An Introduction to Methods and a few tips on writing Annie Pezalla, Ph.D. Dissertation Editor

1. An Introduction to Methodsand a few tips on writingAnnie Pezalla, Ph.D.Dissertation Editor

2. Methods 101 • For those writing a dissertation, this will be chapter 3. • For those writing a project study or doctoral study, this will be section 2. • Typical sequence for writing a capstone study proposal: • Drafting the literature review. • Honing in on the problem statement (i.e., the gap in the literature). • Brainstorming the methods section.

3. Methods 101 The most important thing to remember: The research problem dictates the method, not the other way around.

4. Methods 101 • Broad Approaches: • Qualitative • Quantitative • Mixed Method • Special notes on Grounded Theory

5. Qualitative • Purpose: To explore a phenomenon in great detail. • Approach: Inductive. • Language: Question should always be open-ended (e.g., “explore the lived experiences…” or “examine the narratives…”). Qualitative dissertations should typically have 2 or 3 questions.

6. Qualitative • Components: • Introduction • Justification of paradigm • Role of the researcher • Questions and subquestions • Researcher-participant relationship • Criteria for selecting participants • Data collection • Data analysis • Data quality • Ethical considerations • Conclusion

7. Quantitative • Purpose: To examine the relationship between two or more quantifiable variables. • Approach: Deductive. • Language: Question should ideally be open-ended (“what is the relationship between X and Y?”). Independent and dependent variables should be identified. The IV should be conceptualized as a variable that impacts the DV.

8. Quantitative • Components: • Introduction • Justification of paradigm • Research questions and hypotheses • Setting and sample • Treatment (if applicable) • Instrumentation and materials • Data collection • Data analysis • Ethical considerations • Conclusion

9. Mixed Method • Purpose: To explore a multifaceted phenomenon. The phenomenon should have components that should be quantified, and components that should be kept in narrative form. • Approach: Both inductive and deductive. • Language: Research questions should be presented in two sections. One section should contain qualitative, open-ended questions. Another section should contain quantitative questions with accompanying null and alternative hypotheses.

10. Special Notes on Grounded Theory • GTs are typically based on qualitative methods, but they may use quantitative approaches, too. The common underlying thread of any grounded theory study is that it results in a theory. This important outcome is often missing in student work. • GTs employ an abductive approach, which employs an alternative sequence of inductive and deductive reasoning.

11. Methods and Introduction • Relationship of the Methods to the Introduction • Problem Statement: guides the choice of method. • Limitations: determines the generalizability of final results. • Delimitations: clarifies the focus of the study.

12. Problem Statement • Identifies a gap in the literature. • Quant: Gap is best addressed by examining the relationship between two or more variables. • Qual: Gap is best addressed by increasing our understanding about an issue (this is a little fuzzy, but the thing to remember is that the “issue” cannot or should not logically be quantified). • Mixed method: Gap is best addressed through multiple methodological approaches. Employing only one method will not adequately address the gap.

13. Limitations • Characteristics of the design or methodology that set parameters on the application or interpretation of the results of the study. • Sample size: Small samples lessen the ability to draw descriptive or inferential conclusions from sample data about a larger group. • Instruments used for data collection: Instruments may limit the ecological validity of participant responses. • Time frame for data collection: A short time frame may prohibit causal claims between the variables.

14. Delimitations • The boundaries of the inquiry, usually determined in the development of the proposal. • Delimitations should explain what a study does not intend to cover, with justification for not doing so. These decisions should be based on criteria as "not directly relevant," or “not feasible" and the like.

15. Tips on Writing • For the proposal, write in the future tense. • “I will run a regression analysis…” • Once the proposal has been approved, and data have been collected and analyzed, write in the past tense. • “I ran a regression analysis…” • Be specific. • Recipe card analogy.

16. Take-home points • Writing is a process; allow yourself multiple revisions of each section and take advantage of the Writing Center’s services. • The research problem dictates the method; repeat this mantra to avoid imposing a “pet” method to address an ill-fitting research problem. • The description of the method should be detailed enough so that others could replicate the study.

17. Questions?