Thread by @gosiame_xo

My take home from today's session:
Prof @FabAcademic was joined by Prof @john_ataguba & Prof @MrsMaswime for session 7 of the succeeding in your postgraduate studies series. And today's topic was 'Research design & methodology'.

#PostGradTalk #Past3amSquad @past3amsquad

1. When reading a research study's findings you should always ask yourself questions like; what data was collected? how was the data collected? population & sampling? and how was the data interpreted/analysed?

2. It is important to know the difference between research design and method. Research design is a plan to answer your research question. Whereas, a research method is a strategy used to implement that plan. Research design and methods are closely related, because good research..

design ensures thay the data you obtain will help you answer your research question more effectively.
3. Thus, the research design is the blueprint of the collection, measurement and analysis of data.

4. Thought: can someone who is not black, claim to understand the lived experiences of black people in their research. African Theoretical Framework/ Race Theory. More on this next week.

5. Prof @MrsMaswime explained how she selected her research design. She said descriptive, observational, quantitative research is what she uses mostly in order to understand a disease, and how people react/affected by the disease in various areas so the problem is quantified...

and so interventions can be developed for those areas accordingly.
6. Prof @john_ataguba & Prof @FabAcademic emphasized that your research problem & research question influences your research design & research method.

7. Prof @john_ataguba said not all research should be generalized.
8. Mixed method is very important because not all research questions can be answered through just qualitative or just quantitative.

9. Most qualitative research findings can't be generalized, but with the help of good statistician/statistical skills you can with a quantitative study.
10. Quantitative research doesn't make it easy for you to answer the question WHY, if you want to answer the question WHY...

rather use Qualitative.
11. You can, as Master's student as well, use mixed method but you have to always explain why you choose to do that and how that will enhance the study.
12. Mixed method answers both you WHY & WHAT questions.

13. Qualitative - Why Questions
Quantitative - What Questions

Please add if I left something out. And make sure you catch next week's session for the 2nd part of 'Research design & methodology'.

Thank you @FabAcademic for once again a very informative session.

My two cents on what factors to consider when choosing one method over another?
Time for data collection and analysis is something you want to consider.  An observation or interview method, so-called qualitative approach, helps you collect richer information, but it takes time.

Using a survey helps you collect more data quickly, yet it may lack details.  So, you will need to consider the time you have for research and the balance between strengths and weaknesses associated with each method (e.g., qualitative vs. quantitative).