The case study approach is ideally suited to the resources and environment of a work-based researcher. “The great strength of the case-study method is that it allows the researcher to concentrate on a specific instance or situation and to identify, or attempt to identify, the various interactive processes at work. These processes may remain hidden in a large-scale survey but may be crucial to the success of failure of systems or organizations” (Bell)
However, case-studies do come with its disadvantages, It is often difficult to cross-check information and so there is always the danger of distortion. Bassey considers that if case-studies “are carried out systematically and critically, if they are aimed at the improvement of education, if they are relatable, and if by publication of the findings they extend the boundaries of existing knowledge, then they are valid forms of educational research.” (Bassey 1981:85)
These issues make attention to the selection of the case study, the ability to relate the case study to a wider context and the possibility of undertaking a comparative case study.
Sources
Bell, J, 1999, Doing your research project (3rd ed), Berkshire: Open University Press.
Monday, 5 April 2010
Sunday, 4 April 2010
Power to the Male & Female Race!
Ok, so I analysed some of the data that I have gathered from my survey at www.surveymonkey.com and I have noticed some people do think of Pole dancing as degrading and some feel that it should be considered as a Olympic sport. I respect people's thoughts as this project isn’t about what I think, it’s about how the public percieve Pole dancing.
After analysing the data I have however taken an interest in male’s taking part and performing Pole dancing too. I have a video of a Male and a Female Pole dancing and I have got a video that is 100% fitness and one that is fitness and performance.
I would really like to know what you all think in as much detail as possible what you think of both, your personal perceptions and if you would consider Pole dancing as an Olympic sport. I know your name will appear and I understand you may feel uncomfortable however you are not going to be judged I will find you extremely helpful and honest.
Please take time to watch the videos and comment, it will be appreciated so much.
Male
Thanks Abbi :-)
After analysing the data I have however taken an interest in male’s taking part and performing Pole dancing too. I have a video of a Male and a Female Pole dancing and I have got a video that is 100% fitness and one that is fitness and performance.
I would really like to know what you all think in as much detail as possible what you think of both, your personal perceptions and if you would consider Pole dancing as an Olympic sport. I know your name will appear and I understand you may feel uncomfortable however you are not going to be judged I will find you extremely helpful and honest.
Please take time to watch the videos and comment, it will be appreciated so much.
Male
Thanks Abbi :-)
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
Action Research
Action research
This is an approach that basically requires research applied to practical issues in the everyday social world. It is an attempt to change and monitor results. The research is likely to be qualitative and participative, as action research starts with a problem and aims on improving the situation.
There are four key parts to Action research.
Planning (working out what to do)
Acting (putting this into practice)
Observing (looking at what happens)
Reflecting (Looking back and analysing the results)
Action research is intended to improve a real life problem situation for instance changing the perceptions of people and pole dancing, or give Pole dancing a fair chance at being an Olympic sport. To do this you need to,
• Identify and clarify the problem.
• Identify and implement the change intended to improve the situation.
• Test and evaluate to determine the impact of change made on the original problem.
Nethertheless as with any research method there are advantages and disadvantages to action research.
The action research cycle
1) Ask questions
2) Collect data
3) Analyse
4) Formulate hypothesis/Reflect
5) Plan action steps
6) Positive action for change
For example
1) How do you perceive Pole dancing? Do you think it should be considered an Olympic sport?
2) Conduct interviews, put together questionnaires and surveys.
3) Analyse results, what do people think, for and against Olympics and find out why.
4) Formulate the prediction and reflect how I got to the hypothesis.
5) How I can get people to people understand that Pole dancing is a fun way to keep fit and increase confidence. I would do this by holding classes for those who disagree with my statement and show them what happens in the classroom and what is required for Pole dancing. Do a demonstration of Pole moves to show skill required.
6) Positive action for change would be not only proving that sheer strength and skill is needed to Pole dance and its worthy of a place in the Olynpics.
Again it would come back round to the beginning
1) I would ask the questions again.
2) I would again collect the data
3) I would finally analyse the data and see if people had changed their minds
4) I would formulate my hypothesis and hope that people have changed their minds
5) If people had changed their minds I would inform them of online petitions for Pole dancing to be considered an Olympic sport
6) I would introduce a class for more new-comer Pole dancers as a way to keep fit.
Advantages
• Involves people
• Helps to open up a problem
• Ensures it is a thorough methodology
• An on the job focus
Disadvantages
• Time consuming and continuing (as demonstrated in example)
• Difficult if you do not have a set group of people
• Relies on goodwill of some participants
• May distract from other important areas of your work.
