The junction..... PART 9

AT THE CROSSROAD, WHERE TO TURN?

So sorry if it appears to be seen as one-sided, very much in favour towards the quantitative approach so far..... that was not done on purpose. It is also equally important for me to also highlight on the other approach of research method, i.e. the historical, the ethnographic, observational and developmental studies, the action research, and of most recent is the practice-based research specifically geared for us artists and design practitioners.

The Qualitative approach is very much of inductive type where we DO NOT start of with a hypothesis or problem statement, but rather of probing and into the situation and trying to understand the phenomenon. Through induction, we might eventually observe and establish a new pattern or regularities of knowledge that can lead to the development of new theory.

Inductive reasoning works the opposite way to Quantitative by moving from the specific observation to broader generalized theories. Informally, we sometimes call this a "bottom up" approach. In inductive reasoning, we begin with specific observations and measures, begin to detect patterns and regularities, formulate some tentative hypotheses that we can explore, and finally end up developing some general conclusions or theories.


INDUCTIVE REASONING

.................................................................Theory
.........................................Tentative...... /
.......................................Hypothesis -----/
.......................Pattern ----/
Observation ---/


Deductive reasoning works from the more general to the more specific. Sometimes this is informally called "top-down" approach. We might begin with thinking up a theory about our topic of interest. We then narrow that down into more specific hypothesis that we can test. We narrow down even further when we collect observations to address the hypothesis. This ultimately leads us to test the hypothesis with specific data - a confirmation (or not) of our original theories. The disadvantages of deductive approach is that the entry-point begins with an already establish information, which might not opens us up to any possibility of a new insights or a more lateral research to the situation.


DEDUCTIVE REASONING

Theory --\

..............Hypotheses -- \

.....................................Observation ---\

............................................................Confirmation




These two methods of reasoning have a very different "feel" to them when you are conducting research. Inductive reasoning, by its very nature is more open-ended and exploratory, especially at the beginning. Deductive reasoning is more narrow in nature and is concerned with testing or confirming hypotheses. Even though a particular study may look like it is purely deductive (e.g. an experiment designed to test the hypothesized effects of some treatment on some outcome), most social research involves both inductive and deductive reasoning processes at some time in the project.

We could assemble the two flow diagrams above into a single circular one that continually cycles from theories down to observations and back up again to theories. Even in the most constrained experiment, the researchers may observe patterns in the data that lead them to develop new theories.
In short the difference of the Qualitative and Quantitative approaches can be summed up as follows:

QUALITATIVE .................................QUANTITATIVE

‘Complex' rich data.............................. 'Simple' numeric data
Meaning .................................................Measurement

Understanding ......................................Explanation
Interpretation .......................................Prediction
Contextual account ...............................Generalisable account
Purposive/representative, .. ..................Representative,
perspective sample ....................., ...........population sample

Exploratory ............................................Hypothesis-testing
Accepts subjectivity ..............................Claims Objectivity
Open System (ecological validity) .......(experimental control)




A high quality research is characterised by:

1. It is based on the works of others - providing a basis for what and how you might conduct your own.

2. It can be replicated. - produces the same results when replicated, and can serve as a basis for same research in the same area.

3. For Quantitative research, it is generalizable to other setting. - i.e. the result would probably stand up (generalizable) in a different, but related setting. However, a Qualitative is not intended to be generalizable but their finding is only applicable to that specific case study alone. These two distinct differences have to be made very very clear to all researchers.

5. It is based on some logical rational and tied to theory -- No research question ideas stands alone but is more often tied to some guiding theories.

5. It is Doable - it is feasibly done and can be answered in a timely fashion.

6. It generates new questions or is cyclical in nature. - provides the foundation for research question that will be asked again tomorrow.

7. It is incremental. - no research stands alone, instead they stand on the shoulder of others, and contribution takes place in small, easily defined chunks.

8. It is an apolitical activity that should be undertaken for betterment of society. - e.g. Finding a vaccine for AIDS, and is independent of one's personal or political view, but of the truth.


