Course Summary:
Qualitative research is used in everyday settings to answer questions related to issues of interest and their underpinning phenomena. You will attain a sound grounding in applying appropriate qualitative research methods. Theoretical content covers: qualitative methodologies, qualitative research methods, and presenting qualitative results. Course workshops promote critical thinking and provide opportunities to practice using qualitative research methods. While learning is self-directed, workshops and online forums allow discussion of theoretical and practical questions throughout the course
Course Objectives:
- Developing a hypothesis, a research problem and related questions
- Framing the problem with the correct research methodology
- Collecting data that accurately addresses the research problem
- Measuring the effectiveness of a program
- Using data to make decisions
- Providing technical guidance to contractors for inclusion in contract documents related to research projects
- Evaluating feasibility of research proposals
- Presenting data to support programs to decision makers and other consumers
Course Outline
Introduction to The Process of Conducting Research
- Research Design Introduction
- Steps in the Process of Research
- Identifying a hypothesis and/or research problem, specifying a purpose, creating research questions
- Reviewing literature
- Ethics of research and informed consent
Introduction to Qualitative Research
- Essence of Qualitative Data
- Sampling
- Collection Techniques
Interpreting Qualitative Data
- Qualitative Data Analysis Procedures
- Coding
- Thematic development
Sampling Concepts
- Defining the Target Population
- Representative Sample
- Potential Consequences of Unrepresentative Sampling (Gaming the System)
- Over Representative Subgroups / Weighting
- Design Effect
- Sampling Methods (Cluster, Stratified, Simple Random)
Quantitative Data Collection Instruments
- Choosing a good instrument
- Interval and Ratio Scales
Introduction to Applied Statistics
- Identifying the dependent and independent variables
- Confidence levels
- Math that manipulates data
Descriptive Statistics
- Summarizing and describing a collection of data
- Univariate and bivariate analysis
- Mean, mode and standard deviation
- Percentages and Ratios
- Histograms
- Identifying randomness and uncertainty in data
Inferential Statistics
- Drawing inference from data
- Modeling assumptions
- Identifying Patterns
- Regression analysis
- T-test
- Analysis of Variance
- Correlations
- Chi-square
Introduction to Mixed Methods Research
- Advantages
- Design Components
- Explanatory Mixed Methods Framework
Data Mining – Finding the Patterns and Problems in the World of Data
Writing About Quantitative Findings
Writing About Qualitative or Mixed Methods Findings
Critically Critiquing Research Reports
Applying Research in the Security Environment