Not only can research findings can be gr…
Not only can research findings can be greatly influenced by the chosen methodologies, I think the way in which research participants are sampled will also have major impacts on the findings. For example, while snowball or convenient sampling would be easy to achieve, it may not be an appropriate for producing representative research findings. As researchers, we need to have a clear understanding of how our chosen sample(s) can influence our understanding of the topic at hand. In some cases, the representativeness of research findings may not be as important as developing new theories or reaffirming existing theories. For my group, we have yet to decide on how we will divvy up the participants for our focus groups. As we will be working with youth, there is a range of possibilities that we can take to establish our focus groups, such as organizing them by race/ethnicity, age or gender. How do other groups plan to select participants for their research sample? Let me know, – I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Kasper Richter 11:21 pm on March 11, 2016 Permalink |
I definitely agree that we need to be careful in choosing our research methods, and this goes doubly so when working with sensitive groups like youth and first nations. Our group is doing the latter of the two, and we are walking a metaphorical tightrope, so to speak, as we need to address economic desires in a way that is respectful towards the community and as environmentally sustainable as a clearcutting can be.
We are currently in talks with our community partner about arranging an open house to discuss the matter, which would hopefully provide us with a large and randomized sample of community members.
In addition to this, I am currently considering going to Williams lake half a week to a week in advance in order to conduct some preliminary interviews with foresters and other band members.
Marina Favaro 1:50 pm on March 12, 2016 Permalink |
Hi all,
Just wanted to add my two cents on the topic of methodologies: as someone who has never done primary research in a similar context to this course, methodologies are something that I have never given much thought to. However, as a proud Arts student, I must say that methodologies are an area in which subjectivity and the “messiness” that comes with social sciences as opposed to more qualitative sciences are both important characteristics of research. For example, upon reading this article entitled “‘Unreliable’ tests may have led to apprehension of B.C. children” – the content of which is especially pertinent to the research we are conducting for the Cariboo Friendship Society, it was interesting that the exclusively forensic research that was conducted gave an incomplete picture of the realities of child apprehension. I look forward to working with a mixed methods approach, and embracing the challenges and messiness that comes with cross-cultural work and a plurality of voices.
Further reading: http://www.vancouversun.com/daphne+bramham+unreliable+tests+have+apprehension+children/11777160/story.html?__lsa=c817-ced3#ixzz42cW4G6BX
brennwilliams 6:05 pm on March 14, 2016 Permalink |
Hi Everyone!
It was pointed out to me this term from another instructor that we need to be cautious with our terminologies when we are discussing methods. Although we see the term methodologies a lot in academia, it is used incorrectly often as it refers to the study of methods. I was under the impression that methodologies was a more intelligent way of saying method my last 4 years at UBC! As we are not investigating the philosophy of different methods in our research, I would stick with ‘methods’ for the purpose of our blogs and research reports.