Continuation of the article to come in next episode… please regularly visit this site.

As an indicator to show to me that this site is ever visited and read at all, please do post your comments to my articles. I truely need yourhonest feedback to improve.

It will be seen queer for me to be rambling alone to the brick walls for the past three months and not knowing if it is worth my time doing it. Sometime, I do contemplate on just closing this site for good and thinking of converting it into a book instead.

Chao....

A new chapter....... PART 8

..... AND THE SWEATS BEGINS.

Now that the daunting and nerve-wrecking proposal defense session is over and through, this does not mean that you can already start resting on your laurel. On the contrary, your serious journey has just begun. The proposal defense session you had was intended to get you anchored on some kind of footing, but it is still far far away from being perfect. The proposal you submit is not truly foolproof yet, honestly you still needs to iron out the rough edges and fine tune it further in more detail with your appointed supervisor/s later. Catch, chase or hunt after your supervisor ASAP. You have to make the initiative, rather than waiting for them to come after you because they have many other important things to do than to worry about you.

Although you did mentioned qualitative or quantitative methods during your proposal defense, have you actually sorted out exactly who will be your sampling, and can you provide the justification for why you chose them as your sample? Do you know exactly how big a sampling you will need for your data to be really valid or representative? How do you ensure that the test instrument developed for your study is unbiased and guarantees randomness? How do you design your interview or survey questions to ensure you can get they right data needed to support your hypothesis? And most critical of all is that, have you sorted out how the data will be analyzed?

Most of the answers to the above questions have been explained clearly in many research methodology books that can be obtained in the University library, or at least, try and get hold of a copy of Dr. Sulaiman Samsuri's book on Research Methodology as a starter. Never leave this vital issue unattended until the last minute because this is the sole pillar to your research. This will be your examiner's first line of attack during your Viva Voce.

Start reading and visiting the University library ASAP and start surfing the Internet immediately. Because our memory span is very sort-lived, it is extremely important for you to record immediately the content of what you read into writing, even a bit at a time. At this early stage, worry not about the grammar or the language yet, but to keep constantly writing. Write in Malay if it helps, but make sure to run spell checking on your document, after all Bill Gates has already provided such functionality in his MSWords word processor. There is also built in grammar-checker and Thesaurus for you to use. It could be just in mere point forms, or a simple mind-mapping diagram, or a sketch, just record it to your hard disk or into your logbook. Although it might seem rubbish now, or not quite relevant... do not make judgment yet, just keep filling it into the rubbish dump. Believe me; you'd see the connection and relevance many many months later.

Open a specific folder in your hard disk for this purpose called Research. As a precaution against virus attack or corrupt of your hard disk data, regularly burn all the files to CD-ROM as a backup, and file the printed hardcopy into organized cataloging. This is something extremely valuable, which once corrupted, cannot be replaced ever again.

Your first immediate task now is to rewrite your earlier Research Proposal paper again into a full fledge pages complete with citations, for your Thesis Chapter 1 and hand it to your supervisor for reading and corrections so that both of you are set on the same path together.

Defending your mission ..... Part 7

Preparing for a solid line of defense

Your Research Proposal Defense Session at the end of the first semester will be the determinant factor to your Master's Degree Research initiative at the University. Whatever method you use for your specific study will be dictated by the title that you choose. .... which could be either historical, qualitative, quantitative, experiment, or practice-based research and so on. Maybe, your specific research might require the deployment of a multi-research method approach. This will be best approved and advised by the Research Committee during your Research Proposal Presentation or by your supervisors later on. Although the Proposal session itself might sound very intimidating and harsh, the sole intention of the Research Proposal Presentation is to ensure that all candidates has a purposeful plan-of-action to work with for the next three semesters of their study and not to still stay aimlessly and lost. We do not want you to waste your time and money, nor your supervisor's time. Honestly, all you seniors colleague will agree with me when I say that the 18 months is really too short for comfort.

