Criteria for Choosing the Right Design - Research Paper Example

Analysis of Research Methodology. Name: Institution: ANALYSIS OF RESEARCH METHODOLOGY. In common parlance, research methodology is the procedure applied in a collection of information and raw data from any field with an aim of making decisions and deductions in business. Different methodologies are applied in various areas concerning the information sorted. In most cases, research interviews, surveys, and publications forms major research techniques applied. In research methodology analysis, aspects of research such as sampling methods, research design used, data analysis criteria and methods of data collection are looked into to gauge the accuracy and level of reliability the results could have. About the paper, synthesis on this major aspect of design will assist give a clear analysis of the paper. Research design. From the paper, an experimental design was applied to collect the data on user-generated content online advertising. This method has always been seen by scholars as a better way to collect data based on behavioral aspects of people. According to Ketchen & Bergh (2004), a design is viewed as a science of gold in social sciences since it can give correct information on causal queries and it assist in relieving the researcher a load of confusion since they allow for compromise when dealing with difficult issues like more sophisticated research. In this case, the researcher banked on this design to facilitate faster information on the web user behavioral characteristics on UGCs. The Facebook platform gave an ideal channel as a large number of reaction could be obtained in a shorter duration of time. Even though this design was deemed accurate by the researcher, several loopholes were not checked. A study by Biddle and Emmett (2011) shows that experimental designs are not ideal since the information may leak to other parties in prior before the research is undertaken. This limits their honest opinions and level of confidence to be placed on the data. Spillover of information becomes very easy since dealing with internet web is just more or less similar to educational innovations. The item of study is a qualitative research on human attributes. As the researcher says in page 4, ‘’the personal self can be understood as the sum of our traits and attributes’’ it can be unanimously deducted that the adverts on User Generated Contents in the web succeed due to collective behavior or intrapersonal relationship with associated parties. But it would also be very difficult to tell whether the parties had prior information or formed an opinion on the advert placed. This raises a question on how the researcher came up with a criterion of telling how the two respondents had acquired information on Google advert. It’s only seen a mere belief basing argument from their comments and answers. Lastly in the design used, no prior studies had been done on these respondents to help know whether they believe in collective behavior or social influence. Maybe, the respondents were only basing on the facial appeal of the adverts and had anything to do with the fake professor’s wall or relationship with the University. However much the design has drawbacks, it is a cost effective design when dealing with human values since petite will be spent on data collection, and only analysis will need the application of software or human effort. In summary, companies using social networks as their primary strategy should not solely rely on this to boost their market in the startup as it doesn’t necessarily mean they have embraced the product. The experimental design may at times mislead due to the loopholes discussed. Sampling technique This is also another salient aspect of research methodology. Bart, Fligner and Notz (2011), define sampling as the method of collecting smaller units from a larger population of people or organization to help in making the conclusion on a larger population. Sampling techniques are methods of sampling used depending on the type of study undertaken. In doing this it should be noted that the sample units must be clear representation of the same population in studies sample is always selected since; It helps reduce the many costs associated with undertaking the research It helps improves the information regarding quality and it gives room for intensive data collection. It also helps in reduce stress on the researcher of analyzing large data Depending on the type of research, whether Qualitative research or quantitative research, non-random sampling is preferred. Non-random sampling may be in the form of quota samples where the researcher is selected respondents in proportion to one or more important quality of the population of study. Distinctive case samples are obtained to make a representation of the central characteristic. Serious cases are taken to represent certain subgroups or subset of the population with particular similar interest. In spite of all these advantages of qualitative sampling research, two major drawbacks are faced by most researchers; There may be some unintended cases or aspects that may arise in the middle of the research forcing the researcher to deviate from the main objective or go out of the set scope. It is always a challenge to the researcher to explain how they came up with the population under study. The method used to arrive at the sample used in the survey. In the research paper, the researcher hasn’t given a clear method that was used to identify the 118 students who t took part in the study. Random method of sampling would have been appropriate since it could have ensured prior knowledge is reduced. Since the study was based on human attributes, the researcher would have embraced on increasing the sample size to allow more accurate data for analysis. The researcher has used a smaller sample size in the study, and this is a limited representation of the Social Media Users. The level of confidence placed on this study is highly limited. From a survey carried out by McGinty (2015), on behavioral characteristics of people, he discovered that many factors influence intrapersonal manipulation and choices of people, the factors include; Age of the person Geographical area the person has lived The education level of the people. The research has also not shown an adequate sampling frame, the sex of the students is not given in the report. This is critical since there is a discrepancy in the behavior of men and women Scruggs and Mastropieri (2011) says that ladies are more vulnerable to crowd appeal, and they look up to successful fellows, and they could have easily been manipulated by the professor if the study had more percentage of women than men. In addition to that, brand confidence differs with the sex of the person .Ladies embraces products that mainly are appealing to the eyes while most men don’t get lured by such products. Therefore, the research would have used a simple stratified sampling where the students would have been divided into groups with equal numbers of ladies and men that would help give a more balanced report. To conclude of this aspect of the sampling, the researcher has assumed that the professor was known to all the students in the sample, and this may have interfered with the report since maybe some of them were just new Facebook users and not influence by any aspect rather than the visual nature of the product. Data collection procedure These are the tools embraced by researchers in recording the data obtained from the field. In qualitative research like the one in question, a start with qualitative research methodology is ideal. It’s also necessary to give an interpretive paradigm for the study. Data collection involves the use of research instruments used to record the information which may be mechanical or electrical. The researcher has shown a strong data collection move as he has used questionnaires with clear specification and open. This has greatly increased the quality of data collected. The questionnaire has given a wide range of opinions that the researcher would need in the analysis. As said by Biddle and Emmett (2011), all data collection techniques have their limitations and biases. This fact shows that the experience of the researcher is vital to obtain a quality data for the report. Data Analysis Qualitative data is more difficult to analyze than quantitative data. Data analysis largely depend on the strength of the research design. In the report provided, the researcher has provided technical mathematical formulas that may not be clearly explained. However much the researcher has clearly analyzed the opinions, the mathematical analysis has not come out clear, and it is difficult to note whether any error (either omission or commission) occurred. The measurement of social influence, as well as collective issues, were based on past studies. A question arises on when and where the studies where done as human attributes changes with time and surrounding. To ad on that, Social networks have only been more active in one past decade, and this means that CONCLUSION Even though the aspects shown above may not be sufficient evidence to show that a research methodology is weak, they are the main points of worry. The researcher has used a right research design but challenges such as the inability to tell whether the selected students had prior knowledge of the study raises questions. The researcher would have increased the sample size to improve on the credibility of the report and given a better sample frame. The mathematical representation of the data analysis would have been simplified to help the reader know exactly how those figures were arrived at. Work cited Bart, J., Fligner, M., & Notz, W. (1998). Sampling and statistical methods for behavioral ecologists. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Biddle, J. & Emmett, R. (2011). Research in the history of economic thought and methodology. Bingley, U.K.: Emerald. Columbus, A. (2009). Advances in psychology research. New York: Nova Science Pub. Ketchen, D. & Bergh, D. (2004). Research methodology in strategy and management. Amsterdam: Elsevier. McGinty, M. (2015). Writing and doing action research. International Journal Of Social Research Methodology, 18(5), 577-578. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13645579.2015.1062629 Scruggs, T. & Mastropieri, M. (2011). Applications of research methodology. Amsterdam: Elsevier JAI. Read More