Research designs & methods
By Debbie Harris, Contributor

THIS WEEK as a part of our preparation for the External Examination we will review skills in research designs and methodology. Here is a possible question that could appear on Paper 01 Section One.

Read the paragraph below and answer the questions which follow.

Carla and Natoya are both doing research. Carla wants to find out the extent to which parents in her community are informed about the drugs which are abused by some teenagers living in their community. She has already found some sources and has gathered very important information for the study. Natoya is doing a critical study of the treatment of the theme "Parent Absenteeism in the West Indies" in five (5) West Indian novels. Carla plans to use a questionnaire as her main instrument to collect the data for her study. Natoya is using the library facilities at her institution to get most of the information that she needs for study.

a) List two differences between the two types of research referred to above. [2 marks]

b) Name two sources from which Natoya could obtain data for her study. [2 marks]

c) State four considerations that Carla should bear in mind in selecting a sample for her study. [4 marks]

d) Discuss two strengths and two weaknesses of the questionnaire as a research instrument used by Carla.[4 marks]

e) Write FIVE (5) different questions that you would ask Carla if you wanted to determine the soundness of her sources, context and medium of the information gathered. [8 marks]

Here are some suggested answers.

a) Two differences between library facilities {books, newspaper clippings, internet, previous studies etc.} and a questionnaire are:

1. The library facilities offer more qualitative data and the questionnaire offer more quantitative data.

2. The library facilities provide secondary data (ie. Second-hand data) and the questionnaire provides primary data (ie. First-hand data)

b) Some sources from which Natoya could obtain data for her study include:

1. Books
2. Newspaper clippings
3. Internet
4. Previous studies/research

c) Some considerations Carla should bear in mind in selecting the sample for her study:

1. Population - parents from her community
2. They should have common interests
3. Their age
4. Their sex
5. The size of the sample

d) The questionnaire as a research instrument - STRENGTHS:

1. Easily and reliably scored
2. Quick access to information
3. Primary source
4. Facilitates survey of large population
5. Easily administered
6. Allows for anonymity

The questionnaire as a research instrument - WEAKNESSES:

1. Limited scope for the personal and the subjective
2. Limited scope for probing responses
3. Inflexible
4. Responses can be misleading
5. Limitations posed by literal responses

e) Some possible questions are:

1. How many persons comprised your sample?

2. What challenges did you face while conducting your research?

3. Would you regard any of your sources as being reliable and/or valid? Name them and explain why.

4. Would you regard any of your sources as being unreliable and/or invalid? Name them and explain why.

5. To what extent did the context within which you administered the questionnaire affect the responses you received from respondents?

Hope you made these or similar responses. Continue studying; remember we don't have much time. Until next week, walk good!