What the Committee will also be looking for will be to ensure that your research proposal also relates to the specialization discipline that you register with University’s Graduate Institute. If you register for the Design Technology Cluster (AD774), your research should end up with a product, not with a document on Design History (an AD771 – Art History & Cultural Management cluster) or a research proposal on Design Education (already the domain of the University’s Education Faculty). A Fashion designer enrolled with AD744 programme should not end up researching on developing an Interactive CD project (and AD773 – Vis. Comm. & New Media domain). This must be very clear to all students.

A solid methodology design is the key to the success of any research. The first line of attack by your examiner during any Viva Voce defense session later on at the final year of your study will be on how foolproof is the methodology adopted in your research. If the methodology design itself is already shaky and full of loopholes with potentials of data being manipulated or evidence of potential biasness, then for all intent and purpose, you can forget and kiss the Finding and Recommendation chapter of your thesis goodbye. The whole of your research effort will just be rejected and gone to waste. I’m sure you wouldn’t want your bad thesis to be a laughing stock, when being referred to on the shelf of the University Library by the future generation. Neither will your supervisor want to put his academic integrity and credibility on line, no way…

You are required to define clearly what method you will be using to gather your data collection and eventually know how it will be analyzed in order to support or disapprove your earlier research hypothesis. Determining who the target audience and how many will be sufficient for your study sampling is extremely critical because that will dictate the reliability of your findings. Knowing your research target audience at the onset of the research also helps establishes beforehand with whom you will validate your finding at the end of your study.

If you chose instead to adopt your own personal research method for your thesis, then you are opening yourself to grave danger of inviting challenges from the readers/ examiner into questioning your authority in coming up with such new method, especially when you are still a first time novice researcher. To be safe, it is highly recommended that you quote or cite from a solid grounded-theory or established methodology that is appropriate to your title, methodology already written by established authors or used in many other successful thesis.

In short, there is no short cut to doing your research proposal paper but to READ, READ and READ. Research is a systematic and controlled activity that conforms to an established set of rule and guidelines as practiced globally for many years by academicians and researchers. Gone were the days of waiting for INSPIRATION or "ILHAM" to appear before you can proceed with your research, or waiting with the hope that DISCOVERY BY CHANCE will occur through scribbling and doodling. Wipe that away from your thoughts for now, because those were the domains and territory of artists/designers, not of the researcher's. In research you can only guess about the answer, but the method of finding the answer in itself cannot be subjected to guesswork as well. It must be determined clearly, right from the onset of the study.

To understand more about research methodology, visit the library and read some of the thesis done by past graduates or surf the web for examples of research journals.

Wishing you success in your Research Proposal Defense. Good Luck

Wroom... shifting into high gear - Part 6

SHIFTING INTO HIGH GEAR

Every beginner researcher will feel as if a huge burden is placed on their shoulder when forced to make a commitment in allocating some time into their daily schedule to concentrate on their study. It will be a significant lifestyle transformation, from being a creative person into becoming a serious researcher, while at the same time may also have to function as a career person. Also, for the first time in the student's education journey where they are expected to be responsible for their own study direction and to set their own study pace. Students now cannot pass the blame solely on their supervisor because the supervisor’s task is only just to guide and not meant to be chasing after them like that of their undergraduate days. At postgraduate study, the students are actually the one who is doing the research, not their supervisor. Postgraduate students are expected to show their readiness and ability to work independently. The longer they procrastinate, the more anxiety they will have to bear when the dateline comes closer. The supervisor has nothing to loose, but the students will have a lot to regret

Loving to do your research do not come at the flick of an eye, it has to be nurtured, be given a conducive environment and showing caring support (if you also have a family) for it to bloom. You just have to be determined enough to put aside only two hours a day without fail out of 24 hours a day, (a mere 8.3% in a day) to do your reading and writing and that will not be too much to ask for. The hardship will only be felt during the first month, but with perseverance an strong determination, subsequently you will begin to accept it as part of everyday lifestyle which you will gladly look forward to, and something that other members of the family and friends will gladly learn to live with.

