very difficult for me to describe in my ethics approval application and in my final research paper. Clearly, the framework for online research is still being created.Elizabeth Coateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05654660655938815538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147519260254096804.post-10819335279851483442010-12-03T09:43:00.000-08:002010-12-03T09:56:35.910-08:00Focus Groups Have Value!While I was doing my peer review assignment (I choose to critique MacMillan's "Soap Box" study) I came across a really great section of a book, Berg's <em>Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences. </em>In this section, Berg discusses focus groups in great detail. According to Knight, focus groups are primarily useful for their cost and time-cutting measures. Knight's section on focus groups is very small and he insinuates that focus groups are for lazy researchers. They apparently cannot generate valid data on their own and are used as a sort of preliminary research. Berg, however, had a completely different perspective on the matter. He believes that focus groups allow the researcher to fade more into the background and said that participants sometimes feel more comfortable sharing their views in a group setting as opposed to one-on-one. He also said that a group has the ability to generate findings that cannot be generated by an individual.<br /><br />My background is sociology and I also took several psychology courses. The whole principle of sociology is based on the fact that society and groups of people need to be studied as a whole rather than as the sum of individuals. I was definitely happy to see that some methods specialists do no simply brush off the importance of groups and group interviews.Elizabeth Coateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05654660655938815538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147519260254096804.post-18174127497301635212010-12-03T09:29:00.000-08:002010-12-03T09:40:40.090-08:00Unobstrusive MethodsThe difficulty with studying human behaviour is that you can never be sure that you are getting accurate results. I have a background in qualitative research but it can be frustrating to hear that your interviews are biased or that people are not giving you accurate responses because they are afraid of what you will think of them. Even in quantitative methods there are many criticisms. For survey research some people may check off what they wish applied to them. For example, if you are asking how many hours of television a person watches per day he/she may answer fewer hours than are actually watched because he/she plans to cut down on hours of television watched. Sometimes this really bothers me. My friends who are in science roll their eyes when they speak about social science. I want my research to be taken seriously and to seem credible.<br /><br />I was, therefore, intrigued to read Knight's section on unobtrusive methods. It is interesting to think of doing a study without leaving a mark. You're simply making observations. The researcher cannot influence subjects under these circumstances. Knight says that most researchers choose not to use unobtrusive methods but I think there might be something very valuable to them. I am not sure if they would make scientists take us more seriously, but they definitely are able to get around some of the criticisms with many social science methods.Elizabeth Coateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05654660655938815538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147519260254096804.post-33829699437230495572010-11-29T19:38:00.000-08:002010-11-29T19:40:19.645-08:00Ethics and the anthros<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWaI9UZ-LYw">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWaI9UZ-LYw</a><br />
<br />
Our class on ethics reminded me of this song. I don't think I can speak (or sing) on the topic as eloquently as Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman so I'll leave it to him.<br />
<br />
Good luck on your proposal<br />
<br />
PS I will follow-up with a post that is <i>actually</i> based on the weekly readings ASAP :) Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147519260254096804.post-3174197051312960272010-11-28T21:18:00.000-08:002010-11-28T21:18:32.203-08:00Ethics<span lang="EN">My research study would be a starting point for further investigation in public libraries to <br />
involve more participant in the adult programs by reaching out to the community to meet their needs.<br />
Although my research is not design for individuals to pursue their personal concern or interest, but human is the main subject. <br />
<br />
Human in my research is a key person who is the main informant of an organization, therefore related organizational objectives and guidelines should be considered and the ethics policies and regulations must be followed. <br />
<br />
In Knight, listed pragmatic responses is a good reminding point to prevent accident.<br />
<br />
Nahid</span>INF1240H - GROUP 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/03549803164486876634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147519260254096804.post-16238757114927376572010-11-28T12:04:00.000-08:002010-11-28T12:26:48.305-08:00Last HurdleWading into the last task of preparing the full project proposal, I finally learnt what it was that was hampering my abilty to think it through all the way. The problem is that my research question/s, end up with a cause/effect situation; I am proposing a link between two phenomena that isn't proven (by objective criteria); and my proposal is based on this unproven link. It's an assumption at a crucial juncture -- between my background literature and my research question! So now I have to retrace some steps, re-think and regroup. Will I be able to do it in the one remaining week? Who knows! At this stage I am not so much putting one foot in front of the other, as closing my eyes and jumping. This is probably not as effective as salsa dancing in managing a research project.<br /><br />BTW the very helpful and lightening website that gave me the answer to my puzzle is <br />http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/<br />(found it by way of a Cornell university research course). <br /><br />D/K if it was one of the links given in another post last week? If so, thanks! If not and anyone else finds it useful please let me know.<br /><br />good luck to all,<br />larissalarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03177443079899849398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147519260254096804.post-87847797900112976432010-11-27T14:50:00.000-08:002010-11-27T15:07:30.379-08:00Ethics Dilemma<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">The question arose when writing my research proposal as to whether or not I have to consider research ethics for my proposed research. However when I read the Knight reading for this week, I realized that survey research usually does not pose<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the same ethical questions as face-to-face research as it is less invasive. However, Knight (2002) does state that “…even in survey research, sensitive issues appear to inhibit disclosure.” (p.169) Therefore, in my research I decided to be transparent with the respondents and offer to them</span> <!