Research Skills & Analysis Lecture One PDF

Research Skills &Analysis LIB116 Lecture : One Associ. Prof. Emam Omar Physics Department Faculty of Physics New Mansoura University 28/09/2024  Data 28/09/2024 Data - Data are individual facts, o...

Research Skills &Analysis LIB116 Lecture : One Associ. Prof. Emam Omar Physics Department Faculty of Physics New Mansoura University 28/09/2024  Data 28/09/2024 Data - Data are individual facts, observations, statistics, characters, symbols, images, numbers, and more that are out of context, have no meaning, and are difficult to understand. They are often referred to as raw data. 28/09/2024 33 Types of Data Research data are generally classified either as quantitative or qualitative. Quantitative data: These are data which can be counted or expressed in numerical values. e.g. nb of students, age, grades, test scores… Qualitative data: These are descriptive data which has no numerical values. e.g. A person’s attitude, perception, or feelings 28/09/2024 44 Types of Data Based on their sources, they fall under two categories:  Primary data;  Secondary data Primary data (first-hand information) Primary data are originated by a researcher for the specific purpose of addressing the problem at hand. They are collected directly from the subjects being studied. Secondary data: These are data already available. They have been collected from other available sources. 28/09/2024 55  Types of Data Secondary data may be published or unpublished. Secondary data include: - Files/records - Computer data bases - Industry or government reports - Documents (budgets, organizational charts, policies and procedures, maps, monitoring reports) - newspapers and television reports 28/09/2024 66  Data Collections Methods 28/09/2024 Data collection methods Data collection is an extremely important part of any research because the conclusion of a study is based on what the data detect. The choice of procedures usually depends on the objectives and design of the study. The term data refers to any kind of data researchers obtain on the subjects, respondents, or participants of the study. 28/09/2024 88 Methods of data collections 1. Observation 2. Questionnaire 3. Interview 4. Surveys 5. Expérimental devices 28/09/2024 99 Data collection methods 28/09/2024 10 10 1- Observation Observational research (or field research) is a research technique that involves the direct observation of phenomena in their natural setting. Types of observation A. Non controlled, participant observation Observer became the member of group under study 28/09/2024 11 11  1- Observation Disadvantage of Participant Observation Research The researcher loses objectivity. How can a researcher be a participant in the observation and remain completely neutral? It's impossible. You'll form opinions and change your behavior accordingly. 28/09/2024 12 12  1- Observation B. Non controlled non participant observation When the observer observes the group from a distance without participating in the group activities. 28/09/2024 13 13  1- Observation C. Systematic controlled Observation In a controlled study, the researcher pre-determines and controls the study variables and determines the location, the time, the participants, and the tools used to complete the study. Advantage of Participant Observation Research Participant observation research allows one to gain information one wouldn't have otherwise had access to. 28/09/2024 14 14  2- Questionnaire A questionnaire is a series of written questions a researcher presents to subjects. According to Wallace and Wallace “A questionnaire is a means of gathering information by having the respondents fill in answers to printed questions” Types of questionnaire: A. Structured (closed) questionnaire B. Unstructured (open) questionnaire 28/09/2024 15 15  2- Types of Questionnaire A- Structured (closed) questionnaire Closed answers are predetermined, rigid, and completely clear. 28/09/2024 16 16  2- Types of Questionnaire B- Unstructured (open) questionnaire It are usually formulated around open questions It is used to obtain view point, opinions, attitudes and show relationship and interconnections between data. 28/09/2024 17 17  3- Interview Interview is conservation with a purpose and, therefore, is more than an oral exchange of information. Types of Interview A. The Non directive Interview B. The Directive interview C. The Repeated interview D. The Focused interview E. The Depth Interview 28/09/2024 18 18  3- Types of Interview A. Non directive- unstructured Interviewer does not follow a system or a list of predetermined question. It is more flexible or open ended. 28/09/2024 19 19  3- Types of Interview B. Directive or structured interview Interviewer follow set of predetermined question or a standerdized technique. 