Chapter 3 : RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Facts Given in Article

1. Research Design

• research design functions as the research blueprint.

2. Research Methodology

• A research methodology references the procedural rules for the evaluation of research claims and the validation of the knowledge gathered.

3. Research Purpose

• research should identify the purpose by correlation and research questions to the research objectives.
• research purpose consist from                                                                                                  

1. Exploration - investigate a specified problem phenomenon for the purpose of shedding new light upon it         and consequently uncovering new knowledge 
2. descriptive  - The collection organization and summarization  of the information about the research problem and issues identified therein.
3. Explanatory - The clarification of relationship between variable and the componential elements of  the research problem.

4. Research Approach

•  Research approach is the opportunity to critically consider how each of the various approaches may contribute to. 
• Research approach embraces :-

1. The deductive Versus the Inductive Approach - 

              - Testing of theories - Set of theories and conceptual precept in mind and formulates the study's

                 hypotheses.

     2.  The Qualitative Versus the Quantitative Approach 

          - Quantitative research techniques  is inclusive of random and unbiased selection of respondents.

          - In comparison quantitative tools are used for the production of statistical data which proceeds from 

             the availability of quantitative data. Quantitative consist three tools:-

             a) Standard deviation and frequency distribution

             b) Scatter gram and correlation coefficients.

             c) Difference tests

5. Research Strategy

• 3 Research Strategy ;- a) Experimental
•      b) The Survey
•      c) The Case Study
• Scientific researches exploit the experimental strategy while strategy while the social sciences tend towards the survey and the case study strategies.The current research shall adopt the conceptual model approach.

5.1 Qualitative Sampling

• The sample should be large enough to be credible, given the purpose of evaluation, but small enough to permit adequate depth and detail for each case or unit in the sample.
• Qualitative samples tend to be purposive rather than random

5.2 Qualitative Data Collection

•  Identify the type and nature of the required data
• Select those collection methods which are best suited to the collection of the identified data types
• Researcher must limit his selection of data collection methods

5.3 Qualitative Data Handling
Steps :-

1. Interview Strategy

• A structured approach would be too rigid and would prevent the researcher from interacting with the interviewees and asking follow-up spontaneous question

     2. Transcribing

• The interview will be recorded and will be transcribed by the researcher.

     3. Coding

• The coding process contributes to the quality of the qualitative data analysis
• guide by both the research's conceptual framework and research question
• The researcher need identify and define his key terms, precisely clarify what he/she is looking for and know why he is looking for particular terms.
• Method : Firstly, listed of start codes,derived from the research's conceptual framework will be developed. Secondly, using using the protocol's list of questions, codes will be developed from each of these questions.

Reliability

• When in-putting the questionnaire data, the researcher should carefully read through them to ensure that there are no logical flaws and that the responses given by any one respondent are not contradictory
• The researcher should schedule interviews at the respondent's convenience and further when distributing questionnaire 

Validity

• Valid only if actually studies what it set out to study and only if the findings are verifiable.
• 3 Methods :- a) Establishing a chain of evidence  
• b) Verifying key information
• c) Presented informants with a draft of the study for review
• Need establish external validity by testing the applicability of the findings to external case studies

Quality

• Need exercise complete objectivity
• Need exercise transparency regarding the data gathering and analyses stages
• Quality qualitative data analysis and interpretation should be clearly and coherently presented and need fit into the totality of the argument.

Assignment 6

What Makes Effective Writing

Act.1 : List down important elements that contribute towards effective writing?

