acacia forum research methodology

Acacia ForumResearch

Methodology

Project design, basic methods and techniquesCamilo Villa:

[email protected], 8 October 2009

mailto:[email protected]

Objectives

• In particular, regarding the notions of:– Knowledge types– Research paradigms– Situated research– Research practices

• By providing an overview of diverse collaborative tools and

• By analysing emerging challenges in relation to ethics and responsibility as researcher

This tutorial aims to provide you with concepts and tools that would contribute to strength your research competencies and collaborative practices.

Agenda

• Methodology and epistemology– Types of knowledge– Research paradigms– Situated research

• Research communities– Developing collaborative

practices– Web tools for research

• Ethics and responsibility

First approach

• What did happen?• Who were involved and

where?• What kind of conclusions

you can make?• What caused the event to

happen?• Which could be the future

implications of this event?

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Second approach

• Which is the context?• Which are the background

considerations?• How would you explain the

later event?

Types of knowledge

Building-up: Usually, new knowledge is developed based on previous one

?

Descriptive: what, where, how, who, when

Explanatory: why it happened

Prescriptive: what could / should be done

Evaluative: which where the consequences

Predictive: is there another way to do it? What could happen?

Quantitative approach











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Scope: large groupsTrends: identify patterns and directionsMeans: averages, deviationsClusters: groupsLower costs



Qualitative approach

Depth: more detailsExplanations: why it happenedContext: localised knowledgeEmerging: hidden knowledgeHigher costs





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Out-of-the-Box

• What is a paradigm?• How the position of the researcher

influences the outcomes?• To what extent the paradigm is a

secure framework or a barrier?• Is there room for creativity in

doing research?

Situated Research

• Where do you stand?• Which is your paradigm?• What has been, done said?• Which kind of approaches have been

used?• What kind of knowledge is needed?• Who needs the knowledge?• Which would be the use of this

knowledge?• Who is paying for the research?• Which would be your audience?

Groups

• How did you collect data? Which problems did you face during that process? Which are the key lessons?

• Which was your methodological approach: qualitative, quantitative, a blend? What have you learned in using it?

• If you did a participatory research: which were the major gains and obstacles?

• How women and men where involved, both as researchers and as part of the target group? Which were/are the major obstacles and how could they be overcome?

Share with your colleagues key methodological lessons from your project(s); cover some of the following aspects:

Research communities

•Research practices•Web 2.0 tools

Research practices

• Isolated• Performance based on publications• Literacy problems concerning the use of

web tools• Different roles: core, explorers, starters,

etc.• Trust • Interdisciplinary approaches• Systematisation and continuity

Web 2.0• References:

– Mendeliev: http://www.mendeley.com/– CiteUlike– EndNote

• Bookmarks/favourites: http://delicious.com/• Surveys: http://www.surveymonkey.com/• Documents:

http://www.google.com/google-d-s/intl/en/tour1.html

• Presentations: http://www.slideshare.net/• Files: http://www.box.net• Blogs: http://www.wordpress.com/



References

• BELL, S. J. (2006) Search Alternatives and Beyond. Educause Quarterly, 3, 11-15.

• FLICK, U. (2002) Qualitative research ± state of the artQualitative research ± state of the art. Social Science Information, 4, 5-24.

• GRANT, L. & BUFORD MAY, R. A. (1999) The Promises and Perils of Ethnography in the New Millennium: Lessons from Teaching. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 29, 549-560.

• MEYER, C. B. (2001) A Case in Case Study Methodology. Field Methods, 13, 329-352.

• RYAN, G. W. & BERNARD, H. R. (2003) Techniques to Identify Themes. Field Methods, 15, 85-109.

• SHARTS-HOPKO, N. C. (2001) Focus Group Methodology: When and Why? JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF NURSES IN AIDS CARE, 12, 89-91.

• VERSCHUREN, P. & DOOREWARD, H. (1999) Designing a Research Project., Utrecht. , Lemma.

• Just a Minute (N.D.). Lights of the city: www.justaminute.org

http://www.justaminute.or/

Thanks !

PS: There is customer service, I mean, post-sales support through the Acacia site and eventually via email: [email protected]

Merci ! Gracia

s !

acacia forum research methodology

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