Research Design. The data generated by excavations at the prehistoric site(s) will be used to examine at least three topics: (1) chronology; (2) technology; and (3) subsistence practices. Insights into changing patterns of community organization may also be granted, as may insights into changes in social organization. The data recovered will then be compared to data from other regional sites.
Research Design. Since I tried to explore both teachers’ perceptions of teacher autonomy and to find any existing statistical correlations between teacher autonomy and job satisfaction and motivation, I decided to choose mixed methods approach in my study. I analyzed the qualitative and quantitative data separately, and compared the results to each other. This approach is known as convergent parallel mixed methods design (Xxxxxxxx, 2013). According to Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxxxx (2011, such an approach is considered to be a strong one because (a) words and narratives contribute meaning to numerical data, and numbers add precision to words and narratives; (b) a wider range of research questions can be covered; (c) a more reliable conclusion can be drawn; (d) cross validation of data can provide higher validity; (e) more understanding can be obtained rather than when single method is used; (f) the results have a better capability of being generalized (as cited in Xxxxxx, 2013, p.115). The qualitative data was gathered using interviews, the most common data collection method in qualitative research design (Jamshed, 2014). Due to the nature of my study, I used semi-structured interviews with pre-set open-ended questions. Even though it might lead to some discomfort between the interviewer and the respondent, during such interviews audio-recording is usually preferred since handwritten notes are considered “unreliable” and the recording allows the interviewer to focus more on the conversation rather than taking notes (Xxxxxxx, 2014). However, I had no issues with getting permission to record the interviews, and signed consent forms were obtained from each participant. The basis for the questions was taken from a study on ‘scope for decision-making’ by Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx (1970), who did a study on how teachers in different districts perceived their freedom to make decisions. As for the quantitative part, the data obtained helped me explore whether there are any substantial links between teacher autonomy and job satisfaction and motivation. To collect the data I used a cross-sectional survey. Surveys allow researchers to “generalize from a sample to a population so that inferences can be made about some characteristic, attitude, or behavior of this population” (Xxxxxxxx, 2013). In my case, I attempted to make inferences about teacher autonomy and its link to job satisfaction and motivation. There are many ways to administer a survey: via telephone, on paper, personal interviews or mass ...
Research Design. Theories of foreign policy should be tested by empirical analysis. But why do case studies? According to Xxx (2003, 58), not only would ‘the demands of a case study burden [one’s] intellect, ego, and emotion far greater than those of any other research strategy’ due to non-routinized data collection procedure whereby there is a ‘continuous interaction between the theoretical issues being studied and the data being collected,’ but a case study would be the best research strategy to ask ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions over a set of contemporary events whereby the researcher has very little or no control (Xxx 2003, 9). The cases chosen should cut across several themes. The themes must encompass issues that are politicized, or belong to the political system (Falkemark 1982, 46). Or, as Xxxx puts it, an issue must be the object of conflicting preferences and of material importance (Falkemark 1982, 35). Employing such parameters, obvious cases would include nationally prominent issues involving the interests of many elements of society. These issues may include banal but strategically important issues for the country, or issues that could be regarded as a crisis. Recalling Xxxx’x strict test for determining the presence of a ruling elite, implementation thereof requires that a series of concrete cases where key decisions are made be examined (Xxxx 1958, 469). Hence, the dynamics of decisions must be analyzed. This step involves paying attention to the saliency of the elites, for saliency is extremely important in shaping organized and structured opinion, and subsequently, the elite perceptions of this opinion. While contents of attitudes and opinions tend to remain stable over time, saliency fluctuates considerably, influencing in turn the ‘perception of the content of opinion’ (Everts 2002, 48). Data for these selected cases shall be primarily obtained by personal interviews with members of the political elite groups (bureaucratic, members of parliament, military, and civil society comprising academic, religious, and interest groups, and media), specifically those who were involved with policy discussions or deliberations. The names of those interviewed are included in the Bibliography of this study. The purpose of the interviews was to obtain insight into the mind of the particular elites (Xxxxxxxx 2001, 94), individually or collectively, so that their attitudes and opinions are identified, and, ultimately, their policy preferences on the politicized foreign policy ...