NO	FACTS	EXAMPLE
1	Convincing (Use the active voice (emphasizes who does what) instead of the passive voice (Emphasizes what is done).	Format: passive sentence format: [subject acted upon] [action] [actor] active sentence format: [actor] [action] [subject acted upon] Example: Passive - The prison lawn is mowed by the inmates. Active - The inmates mow the prison lawn.
2	Comprehensible Eliminate words that are nonessential to meaning or mood.	Words that weakly emphasize adjectives include: very, really, terribly, and awfully. See Words to Avoid for more help eliminating ineffective words
3	Easy to read Combine short sentences to consolidate ideas, but don't ramble. Consecutive lengthy Sentences burden readers and appear intimidating.	Ineffective - I dropped an egg and it landed on my dog. The egg was boiled and it did not crack open. Effective - When I dropped a boiled egg, it landed on my dog without breaking.
4	Interesting throughout Vary the structure of your sentences	Dull - We own seven barns in that town. We also own forty-two horses there. We like to ride horses in that countryside. Intriguing - Riding horses is enjoyable for us in that country town. We own seven barns and forty-two horses there.
5	Exhibits a clear voice Reword redundant or wordy phrases.	Phrase: It is a _____ one. Replacement: It is _____. e.g. : Ineffective - It is a [musical] one. Effective - It is [musical].
6	May impact the reader emotionally People can have different opinions about an author's work. Therefore, an author should consider the target audience (i.e. the audience's interests and literacy).	If you are trying to excite an environmentalist about a paper product then emphasize that it is recyclable, instead of its annual consumption.
7	Avoid overusing there is, there are, it is, it was, and so on.	Example: There is a case of meningitis that was reported in the newspaper Correction: A case of meningitis was reported in the newspaper. Even Better: The newspaper reported a case of meningitis. (Active voice)
8	To avoid confusion, don't use two negatives to make a positive.	Incorrect: He is not unwilling to help. Correct: He is willing to help
9	If you start a sentence with an action, place the actor immediately after or you will have created the infamous dangling modifier	Incorrect: While walking across the street, the bus hit her. Correct: While walking across the street, she was hit by a bus.  OR  She was hit by a bus while walking across the street.
10	A sentence fragment occurs when you have only a phrase or weak clause but are missing a strong clause.	Example of Sentence Fragment: After the show ended. Example of Sentence: After the show ended, we had coffee.

* source : http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/effWrite.asp

                  : http://www.sourceaid.com/reference/pdf/effective-writing.pdf

Assignment 5

LITERATURE REVIEW

ACTIVITY 1

Facts Given

• LR is an article of what has been published on a research area
• Appears as a chapter in an academic report
• Not just merely a listing of information available,or set of summaries
• Should describe,summarize,evaluate and clarify the studies reviewed
• Give a theoretical base of research and help to determine the nature of research

Important Point

1) Reasons for writing the literature review

• To provide a contact for the research 
• To justify the research 
• To illustrate how the subject has been studied previously
• To outline gaps in previous research
• To show the researchers understanding of the topic area being studied

2) Important Skills

• Information seeking (the ability to search the literature efficiently and identify a set of relevant article and books)
• Critical assessment (the ability to read and and appraise reading text critically)

3) Step To Write Literature Review

4) Ways of citing information from secondary resources

• Summary writing
• Direct quotation
• Paraphrasing

Reflection

• Sometimes its hard to find the LR relates with project title itself
• Good for further research to go and to make better decision
• Good to be preferred (as references)

ACTIVITY 2

Important issues
Summary Writing

• Main activity is to summarize different studies
• Shortened or condensed piece of writing
• Done by restarting the main points in your own words
• The aim of summary is to be precise-must convey exactly what the author wanted to get across in fewer words

Steps :

  Direct Quotation

• Statement that consist of the exact words of the author, copied directly word for word from a printed source.
• Preferable these situations :

1. When citing important statements of information,opinion or policy
2. When doing interpretations of literary works such as a poem,short novel,play or an essay so that the reader can see the basis of your interpretation.

Paraphrasing 

• Rephrasing the words of an author, putting his/her thoughts in your own words
• Several things to be considered :-

1. They should not be written using the author's original vocabulary
2. They should reflect through understanding of the ideas
3. They should reflect the real meaning of the text
4. They should be written in correct mechanics,usage and grammer

Reflactions

• Good overview (LR) to go,understood; and for more understanding do extra and view other LR elobrations
• BAD : forced to know the skill of LR
• BAD : compelled to read all the articles (to search) even does not relevant to studies

Exercise 5 : Paraphrase exercise 

1. Police Superintendent of Bandar Indera, Ali bin Rejab(2005) claims that attitudes of road user using hand phone for chatted,deal in business and quarrelled can contribute to road accidents even though it is very useful during emergency time. (Technology Magazine pp.66)

2. Adam Haris (2003) founded that numbers of youths and university student that having hand phones has increase in recent years. The convenience of having these cell phone has attracted them to have it. (Permata Magazine pp.12)

ASSIGNMENT 4

INTRODUCTION TO WRITING RESEARCH REPORT


*Note : Purpose of the study explain the reasons why the study was carried out
           : Objective of the study show the expected result or outcomes of the study

EXERCISE 2
The following are different research topics carried out by different researchers. Match each research topic with its purpose and objective.

Research Topics
1- The incorporation of the Literature Component in The Malaysian ESL Syllabus for Secondary Schools.
  
Purpose 

• To recognize the teacher's perception, attitudes and needs in relation to the teaching and learning of   literature

Objective

• To explore the implications that arise from the idea of incorporating the literature component into the secondary school English language syllabus
• To identify the implications for the incorporation and implementation of literature as part of the english language syllabus.
• To provide suggestions and recommendations for the incorporation of literature as part of the english as secondary language syllabus

2- Investigation on Language Learning Strategies Used by Proficient Learners.

