308 - Unit 4 Research Methodology

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KENYA SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT

SENIOR MANAGEMENT COURSE
RESEARCH METHODS
Research Methodology
SMC: RESEARCH METHODS: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Home
Session Outline
 Definitions  Determining Sampling

Design
 Scope of Research Methodology
 Types of Sampling
 Purpose of Research Design Methods
 Purpose of Research Design  Importance of Sample
 Types of Research Designs
 Quantitative Research  Characteristics of a good

Sampling Area
 Qualitative Research
 Data Collection Methods
 Research Design
 Data Analysis
Specific Objective
 By the end of this topic, you should be able to:

a)Describe the research design
b)Explain the types of sampling methods
c)Discuss the data collection methods
Definitions
 Research Methodology: is the systematic, theoretical analysis of
methods and principles associated with a branch of knowledge in
relation to a particular area of study
 Is way to systematically solve the research problem by logically
adopting various steps
 Gives answers to questions such as:
How are you going to conduct your study?
 What procedures will you adopt to obtain an answers
to research questions and
 How will you carry out the tasks needed to complete
the different components of the research process.
 It constitutes the core of the topic
Scope of Research Methodology
 Pertinent issues discussed in this section include the:

 population,
 sample and sampling techniques,
 research design,
 description of instruments or tools used to collect data,
 measurement of variables and
 the techniques to be used in analyzing data.
 If hypotheses are to be tested, the research must state the level of
significance to be used in such tests
 Written methodological procedures should be precise enough to
enable other researchers to replicate your work
Purpose of Research Methodology

 Methodology helps to understand not only the products of
scientific inquiry but the process itself.
 It aims to describe and analyze methods, throw light on their

limitations and resources, clarify their presuppositions and
consequences, relating their potentialities to the twilight zone at
the “ frontiers of knowledge”
 Methodology section gives details regarding the procedures used

in conducting the study.
Research Design
 The formidable problem that follows the task of defining the

research problem is the preparation of the design of the research
project, popularly known as the “research design”.
 Decisions regarding what, where, when, how much, by what
means concerning an inquiry or a research study constitute a
research design.
 A research design is the arrangement of conditions for collection
and analysis of data in a manner that aims to combine relevance to
the research purpose.
 Research design is the conceptual structure within which research
is conducted: It constitutes the blue print for the collection,
measurement and analysis of data.
Research Design
 More implicitly, the designing decisions happen to be in respect
of:
i. What is the study about?
ii. Why is the study being made?
iii. Where will the study be carried out?
iv. What type of data is required?
v. Where can the required data be found?
vi. What periods of time will the study include?
vii. What will be the sample design?
viii.What techniques of data collection will be used?
ix. How will the data be a analyzed?
x. In what style will the report be prepared?
Purpose of Research Design
 Research design provides the framework for the collection and

analysis of data
 It is a plan that defines the research question, hypotheses to be
examined, and the number and type of variables to be studied
 It also assesses the relationship between the variables by using
well-developed principles of scientific inquiry
Types of Research
 Descriptive vs. Analytical

 Applied vs. Fundamental
 Quantitative vs. Qualitative
 Conceptual vs. Empirical
Quantitative Research
 Research is based on the measurement quantity or amount

 The researcher primarily uses post-positivist claims for developing
knowledge (i.e. cause and effect thinking) in relation to:
 specific variables and hypotheses and questions,
 use of measurement and
 observation and the test of theories.
Qualitative Research
 Judgmental- investigating the reasons for human behavior: with an aim
of discovering the underlying motives and desires, using in depth
interviews.
 This type of research is a function of researcher’s insights and
impressions
 It generates results either in non-qualitative form or in the form which
are subjected assessment of attributes opinions and behavior
 Ranjit(2009) identifies various types of study designs depending on:
» Number of contacts with study population
» The reference period of study-
» The nature of the investigation- here studies are
classifies as either experimental,
Research Design
 Keeping in view the above stated design decisions, one may split
the overall research design in to the following parts:
a) The Sampling Design which deals with the method of selecting
items to be observed for the given study
b) The observational design which relates to the conditions under
which the observations are to be made:
c) The statistical design which concerns with question of how
many items are to be observed and how the information and
the data gathered are to be analyzed
d) The operational design which deals with techniques by which
the procedures specified in the sampling, statistical and
observational designs can be carried out
Determining Sampling Design
 All the item under consideration in any field of inquiry

constitute a universe or population
 A complete enumeration of all the items in the population is
known as a census inquiry ( it is not possible under many
circumstances; quite often we select only few items from the
universe for our study purposes).
 The researcher must decide the way of selecting a sample or what
is popularly known as the sample design
 Sample design is a definite plan of obtaining sample data from a
given population
 Samples can be either probability sample or non probability
sample
Types of Sampling Methods
 There are two (2) main types of sampling; probability sampling

methods (Ranjit,2009)
i. Probability (Random) Sampling- This includes simple random
sampling; systematic sampling; stratified random sampling;
and cluster sampling
ii. Non- Probability samples- This include convenience sampling;
grab or opportunity sampling also called judgment sampling;
and quota sampling
Important Sample Designs

