Research Design Week 4 Lecture 1

School of Information Technologies Faculty of Science, College of Sciences and Technology The University of Sydney Research Design Overall research philosophy Research Approach Research Methods Validating your research: research credibility Research Ethics

School of Information Technologies Faculty of Science, College of Sciences and Technology The University of Sydney Research Philosophy Positivism Based on natural science research philosophy All observations detached from the observer External world as existing objectively independent of the observer Seeking law-like generalisations, Emphasis on structured methodology, quantification, replication etc.

School of Information Technologies Faculty of Science, College of Sciences and Technology The University of Sydney Interpretivism Social world and business organisations as constructed socially, Not seeking law like generalisations but focus on the insight into the particular situation and context, Subjective meanings and individual motivations, actions,and interactions.

School of Information Technologies Faculty of Science, College of Sciences and Technology The University of Sydney

School of Information Technologies Faculty of Science, College of Sciences and Technology The University of Sydney Research approach Deductive approach vs. inductive approach Deduction: use of logic and mathematical reasoning to prove the correctness of propositions, Developing consistent theory as a set of inter-related propositions. Induction: Building theories from facts and observations and experiments Hybrid approaches

School of Information Technologies Faculty of Science, College of Sciences and Technology The University of Sydney Research Strategies Experimental Method Different kinds of experiments, fully controlled experiments, quasi experiments.. Survey Method Case Study Grounded Theory Ethnography System prototyping and testing Action Research

School of Information Technologies Faculty of Science, College of Sciences and Technology The University of Sydney Action Research Focus on initiating and managing change and in the process developing a body of knowledge that may have more general value. Phases: Purpose the research/project and management of change, Direct involvement of and close collaboration with practitioners in the research, Learning from the project for beyond. Reflective practitioner.

School of Information Technologies Faculty of Science, College of Sciences and Technology The University of Sydney

School of Information Technologies Faculty of Science, College of Sciences and Technology The University of Sydney Cross sectional vs. Longitudinal Research Cross sectional Longitudinal Exploratory, descriptive Combining methods

School of Information Technologies Faculty of Science, College of Sciences and Technology The University of Sydney Credibility and evaluation of research Reliability Validity Generalisability/external validity Evaluation

School of Information Technologies Faculty of Science, College of Sciences and Technology The University of Sydney Research Ethics Principles Full and informed consent of all participants, Not putting them thru undue hardship Making available the results of the research to the participants Need to obtain research committee approval for certain kinds of research Unauthorised sharing of data: not divulging data collected in research to non-research-related parties.