Purpose

• To discover the learning strategies utilized by individual proficient learners when learning the second language
• To describe the learning strategies used by proficient Malay and Chinese learners when learning the second language

Objective

• To ascertain the strategies used by proficient language learners when learning the second language
• To determine the command strategies used by proficient learners when learning the second language
• To present ideas on how language learning can be enhanced through effective language learning strategies   

3- The Effectiveness of Group Work in Teaching Report Writing

Purpose

• To examine the effectiveness of group work on the student's ability to produce a project report

Objectives

• To find out how students are able to benefit from working in groups in producing a written project report. 
• To investigate the perception of student from Permata University on the group work technique in coming up with a project report.
• To determine if the student learn to write project report more effectively through group work.

ASSIGNMENT 3

Research Report Write-up ; Main Section


ACTIVITY1 : Intro regards Technical Report Writing

•Preparing and providing the readers with information on the overall background of the study conducted

•Helping the readers to focus on the issue or problem addressed in the study and it relates to previous research conducted in the same field

•Presenting the preview of the whole written report

   … Reflections …  

—Must include all the element in introduction

—This articles helping us more to provide a good report on FYP

—

—ACTIVITY 2 : Important issues to be learnt [ARTICLE 1] –Stair Climbing Trolley-

—

•Elaboration is needed to project title

•Abstract was contain under introduction

•The sequence does not follow the element in the introduction section of a research report

•No need problem definition; just go through to the problem statement

•Problem statement does not really clear.

•Objective was located under problem statement.

ACT 2 : Important issues to be learnt [ARTICLE 2] –E-learning-

—No title written

—The are no sequences of element in the introduction section of a research report.

All information that should have in introduction was write-up in one paragraph

… Reflections … 

- Project overview (abstract) should not under introduction

- Introduction should summarized overall project report which contain this element : [e-learn

 I) Background of study

 II) Statement of problem

 III) Purpose of study

 IV) Objective of the study

  V) Research question

  VI) Significance of study

  VII) Scope of the study

-  No need to put objective under problem statement

Assignment 2

CRITERIA OF AN 'A' RESEARCH REPORT.

• Acknowledgment (convey appreciation)
• Abstract (summarize the whole text & major facts)
• Table of content (clearly state/list;chapter,topics &sub topic -->page no.)
• Introduction (contains issues that relate to objective,aim & problem statement of issues)  
• Objective
• Scope of project (the limitation of the project)
• Literature review (must relevant to study field & related topic)
• Methodology (method use)
• Analysis (DMAIC)
• Possible solution/result (evidence; eg : prototype)

Must include:

• Facts
• Sources / references
• Ilustration
• Good writing (grammar,spelling)

0ur Gr0up Members :-

Fatimatun Zahrah Bt Husain

Noor Diyanaliza Bt Mohd Isa

Nur Haimi Bt Hanafi

Nor Hudah Bt Basri

Sumiyyah Binti Othman

Assignment 1

Ridzuan is a semester 7 student doing his final year project. He has just submitted his FYP report draft to his supervisor and the feedbabk from the supervisor as follows:

1. Not enough reading to support the idea of his project

2. His project report is not significant for a degree student

3. Badly written

Ridzuan has actually spend along time drafting his report. He is very sure his report has no major problems because his project has produced a good prototype; how ever, the supervisors comments have made him very confused. He thinks he has done enough as his project clearly shows the application of hands-on skills. In fact,he is very excited to show how good he is through his project. He believes that is nothing wrong with his report except his supervisor dislikes him. The dilemma e is facing now is how can he improved himself for the next re-submission of the report.

Facts given in the case

- Ridzuan is a semester seven students doing his final year project

- Submitted his FYP report draft

- Not enough reading

- Project report is not significant for a degree student

- Badly written

- Long time drafting report

- Produced good prototype

- Probably the supervisor dislike him

- Clearly shows the application of hands-on skills

- Over confident- excited to show how good he is though his project

View on the facts given

- lack of time management on doing report

- Not follow FYP guideline report

- Lack of resources

- Rarely met his supervisor for FYP discussion

- Lack of resources/input from company's linked

Important issues need to be learnt

- Time management

- Follow FYP guideline

- Build good communication and relationship with the supervisor- future benefits

- Do not over confident

- More reading/resources- to support ideas

Resources/strategies

- Supervisor : regularly make an appointment

- Should follow FYP guideline

- Build good links with the related company

- Improve his writing skills: always refer to the supervisor for improvement

- Do more reading + research regarding to his project title