Research Methods In Maritime Policy - Essay Example

Research Methods in Maritime Policy: Qualitative and Quantitative Aspects Introduction This research will be dedicated to analysis of research methods in maritime policy. Accordingly, we will put an emphasis on both qualitative and quantitative methods of research needed to carry out the task 1B; furthermore, quantitative method needs to use of SPSS to carry out the data analysis brought from chapter 1 of the assignment. So, according to all these relevant factors that must be solved properly later on, will be have initially a kind of presentation of qualitative methods then going to quantitative methods. This first part should contain mini-survey by interview (i.e. part 1A) as well as discussion dedicated to how to use the mixed method to investigate on seafarers’ wages in a shipping company (i.e. part 1B). Primarily we will be focused on 1A, and then will be transferring to 2B. (1A.) Within the area of qualitative method, there will be conducted a mini-survey, using interview as a method to collect data with overseas students to investigate their quality of life in London and submit a report which ‘gives an account of research process with a brief summary of findings.’ (This citation was brought from given materials.) Therefore, speaking about the interview process and the summary, we will have approximately six questions for the immediate answer: firstly, what type of interview was used (nominal, ordinal, or interval: define the type of interview used and explain the rational for using this type); secondly, how many students have been interviewed and why (it is just a random selection or a chosen selection of interviewees); thirdly, interview schedule (list of questions or list of issues prepared to guide the interview); fourthly, critical account of interview process, in which there are any strength, problems, or limitations; fifthly, short summary of findings is needed; ultimately, it is strongly recommended to provide a sample transcript of one of the interviews conducted. (1B.) There will be used mixed method in order to investigate on seafarers’ wages in a shipping company with a sufficient explanation on how to conduct the research from a qualitative approach. Also, after 1A and 1B we will be transferring to area of quantitative method of SPSS. Firstly, making use of the 10 interviews carried out to analyse the data within SPSS application, (2A) a coding book will be conducted; then, (2B) we will establish a SPSS Database; afterwards, (2C) will do a simple test (2D) along with interpretation the result. Body: 1A.1, 1A.2, 1A.3, 1A.4, 1A.5, 1A.6. (1A.1.) Being focused in this sub-chapter predominantly on issue concerning ‘what type of interview was used,’ let us force an assumption that among all types that were mentioned in the voice memo only interval type was used mostly. Because of its opportunity for block questions split up by intervals from each other (i mean block of questions). Accordingly, key rationale for using this type of interview lies in a human nature, cause it is easy for one concrete person to concentrate on one block of questions that were specified, then have a rest for a couple of seconds before another block; therefore, we come to a thesis that these intervals are necessary for people to answer adequately and more calm and quiet, to behave themselves more concentrated in terms of their answers; they are like hints or tricks for the interviewees. (1A.2.) Then, in this sub-chapter we will be interested in how many students have been interviewed and why (i.e. it is a random selection or a chosen selection). Accordingly, 10 interviewers were asked a set of question being centred on their quality of life in London; they were all overseas students in GB of different statuses, ages, gender, roles, professions, nationalities etcetera. We will see later on which questions were asked to them exactly; there were from 10 to 15 questions from different relevant fields of quality of life (some of the fields were mentioned just above the current line) which were asked to 10 people according to the conditions of the assignment. Additionally, it was rather a chosen selection of people and questions asked to them, because all the students were overseas students, and all 10-15 questions related to their quality of life in London, and each of these questions pointed on its own specific field of these young people’ activity (individual or within society). (1A.3.) Furthermore, we should present an interview schedule, i.e. list of questions or list of issues prepared to guide the interview. As for the interval interviews, we will show thematic questions arranged in small blocks of different issues concerning these overseas students’ quality of life in London. Therefore: [Personal information:] Name/Surname/Date of birth/Factual address/Country of birth/Nationality/Profession. A. Material dimension: (1) How big your salary is? (2) How big your rent is? (3) How many working hours per day do you have normally?; B. Societal aspect: (4) Which types of cultural or societal activity could you afford due to your salary? (5) Please list some of your vital or fundamental activities except the working ones? (6) How many leisure hours per day do you have, except sleeping ones, and what you are doing during them as usual?; C. Personal aspect: (7) Do you feel yourself happy usually? (8) If sometimes you are unhappy why it is so, to your mind? (9) What are you usual attitudes toward people you meet on the streets and to your relatives? (10) What forces you to behave stressfully?; D. Family concern: (11) How many children do you have? (12) How many pounds could you spend on them per day? (13) Do these children are socially accepted via different social institutes?. (1A.4.) Moreover, it could be given a critical account of interview process, i.e. any strength, problems, or limitations. Certainly, there were some strength, problems, and limitations within the interviews’ integral process. Firstly, all respondents could hide some dangerous information which could be evaluated as illegal by them. Secondly, my questions from numerous spheres of life have limited character, both in number and their specific character. Thirdly, 10 respondents is too small quantity even for qualitative analysis. So we could make only some assertions instead of the whole picture of quality of life of the overseas students in London, 2012. (1A.5.) Additionally, we could give a short summary of findings. With an assistance of these interviews provided we now really have a full image of quality of life of the overseas students in London. These rubrics of personal information; material, social, personal, and family dimensions allow us to analyse almost every aspect of social, personal, material, and other realities which could be viewed as being related to the issue of quality of life of overseas students. Obviously, this information must be treated as truly if only all the respondents were frank. (1A.6.) Ultimately, we must provide a sample transcript of one of the interviews conducted. [Personal information:] Oleg Oleniev; 08.08.1986; City of Westminster, building 178, apartment 67, Central London, GB; Ukraine; Ukrainian; cultural anthropologist. (A.1.) 1000 pounds. (A.2.) 500 pounds. (A.3.) From 4 to 5 hours per day. (B.4.) Theater (once a week), cinema (two times a week), swimming pool (two times a week), concert music (once a week). (B.5.) Reading in the libraries, national museum and national galleries, running in the morning. (B.6.) 8 hours of leisure time per day without sleeping and eating per day; as usual, I spend them in museum or libraries, also I am fan of sport activities (juggling, running, swimming) and active relaxation (joga). (C.7.) I feel myself almost happy. (C.8.) Sometimes London underground is over-crowd. (C.9.) I love them, street pedestrians as well as my relatives. (C.10.) London underground and civil transport sometimes. (D.11.) I have one child, Nikolas. (D.12.) I could spend on him approximately 50 pounds per day, which sum is insufficient, I presume. (D.13.) I suppose that my son, which has currently 5 years old, must be regarded as fully accepted by GB society. Conclusion: 1B. In 1B, we will be analyzed mixed methods to investigate seafarers’ wages in a shipping company along with the explanation on how conduct the research from the qualitative methods we have recently exemplified. Thus, to investigate seafarers’ wages in a shipping company we should combine qualitative and quantitative methods of research. Primarily, qualitative methods could be applied for getting some personal information, and how many pounds does he/she earn serving onboard as a seafarer for a limited period of time (of course, all bonuses for the hard conditions of the job must be included). From the other perspective, all the calculations must be provided within SPSS application in order to know how much exactly these persons need to get for their jobs, separated in different categories of time, age, technical conditions etcetera. Read More