Action research is collaborative by nature. In any collaborative research participants are involved as fully as possible in the research in their own group or organisation. This approach is popular because as a worker-researcher you often research some kind of change in the workplace.
I don’t think I want to change something in the workplace as people in my Pole dancing classes are there by choice of their own, however I would like to change the perceptions of those who may take part and non-Pole dancers towards Olympic possibilities.
This is an approach that basically requires research applied to practical issues in the everyday social world. It is an attempt to change and monitor results. The research is likely to be qualitative and participative, as action research starts with a problem and aims on improving the situation.
There are four key parts to Action research.
Planning (working out what to do)
Acting (putting this into practice)
Observing (looking at what happens)
Reflecting (Looking back and analysing the results)
Action research is intended to improve a real life problem situation for instance changing the perceptions of people and pole dancing, or give Pole dancing a fair chance at being an Olympic sport. To do this you need to,
• Identify and clarify the problem.
• Identify and implement the change intended to improve the situation.
• Test and evaluate to determine the impact of change made on the original problem.
Nethertheless as with any research method there are advantages and disadvantages to action research.
The action research cycle
1) Ask questions
2) Collect data
3) Analyse
4) Formulate hypothesis/Reflect
5) Plan action steps
6) Positive action for change
For example
1) How do you perceive Pole dancing? Do you think it should be considered an Olympic sport?
2) Conduct interviews, put together questionnaires and surveys.
3) Analyse results, what do people think, for and against Olympics and find out why.
4) Formulate the prediction and reflect how I got to the hypothesis.
5) How I can get people to people understand that Pole dancing is a fun way to keep fit and increase confidence. I would do this by holding classes for those who disagree with my statement and show them what happens in the classroom and what is required for Pole dancing. Do a demonstration of Pole moves to show skill required.
6) Positive action for change would be not only proving that sheer strength and skill is needed to Pole dance and its worthy of a place in the Olynpics.
Again it would come back round to the beginning
1) I would ask the questions again.
2) I would again collect the data
3) I would finally analyse the data and see if people had changed their minds
4) I would formulate my hypothesis and hope that people have changed their minds
5) If people had changed their minds I would inform them of online petitions for Pole dancing to be considered an Olympic sport
6) I would introduce a class for more new-comer Pole dancers as a way to keep fit.
Advantages
• Involves people
• Helps to open up a problem
• Ensures it is a thorough methodology
• An on the job focus
Disadvantages
• Time consuming and continuing (as demonstrated in example)
• Difficult if you do not have a set group of people
• Relies on goodwill of some participants
• May distract from other important areas of your work.
Action research is collaborative by nature. In any collaborative research participants are involved as fully as possible in the research in their own group or organisation. This approach is popular because as a worker-researcher you often research some kind of change in the workplace.
I don’t think I want to change something in the workplace as people in my Pole dancing classes are there by choice of their own, however I would like to change the perceptions of those who may take part and non-Pole dancers towards Olympic possibilities.
Fieldwork & Deskwork
Fieldwork
Fieldwork is normally to find out what is happening in the “field” or in reality, it refers to the process of going out to collect research data. Such data may be described as original or empirical. For me it will be within my own work environment. This might also involve visiting another institution/class to interview members of staff, hand out questionnaires to customers and even observing what takes place. Fieldwork will initially be doing the research for instance questionnaires, observations and interviews.
Deskwork
Deskwork consists of those research processes which do not necessitate going into the field. It consists of those things that can be done whilst sitting at a desk. These may include the administration, collection and analysis of a postal survey, the analysis of data collected by others and literature searches in the library. This will be collecting the data I have received from my questionnaires, observations and interviews and analysing what I have read, gathered and learned.
I think that both are essential to my project and I will make use of both because I need to do the fieldwork in order to complete the deskwork. I need to form the data in order to analyse the data. I will wish to compare data arising from literature and documentation in my work place with not only m own experience but also other peoples organisational experience and perceptions.
Fieldwork is normally to find out what is happening in the “field” or in reality, it refers to the process of going out to collect research data. Such data may be described as original or empirical. For me it will be within my own work environment. This might also involve visiting another institution/class to interview members of staff, hand out questionnaires to customers and even observing what takes place. Fieldwork will initially be doing the research for instance questionnaires, observations and interviews.
Deskwork
Deskwork consists of those research processes which do not necessitate going into the field. It consists of those things that can be done whilst sitting at a desk. These may include the administration, collection and analysis of a postal survey, the analysis of data collected by others and literature searches in the library. This will be collecting the data I have received from my questionnaires, observations and interviews and analysing what I have read, gathered and learned.