28/09/2024 20 20  3- Types of Interview C. The Repeated interview Repeated interview is type of interview used for focusing on changes in phenomenon over time in the informants’ answers. It is useful in the attempts to trace the specific developments of a certain process. D. Focused interview The focus of the interview is limited by relevant theory and evidence. This interview guide, allowing for not28/09/2024 expected views to also be uncovered and explored. 2121  3- Types of Interview E. The depth Interview Depth interviewing is a qualitative research technique that involves conducting intensive individual interviews with a small number of respondents to explore their perspectives on a particular idea, program, or situation It is a detail interview that has long process. It uses projective technique. 28/09/2024 22 22  4- Surveys A survey is a research method in which subjects respond to a series of statements or questions in a questionnaire or an interview. Surveys are directed at populations, the people who are the focus of research. Usually we study a sample, a part of a population that represents the whole. Random sampling is commonly used to be sure that the sample is actually representative of the entire 28/09/2024 23 23 population.  4- Surveys Surveys may involve questionnaires. Questionnaires may be closed-ended or open-ended. This technique uses statistical methods to analyze data. 28/09/2024 24 24 5- Expérimental devices 28/09/2024 25 25  Information 28/09/2024  Information - Data is meaningless in itself, but once processed and interpreted, it becomes information which is filled with meaning. - Information is a set of data that is processed in a meaningful way according to the given requirement. It is processed, structured, or presented in a given context to make it meaningful and useful. 28/09/2024 27 27 Information Following two figures gives an idea of data and information 28/09/2024 28 28 Information Example 28/09/2024 29 29  Data Processing 28/09/2024 Data Processing Data in its raw form is not useful to any organization. Data processing is the method of collecting raw data and translating it into usable information. The Data Processing Operations A. Data Collection Methods of data collections 1. Observation 2. Questionnaire 3. Interview 4. Surveys 5. Expérimental devices 28/09/2024 31 31  Data Processing B. Data preparation (Validation) : Ensuring that supplied data is correct and relevant. A process of examining the collected raw data to detect errors and correct these when possible. C. Sorting Arranging the clean data in some sequence and/or in different sets. Here data is sorted on the basis of common characteristics which can either be: - descriptive or - numerical 28/09/2024 32 32 Data Processing D. Input In this step, the sorted raw data is converted into machine readable form and fed into the processing unit. This can be in the form of data entry through a keyboard, scanner or any other input source. E. Processing (Analysisng data) Data can be analysed either manually or with the help of a computer I- Manual Data Analysis: This can be done if the number of data is very small. Manual data analysis is extremely time consuming. 28/09/2024 33 33  Data Processing II- Data Analysis Using a Computer: If you want to analyse data using computer, you should be familiar with the appropriate program. In this area, knowledge of computer and statistics plays an important role. F. Data output/interpretation The output/interpretation stage is the stage at which data is finally usable to non-data scientists. It is translated, readable, and often in the form of graphs, videos, images, plain text, etc.). 28/09/2024 34 34 Data Processing G. Storage The last step of the data processing cycle is storage, where data and metadata are stored for further use. This allows for quick access and retrieval of information whenever needed, and also allows it to be used as input in the next data processing cycle directly. Types of Data Processing There are different types of data processing based on the source of data and the steps taken by the processing unit to generate an output. 28/09/2024 35 35 Types of Data Processing TYPE USES Data is collected and processed in batches. Used Batch Processing for large amounts of data. Real-time Data is processed within seconds when the input Processing is given. Used for small amounts of data. Eg: withdrawing money from ATM Online Processing Data is automatically fed into the CPU as soon as it becomes available. Used for continuous processing of data. Eg: barcode scanning Time-sharing Allocates computer resources and data in time 28/09/2024 slots to several users simultaneously.36 36