Research Design. The research design adopted in this study is ex-post facto. To this end, the study made use of quantitative data and specified linear model to examine the relationship between Nigerian insurance sector development and Nigerian economic growth.
Research Design. This research aimed at providing an in depth understanding of the Xxxx Xxxxxxxx University strategic motive/s of forming strategic alliances with middle level colleges and the challenges encountered in the management of the alliances from the point of view of JKUAT. When selecting the case, the researcher used information- oriented sampling as opposed to random sampling. A case study research design was found to be the most ideal as it would allow in depth examination of the problem and also because the study is of qualitative nature. This would help the researcher to find the underlying principles as it would provide a systematic way of looking at the event /s, collecting data, analyzing information, and reporting results. It is said that case studies provides insight for problem solving, evaluation and strategy (Xxxxxx and Emory, 1996). This research design was used by Xxxxxxx (2002), Koigi (2002), Musyoki (2003) and Owour (2004) among others with good results.
Research Design. In the first chapter and throughout the previous pages, I have referred to the nascent state of the literature, both theoretical and empirical, on the development of institutional capacities. Unfortunately, the literature on irrigation bureaucracy reform is also inchoate. Prior work has generally been focused on singular case studies. Aside from Xxxxxxxxxx'x use of 29 case studies,69 a recent FAO report comparing 34 countries on IMT70, and Xxxxxxxx et al. comparison of 108 PIM projects,71 relatively little comparative work has been done in participatory management. And that which has been done seeks to evaluate the policy rather than investigate the politics behind PIM. The data available in this arena is poor.72 Because of this, my research design is meant to accomplish two major tasks. First, I seek to further develop the concepts of political vulnerability and bureaucratic fusion for application. Second, I set up the design to gather the data necessary to perform a test of my hypotheses. Reflecting these goals, I have chosen to conduct a comparative case study. This requires deep knowledge of the cases involved in order to identify indicators of my variables and evaluate my theory's validity through mapping the causal sequence of events that lead from vulnerability to institutions. I approach my hypotheses, at both the national and local level, through a 69 Xxxxxxxxxx 1997. 70 Xxxxxx-Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, and Xxxxx 2007. 71 Xxxxxxxx et al. 2011. 72 Both the Royal Irrigation Department of Thailand and the Public Works Department in Indonesia have poor information on xxxxxx'x groups and irrigation management. What data is available is subject to bias as it was collected by local officials in a relatively unstructured pattern. Author field notes, June-August 2009; September 2011. “structured focused comparison” based on Mill's methods.73 Along with these comparisons, I also use case-by-case process tracing, which will allow me to determine both causal sequence and whether or not political actors experienced the political pressures that I assert are important. I construct brief histories of each of my cases, paying special attention to instances in which changes occurred and the impetus behind those changes. This requires intensive use of primary sources, including interviews, project reports, news stories, and local records. I also employ secondary sources to supplement my research, drawn from local researcher's work on these issues. Many of my secondary ...
Research Design. This chapter will describe the methods used in this study. This chapter will present in paragraph 3.1what the case study is and justify why it chose for a case study. Furthermore, it will discuss the qualitative research design of this study and why this design fits best in this study. Paragraph 3.2 will discuss the data collection method (document analysis) and the types of data that were used in this study. Paragraph 3.3 will operationalize the concepts and present how the relevant documents were collected. Paragraph 3.4 will discuss the limitations of this study. This chapter will end with a summary of the research design.