--StartFragment--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">exactly what my research will be about and explain why I am interested in the research and why I am asking them the questions in the survey. Nonetheless, since I am not asking personal questions of respondents and it will all be anonymous, they do not have to answer the survey and I will not be speaking directly with any respondents I believe it will be easier to gain ethics approval if it is needed.</span><!--EndFragment-->Erika Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16907288975937914000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147519260254096804.post-40248401723590601382010-11-25T20:02:00.000-08:002010-11-25T20:15:17.657-08:00tunnel visionOne of the major problems I found with Kushin's article, which I peer reviewed, was that he wanted to find what he was looking for in his data analysis that he saw 'only what is obviously relevant to those perspectives and to miss indications that things might be rather different than those perspectives imply' (Knight, 182). With my own research in mind, I have an idea of what I think I will find going in (or what I hope I will find). I think it would be beneficial to use Knight's tips that he lays out in Chapter 8 for guarding against this type of tunnel vision in quantitative analysis. It is always possible to find out more than you were trying to find in your research project- perhaps something more relevant than the original theory you are testing. I need to keep this in mind both for external and internal validity.Maggie Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07287833063216341770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147519260254096804.post-2017565013217482792010-11-23T15:27:00.000-08:002010-11-23T15:59:33.780-08:00We have been discussing a great deal the use of online vs. offline data when studying online phenomena. I have been thinking about this divide a lot within the context of my research proposal. Due to the fact that it has to do with how identities are constructed on Facebook and whether or not Facebook acts as a supplement or substitution to offline communication, I felt that both online and offline data would be necessary to tackle these questions. Orgad's 'How can researchers make sense of issues' was very helpful in solidifying my choice to use both types of data. In Orgad's study he talks about how the face-to-face interviews conducted on breast cancer patients who participated in online support groups revealed much more complex connections between their online and offline experiences. I am hoping for this to happen with my own research as I am seeking to find out not only how people act on facebook, but their motivations for using the social networking tool in a particular way or for a particular purpose. Clearly this divide between online/offline data depends on your research question, goals and objectives. Orgad talks about how many criticisms of using offline data imply that using online data is not as valid as offline data. For my project, I don't feel the need to privelege one or the other. I am studying an online phenomena, but the offline data I hope to collect will allow me to see how these realms relate.Maggie Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07287833063216341770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147519260254096804.post-10289079727572301552010-11-21T20:37:00.000-08:002010-11-21T20:37:50.280-08:00Elements<span lang="EN"> After reading chapter seven of Luker, I tried to organize the elements for my research study and I came up with the following elements that I found interesting to add to the public library programme agenda:<br />
Programmes for adult with different abilities<br />
Educational programmes<br />
Training programmes<br />
Technology programmes<br />
Programmes for older adult <br />
<br />
Need to say that reading Knight’s chapter eight, made a clear sense of data gathering, although I am still not sure how to develop qualitative data analysis in the case of adult programme in the public library. <br />
<br />
Nahid</span>INF1240H - GROUP 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/03549803164486876634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147519260254096804.post-79170421882529058102010-11-21T18:35:00.000-08:002010-11-21T19:05:12.383-08:00Death by analysisI missed out on posting last week, mainly because I was too exhausted to come up with another usable thought, but also because, having glanced at the readings I thought: low priority -- I'm not planning an online component for my project. Lo! when I did get down to reading them of course I found much to put through the mental grinder. For one thing, I do a lot of reearch online already, and as Hine suggested somewhere in that dense thicket of concepts, only partially digested as yet, how to evaluate online information is quite an important issue. So; more mulling over these 2 papers needed. So far the Orgad is not making total sense to me yet - though I sense there is sense there to be made.<br /><br />On to this week's chapters on the analysing of quantitative data. An aspect of the research process that I have always approached with dread and avoided as far as possible. Surprisingly, Laker's exposition of the various options gave me some hope that this might not always be so. I began to dimly feel the beauty of information hidden behind the cryptic face of unreadable numbers; and the potential excitements of gradually seeing that information take shape, like a photograph developing, as the data yield coherence and pictures.<br /><br />Qualitative information, I see now, can't have that kind of mystery, because something is always readable on the surface, albeit partial or misleading. <br /><br />But maybe the mystery would pall as I come to understand the techniques well enough to be able, possibly, to anticipate patterns in the choices? <br /><br />Maybe. But that moment is a long way in the future for now. The thought of quantitative data analysis is still a form of instant soma. Not the pleasant kind. If indeed that existed.