I think that both are essential to my project and I will make use of both because I need to do the fieldwork in order to complete the deskwork. I need to form the data in order to analyse the data. I will wish to compare data arising from literature and documentation in my work place with not only m own experience but also other peoples organisational experience and perceptions.
Quantitative & Qualitative Research
Quantitative Research
“Quantitative researchers collect facts and study the relationship of one set of facts to another. They use techniques that are likely to produce quantified and, if possible, generalizable conclusions” Bell (1999). In other words Quantitative research is concerned with the collection and analysis of data in numeric form. It is often falsely presented or perceived as being about the gathering of facts. The survey and questionnaire are often sound means of carrying out quantitative research.
Qualitative Research
“Researchers adopting a qualitative perspective are more concerned to understand individuals’ perceptions of the world. They seek insight rather than statistical analysis. Yet there are occasions when qualitative researchers draw on quantitative techniques, and vice versa” Bell (1999). Qualitative research tends to focus on exploring, in as much detail as possible and achieve depth rather than breadth. Action researching and interviewing are often sound means of conduction qualitative research.
It is important to distinguish data’s/research’s Validity and Reliability. Consider the data’s accuracy and whether the conclusions we draw/produce are applicable to everyone or simply the group we have studied/observed. Is our outcome reliable? I.e. if our research was repeated by others would they get similar results?
Now I have learnt and understood these methods of research I will use the following days to complete some more research methods.
Sources
Bell, J, 1999, Doing your research project (3rd ed), Berkshire: Open University Press.
“Quantitative researchers collect facts and study the relationship of one set of facts to another. They use techniques that are likely to produce quantified and, if possible, generalizable conclusions” Bell (1999). In other words Quantitative research is concerned with the collection and analysis of data in numeric form. It is often falsely presented or perceived as being about the gathering of facts. The survey and questionnaire are often sound means of carrying out quantitative research.
Qualitative Research
“Researchers adopting a qualitative perspective are more concerned to understand individuals’ perceptions of the world. They seek insight rather than statistical analysis. Yet there are occasions when qualitative researchers draw on quantitative techniques, and vice versa” Bell (1999). Qualitative research tends to focus on exploring, in as much detail as possible and achieve depth rather than breadth. Action researching and interviewing are often sound means of conduction qualitative research.
It is important to distinguish data’s/research’s Validity and Reliability. Consider the data’s accuracy and whether the conclusions we draw/produce are applicable to everyone or simply the group we have studied/observed. Is our outcome reliable? I.e. if our research was repeated by others would they get similar results?
Now I have learnt and understood these methods of research I will use the following days to complete some more research methods.
Sources
Bell, J, 1999, Doing your research project (3rd ed), Berkshire: Open University Press.
Primary & Secondary Research
Primary Research
Primary research is “experiments, investigations, or tests carried out to acquire primary data, the data observed or collected directly from first-hand experience” http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/primary-research.html. In other words research collected directly by myself directly relevant to my topic/problem. It provides me with insights to seeing solutions and gaining answers for example surveys, interviews and questionnaires.
Secondary Research
Secondary research is “Examining or reading about someone else's research” http://www.investorwords.com/4425/secondary_research.html or research that already exists. Things to consider,
Evaluate the following for Secondary Research:
* It’s credibility, is it useful and dependable?
* Look at the way it’s collected – the methodology used
* The accuracy of the data
* The currency (age) of the data
* The objectivity of the data (Bias against)
* The content of the data
Note all secondary research is 100% reliable
Sources
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/primary-research.html
http://www.investorwords.com/4425/secondary_research.html
Primary research is “experiments, investigations, or tests carried out to acquire primary data, the data observed or collected directly from first-hand experience” http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/primary-research.html. In other words research collected directly by myself directly relevant to my topic/problem. It provides me with insights to seeing solutions and gaining answers for example surveys, interviews and questionnaires.
Secondary Research
Secondary research is “Examining or reading about someone else's research” http://www.investorwords.com/4425/secondary_research.html or research that already exists. Things to consider,
Evaluate the following for Secondary Research:
* It’s credibility, is it useful and dependable?
* Look at the way it’s collected – the methodology used
* The accuracy of the data
* The currency (age) of the data
* The objectivity of the data (Bias against)
* The content of the data
Note all secondary research is 100% reliable
Sources
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/primary-research.html
http://www.investorwords.com/4425/secondary_research.html
Tuesday, 23 March 2010
Survey 1 Pole Dancing
Hello I have created my first survey, please take some time to answer the questions, it doesn't take long!!
Click here to take survey
Click here to take survey
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