Research Design. A process evaluation was used to monitor program implementation to understand the relationship between program elements and program outcomes. Process evaluations do not assess the impact or effectiveness of a program, but instead verify the contents and goals of the program and analyze whether the program is being implemented as designed. In order to evaluate the implementation of a program, four components of the program are analyzed: reach, dose, fidelity, and participant satisfaction. Reach is the, “proportion of the intended priority audience that participates in the intervention” (Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx, and Xxxxx 2005). Reach is measured through a combination of examining target audience, recruitment techniques and characteristics of participants. Dose is measured in terms of the, “amount or number of intended units of each intervention or component delivered by interventionists” and the extent, “to which participants actively engage with, interact with, are receptive to, and/or use materials or recommended resources” (Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx, and Xxxxx 2005). Fidelity examines the extent to which an intervention is implemented as planned and often involves comparing activities to the goals and objectives of a program. Finally, participant satisfaction looks at the proportion of participants who are content with the program activities and staff. This component analyzes feedback and surveys completed by program participants (Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx, and Xxxxx 2005). Together, these four components help to determine if a program is being implemented effectively. A process evaluation was chosen as the study design since many programs in the Food Security Initiative are still in the startDup phase and have not yet reached a stage where it is possible to study the hypothesized outcomes and impacts anticipated. More information about how food security programs are effectively developed and implemented is desired by many organizations wishing to mimic similar programs in different areas of the world. IRB approval was waived for this project given that it is an evaluation that is not meant to generalize findings to a broader population. Procedures To assess implementation of food security initiatives at the Clarkston Community Center the components of each program were identified. This was completed through the development of an impact pathway that shows how each output (food pantry, food coD operative, farmers market, community gardens, CSA) of the Food Security Initiative (FSI) ...
Research Design. A qualitative research design was selected to investigate the topic of the assessment practices of newly hired teachers in NIS. Thus, this section justified a rationale for a choice of the qualitative research design as a primary research method of this study. Xxxxxxxx (2014) stated that qualitative research design is appropriate when the researcher analyses data based on interpretive epistemology to understand the issues related to the research question. As a researcher, I wanted to explore factors which influence assessment practices of newly hired teachers from their personal perspectives and interpretation. Furthermore, qualitative research design investigates the issue and fosters researcher for a detailed and deep cognition of central phenomena (Xxxxxxxx, 2014). Thus, the collected data during interviews and observations let explore assessment practices of newly hired teachers, which is the central phenomenon of the present study. Moreover, Punch and Oancea (2014) stated that in qualitative research data collection is an inductive process which leads to specialization of specific themes. Thus, I started from gathering data based on details in responses of participants, which were categorized into specific themes for further discussion based on comparison with already existing theories related to the research theme. In compliance with the qualitative research design case study method was used to explore the issue on assessment practices of newly hired teachers. According to Xxxxx (1998) case study allows a researcher to investigate the definite situation in details. Consequently, within the case study method I can investigate what factors influence the challenges in assessment practices which newly hired teachers experience in the selected NIS school. As well as what opportunities they have due to implementation of new approaches to assessment. I intensively explored the details for reaching a deeper understanding of the case within the collection of data from participants’ experience which is more trustworthy (Xxxxxx & Xxxx, 2008, Xxxxxxxx, 2014; Yin, 2004). In addition, case study permitted an investigation of newly hired teachers’ perceptions, attitudes and concerns towards their assessment practices in NIS. Finally, case study is applied due to its rich explanatory nature which allowed me as for researcher to be flexible by using such methods of data collection as individual semi-structured interviews, focus group discussion and lesson observation...
Research Design. An archaeological research design for adversely affected properties eligible for the NRHP under 36 CFR Part 60.4 criteria (d) will be developed. The research design will specify and explain the following: • Where data recovery is determined by the BLM, through consultation with other Parties, to be appropriate mitigation response. Research questions to be explored through the data recovery efforts (taking into consideration that data recovery is an adverse effect). • Justification of the appropriateness of the chosen research questions. • Data needed to explore the questions posed. • Properties and portions of those properties to be further investigated. • Methods used to collect data needed to explore the research questions posed, where the adverse effect of data recovery is deemed the appropriate treatment. • Laboratory methods used in the examination of the physical material that is recovered. • Proposed disposition of the recovered materials and records. • The timing for the preparation and distribution of reports.
