BY MRS. THOMAS

Methods and Tools of Research

Survey

a sampling, or partial collection, of facts, figures, or opinions taken and used to approximate or indicate what a complete collection and analysis might reveal:

The survey showed the percentage of the population that planned to vote.

poll

a sampling or collection of opinions on a subject, taken from either a selected or a random group of persons, as for the purpose of analysis.

I took a poll to see which students wanted chocolate and which wanted vanilla.

Statistics

the science that deals with the collection, classification, analysis, and interpretation of numerical facts or data, and that, by use of mathematical theories of probability, imposes order and regularity on aggregates of more or less disparate elements.

The statistics, or data, show that one-third of adults in the U.S. are obese.

Demographic information

a single vital or social statistic of a human population, as the number of births or deaths.

a specific segment of a population having shared characteristics:

The producers were looking for a show that would appeal to the 18-34 demographic.

Case study

A detailed analysis of a person or group, especially as a model of medical, psychiatric, psychological, or social phenomena.

Barbara spent a year studying how the children responded to environmental change in her case study.

Participant observations

a technique of field research, used in anthropology and sociology, by which an investigator(participant observer) studies the life of a group by sharing in its activities.

In order to understand the Amazonian tribe, the doctor lived with them for 2 years and recorded what he saw.

Program evaluation

Program evaluation is a systematic method for collecting, analyzing, and using information to answer questions about projects, policies and programs, particularly about their effectiveness and efficiency

The principal observed Mrs. Thomas’s class and evaluated her work to see if she was being an effective teacher, as part of the program evaluation.

Qualitative research methods

aims to gather an in-depth understanding of human behavior and the reasons that govern such behavior. The qualitative method investigates the why and how of decision making, not just what, where, when.

Methods of qualitative research are interviews, observations, and case studies

Involves stories or verbal results

Quantitative Research methods

ask a specific, narrow question and collect a sample of numerical data from observable event or from study participants to answer the question. The researcher analyzes the data with the help of statistics. The researcher is hoping the numbers will yield an unbiased result that can be generalized to some larger population.

Polls and surveys, demographics and statistics are part of quantitative research.

Involves results in numbers