Granted that besides attending to our family, we (especially in this country) are also obliged to spend some time to socializing with neighbors and friends. But if we can allocate just a mere two hours a day, say from 11.00pm to 1.00am everyday without fail, that will already be good enough. For me, this is the most serene and ideal time for the study purpose. The first half hour is to get into the mood and recall what has been done yesterday, the next one hour of solid concentration to your reading, writing and project work, and the remaining time to plan what to continue for tomorrow. You won't even feel the pressure or stress anymore after a month. If repeated everyday without fail, God willing by the end of the month you should easily be able to write a full chapter of your thesis. Believe me; you'd loose momentum and thought continuity if you repeatedly continue missing that routine.

When you read a book at the library, before you even start copying down any useful quotation, make it a habit to begin with recording the author, year, article title, publisher and page number of your reference first. I can guarantee you that a week later you will never ever be able to locate it again because someone else may have borrowed it. Immediately at the end of that quotation, written in bold and within parenthesis, write down your immediate impression or comments that strongly appears in your mind about associations and the importance of that quotation to your thesis at that point in time. Or else, you will definitely end up with piles of useless quotations many many months latter because you forgot what it is for in the first place.

There is a standard citation procedure when quoting from any sources into your thesis, be it from a book, journals, and conference papers or even from the Internet. The detail can be downloaded from the DrKamy Shared Folder in the http://ma-fssr-uitm.intranets.com site for those registered members.

When embarking on your writing, even if you could put on paper a small manageable chunk of the key phrase at a time, say half a page a day, in a month you'll end up with 15 pages of content, and that's a mighty big achievement already. During my postgraduate days, before I forget my points, I tend to extensively use mindmapping charts to pen down any useful instant thoughts that arises as I write, and expand on it later as I get deeper and deeper into my writing. Good software today for this purpose is called Mindmanager by Mindjet Inc. and I highly recommend it to all students. I'd expect all the students under my direct supervision to e-mail and share with me at least a half page file every week for me to correct. If you don't write I cannot help you. As your supervisor, I am not a mind reader, and because I cannot read what you have done I wouldn’t be able to offer any advice or guidance. Most new researcher has that wrong notion that the chapter must be perfect before handing it over to their supervisor. WRONG! Experience has proven time and time again that I might have to wait for one semester for that perfect chapter to reach me, which by then my advice will already be too late for you to take action on.

Always write from a third person perspective, replacing the "I believed that the ........” to "The researcher believed that the ......". This is because during the whole research exercise of data compilation and data analysis you are functioning as an independent, unbiased observer and when you document it, you should be reporting again as an unbiased writer about that particular researcher's (technically you!) observations and findings.

Bear in mind that your final completed thesis will someday be referred to by future researchers from the Thesis Reference Section of the University Library. It may be read by a reader who is still a novice in that particular field of study. The advice is, do not write according to your current high level of understanding of the subject, because by now you should be the most well read person on that issue. Bring yourself down back to the level of a novice reader so that when he reads your thesis he would be able to make the connections. Your thesis will have to explain to him clearly right from the beginning about the scene setting, problem issue, problem statement of what you are about to accomplish, until the state-of-the-art information status. You also document about the preliminary hypothesis that you have adopted in this research, what you have designed to resolve the identified problem, the method adopted to determine how you can evaluate it success and finally you original findings and recommendations from this research.

Now that you are already shifting to high gear into writing your thesis, do not loose the momentum. As a further technique to assist in your research, write the key pointers on an index card and stick it in the wall of your study room. Use multi-coloured thread to connect the index cards whose content have linkages to each other so that you can everyday see the connections. Be prepared to swap position of the index cards and the thread links as you as you progress with your research. Only you can make that logical connections, redeployment and see the patterns emerging.

I again wish you the best in your thesis writing. Hope you have a happy and fruitful journey down the lonely and multi-faceted path of knowledge quest. Catch me up again in my next coming article.