Deliberate/purposive/non probability Sampling
 Deliberate selection of particular units of the universe from
constituting a sample which represents the universe.
 Selection is based on ease of access hence called convenience
sampling; there exist biasness especially when the population is
not homogeneous.
 On the other hand in judgement sampling the researcher’s
judgement is used for selecting items which are considered as
representative of the population(used quite frequently in
qualitative research
 Simple random/chance/probability sampling: each and every item

in the population has equal chance of inclusion in the sample(
especially in the finite universe); conducting lottery. Select the
starting item (all items in the universe are numbered) randomly
and then a systematic pattern is used in proceeding numbers until
the sample size is reached.
 Systematic sampling: most practical way is to select every 15th
name on a list, every 10th house on one side of the street etc.
sampling frame should be available in the form of a list.

 Stratified sampling: if the population at which a sample is to be
drawn is not homogeneous; strata’s are created at which sample
items are selected from each stratum
 Others sample designs include
Quota sampling:
Cluster sampling and area sampling
Multi-stage sampling
Sequential sampling
Characteristics of a good sample area
a) Representative of the target population

b) Homogeneous
c) Sample should be selected only by the researchers;
d) All member of the population should have equal chance of being
selected ( probability selection) each member of the sample is
called a subject.
In most cases, a sample is a percentage (%) of the target population
Note: In research “N” refers to the number of cases in the sampling
frame while “n” is the number of cases in the sample
Data Collection Methods
 Data refers to all the information the researcher gathers for

his/her study, There are two (2) types of data:
 Primary Data- This is data collection from the field ( from the
subjects in the sample)
 Secondary Data- This refers to information collected from
written materials, books, research articles, journals etc.
 Data can either be Quantitative ( numerical data) or qualitative

(data in words, phrases, statement)
 It is imperative to consider data disaggregation by gender
Data Collection Methods
 The methods of collecting information include the following:

 Questionnaires,
 Interviews,
 Observations,
 Focus Group Discussion (FGD),
 Case studies
 Using variables and objectives of your study, develop a research
questionnaire
 Explain the probability and the non probability sampling
procedures
Data Analyses
 The data collected has to be a analyzed in accordance with the

outline laid down purpose at the time of developing the research
plan (Kothari, 2004)
 The analysis of data can be done using the available computer

software like statistical package for social scientists ( SPSS) or
micro soft excel This is followed by interpreting of finding and
reporting
Summary
 Research Methodology is the systematic, theoretical analysis of methods and

principles associated with a branch of knowledge in relation to a particular area
of study
 It aims to describe and analyze methods, throw light on their limitations and
resources, clarify their presuppositions and consequences, relating their
potentialities to the twilight zone at the “ frontiers of knowledge”
.
.

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Module 1 - Unit ONE: Introduction to Financial Management Home | Help | Exit

KENYA SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT

 Definitions  Determining Sampling

 Quantitative Research  Characteristics of a good

 By the end of this topic, you should be able to:

Scope of Research Methodology

 Pertinent issues discussed in this section include the:

Purpose of Research Methodology

 It aims to describe and analyze methods, throw light on their

 Methodology section gives details regarding the procedures used

 The formidable problem that follows the task of defining the

Purpose of Research Design

 Research design provides the framework for the collection and

 Descriptive vs. Analytical

 Research is based on the measurement quantity or amount

Determining Sampling Design

 All the item under consideration in any field of inquiry

Types of Sampling Methods

 There are two (2) main types of sampling; probability sampling

Important Sample Designs

Important Sample Designs

 Simple random/chance/probability sampling: each and every item

Important Sample Designs

Characteristics of a good sample area

a) Representative of the target population

Data Collection Methods

 Data refers to all the information the researcher gathers for

 Data can either be Quantitative ( numerical data) or qualitative

Data Collection Methods

 The methods of collecting information include the following:

 The data collected has to be a analyzed in accordance with the

 The analysis of data can be done using the available computer

 Research Methodology is the systematic, theoretical analysis of methods and

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