<br /><br />I want also to thank all of you who write so extensively about the readings, your thoughts and reflections on their content, applications and particular uses for you. Much of interest, and really appreciated!larissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03177443079899849398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147519260254096804.post-87589967750446145212010-11-21T16:25:00.000-08:002010-11-21T16:30:18.723-08:00Knight, colours on a palette, and questerviewsI wonder if Knight's discussion on the so-called palette of methods would have any relation to my previous post on "Questerviews" . Running with Knight's analogy, I think it is fair to say that questerviews (depending on the study) would be like a mixture of traditional royal blue and magnolia.In other words, they would complement each other depending on the mood one is attempting to elicit (e.g. a vibrant mid-day sky). Coming back to research methods, if a survey uses highly technical or politically charged language as part of its design, it would be creative and appropriate to record the respondents interpretations of the language in the survey (e.g. a questerview). So for example, imagine you are doing a survey on conservatism, I can't tell you how many definitions I have heard of this concept- it is mind boggling. what is more is that of the countless definitions I have heard, none seem to coincide. So what use is a survey with uses the concept of conservatism when there are so many wide-ranging understandings of it. That just one example of the need to creative when "designing ways of using inquiry methods to face the research questions" (Knight, 2002, p.119) <br />
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I don't know, I can rant a bit more about Knight but I'll maybe just end by saying that I think Knight is quite balanced and a good source to have handy when writing a research proposal, which is what i think we are all in the process of doing. I will definitely be citing Knight's wisdom in my proposal. And by the way, best of luck to everyone on this assignment, it certainly feels a bit daunting to me. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147519260254096804.post-4818473853260356122010-11-21T14:26:00.000-08:002010-11-21T14:54:58.969-08:00Aggravation...I am still having trouble thinking about how to 'frame' my research as we discussed from the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Luker</span> readings in the first few weeks in class. While we learn about new methods I am finding it difficult to truly understand the essence of each method. Doing the peer review helped me figure out what ethnography is but unfortunately for my proposed research I can not use that method. So I feel as though I am back to square one. I have a clear idea of what my research is, but I am still am looking for that edge or 'frame' as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Luker</span> calls it. <div><br /></div><div>I think I am going to have to use a mixed-method approach and after attempting to read Knight I am not sure how to feel about this approach. His pragmatic and often dry explanations did not help ease my confusion and just aggravated me. So I feel as though I am back at the beginning when I did not even know what a research method is. Hopefully after the lecture tomorrow I will feel less aggravated and be able to focus on the principles that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Luker</span> and Knight were discussing instead of all the work I still have to do for my research proposal.</div>Erika Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16907288975937914000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147519260254096804.post-48428091842897365172010-11-17T18:18:00.000-08:002010-11-17T18:19:27.062-08:00Questerviews????Hey everyone.<br />
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I came across this really novel method called a questerview. Its not even in the dictionary!!! Basically what it is is the combination of questionnaires (e.g. the kind used in quantitative studies) and interviews (e.g. the kind used in qualitative research). How it works is that respondents are tape-recorded as they complete a questionnaire and are asked questions relating to their understanding of the terms in the questionnaire. The data collected from questerviews would be so informative and rich compared to questionnaires alone. <br />
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So what a neat idea for strengthening a study against validity threats and using qualitative and quantitative methods in tandem. This idea is just brilliant if you ask me. <br />
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Check out this site for more details:<br />
http://jhsrp.rsmjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/9/3/139<br />
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Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147519260254096804.post-10249663061374115502010-11-15T21:22:00.001-08:002010-11-16T15:35:28.429-08:00SOS<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US">I have to begin by saying that Hine’s piece confused the heck out of me. Maybe its because I am dizzy from writing so many papers, I’m not quite sure though. Nevertheless, here is my interpretation. Please clarify me if I’m wrong:</span></div><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The Internet is a conduit for complex social interaction. Consequently, the meanings generated by this medium will be complex and hard to decode. In other words, like in any situation, the sender’s information will be interpreted by the receiver in a way that conforms to his or her own sense of reality, except the internet is not any situation. The internet is a sender-receiver situation multiplied by the tens of millions and with a global reach. How do we as social scientists begin to decode such messages? Where do we begin? What are our boundaries? I think Hine is right to suggest that the first step is to develop a “reflexive” methodology for defining our boundaries?????. Having fixed boundaries around such complex and interwoven “sites” (which transcend the offline-offline divide) would be too limiting. So I think the main point in Hine is that when defining the boundaries of online research, reflexivity is paramount??? Please help. <br />
</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8147519260254096804.post-33710328505445870432010-11-14T20:21:00.000-08:002010-11-14T20:21:57.573-08:00Finding boundaries<span lang="EN"> Reading Hine’s article helped me to think about defining boundaries in my research study, however it is not an easy task.<br />
When I think about my research, it is somehow ethnography/culturally related. One aspect of developing and planning adult programmes in the library is to know the cultures of the community and their expectations. <br />
Finding demographic data is very helpful in general but to get it in a more pertinent domain we have to come up with creative ideas and topics. Then, we must put them into work using different methodology (surveying or interviewing) and collecting data from individual members, community outreach and various organizations. <br />
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Nahid</span>INF1240H - GROUP 3http://www.blogger.com/profile/03549803164486876634noreply@blogger.com0