Research
Methodology
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D.
Public Health Scientist & Consultant
All Rights Reserved © 2009, Dr. Deryck D. Pattron
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D. 1
CONTENTS
What is research methodology?
What constitutes a research topic?
How to select a research topic?
What are some of the limitations encountered when doing or thinking of doing a research
project?
What is a literature review?
Where do I find sources of information for my literature review?
How to select an appropriate methodology?
What are some of the common types of qualitative methodology?
What are some of the common types of quantitative methodology?
What type of data to collect?
How to collect data?
How to analyze data?
What are some of the tests used on categorical data?
What are some of the tests used on continuous data?
How to draw conclusions from data?
How to present research findings?
How to present your paper according to the APA style?
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D. 2
What is Research Methodology?
Is defined as a highly intellectual human
activity used in the investigation of nature and
matter and deals specifically with the manner
in which data is collected, analyzed and
interpreted
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D. 3
What Constitutes a Research Topic?
Unanswered question
Unsolved question
Concern
Query
Statement of inquiry
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D. 4
How to Select a Research Topic?
Personal interest
Social problem
Testing theory
Prior research
Program evaluation
Human service practice
Minorities in research
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D. 5
What are some of the Limitations
Encountered when Doing or Thinking of
Doing a Research Project?
Time constraints
Financial consideration
Anticipating and avoiding problems
Equipment limitations
Human resource limitations
“Out of the box” thinking
“In the box” thinking
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D. 6
What is a Literature review?
Systematic review of available resources
Theoretical and conceptual concepts
Identification of independent and dependent
variables
Measurement and operational definitions
Selection of appropriate research technique
Sampling strategy
Statistical technique
Findings and conclusions of similar studies
studied
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D. 7
Where do I find Sources of Information for my
Literature Review?
Books
Journals
Internet
Data bases
Archives
Interviews
Observations
Reports
Records
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D. 8
How to Select an Appropriate
Methodology?
What is the nature of the problem being
investigated?
Is the problem being investigated subjective
or objective?
Four types of research methods:
Qualitative
Quantitative
Mixed (qualitative and quantitative)
Critical and action oriented
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D. 9
What are some of the Common Types of
Qualitative Methodology?
Surveys
Longitudinal
Cross-sectional, correlation
Experimental
Quasi-experimental
Ex-post facto research
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D. 10
What are some of the Common Types of
Quantitative Methodology?
Biographical
Phenomenological
Ethnographical
Case study
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D. 11
What Type of Data to Collect?
Categorical
nominal-observations that can be coded
ordinal-observations that can be ranked
Continuous
-Observations that can be counted or measured
Mixed
matrix of categorical and continuous data
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D. 12
How to Collect Data?
Observations
Interviews
Reports
Records
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D. 13
How to Analyze Data?
Need to consider the type of data collected
-categorical
-continuous
-mixed
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D. 14
What are some of the Tests Used on
Categorical Data?
Chi-squared test-to determine the relationship
between variables
Fisher’s test-to compare two unpaired groups
McNemar’s test-to analyze a matched case-control
study
Kappa-to quantify interafter agreement
Wilcoxon test- to compare one group to a
hypothetical value
Kruskal-Wallis test-to compare three or more groups
Spearman test-to compare association between
variables
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D. 15
What are some of the Tests Used on
Continuous Data?
T test- to compare one or two groups
ANOVA-to compare three or more groups
Pearson test-to compare the association
between variables
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D. 16
How to Draw Conclusions from Data?
Use of graphical presentations
Use of statistical analyses
Sharing data among colleagues and
receiving constructive feedback
Critically analyzing data and results
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D. 17
How to Present Research Findings?
Tables-matrix of rows and columns representing variables
Figures-visual organization of data/observations
-pictures
-pie charts
-line charts
-bar charts
-flow charts
-organizational charts
-cartogram charts
-Gantt charts
-scatter plot charts
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D. 18
How to Present your Paper According to
the APA style?
APA stands for American Psychological
Association
APA is the most commonly used style in the
Social Sciences
APA provides useful guidelines on:
style
in text citations
references
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D. 19
APA Style
Third person should be used
Active voice should be used
Writing should be clear, concise and plain
General format should be:
paper size-8.5 x 11
1” margins on all sides
double spaced
written in 12 point font using Times New Roman
short title and page number on the upper right hand corner
of every page
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D. 20
General Format of APA Paper
Title
Abstract
Main Body
methodology
results
discussion
conclusions
References
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D. 21
APA Referencing Style
Last name of author, followed by initials
Last names of authors arranged
alphabetically in the reference list
Capitalize the first letter of the first word in
titles and subtitles
Capitalize all major words in journal titles
Italicize titles of books and journals
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D. 22
APA In-text Citation
Author’s last name and year of publication
placed in parenthesis next to where the
information is cited
Three or more authors, use all three when
first cited then followed by the first author et
al., year for subsequent in-text citations
Six or more authors, use the last name of the
first author followed by et al., year of
publication
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D. 23
References
Pattron, D. 2000. Fundamentals of Scientific
Research. New York: Scientific Publishers
[Link]
Publication Manual of the American
Psychological Association, 5th ed.
[Link]
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D. 24
THANK YOU
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D.
THE END
Dr. Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D. 25
