A hypothesis starts out with a researcher having initial hunches with he/she attempting to answer a specific research question. Watson (n.d. cited Bryman and Bell, 2011) and Newby, 2010 defines a hypothesis as a testing of the possible relationship between two or more variables in […]

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Factor analysis and cluster analysis both function as powerful multivariate statistic tools that assist the researchers to explore the homogeneity and relationships among variables or subjects (Gorman and Primavera, 2012). Yet they are distinctly different. Only if one understands one’s driver for analysis, as well […]

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A hypothesis, defined by Bryman and Bell (2011) is “an informed speculation, which is set up to be tested, about the possible relationship between two more variables”. It is frequently deduced from the theory and is tested (Ibid). When a hypothesis is suggested, statistics are […]

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Researchers can design a study to characterize a single instance of a phenomenon or to make an inference about a phenomenon in a population via a sample. Single-subject (or case) studies are justifiable when sampling is difficult or inappropriate. Psychosocial cases aimed at solving a […]

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Implicit assumptions guide choice of qualitative method: how and why do numerous and distinct methods demonstrate a preference over others. By Vivian Yang Introduction Qualitative research, as opposed to the other paradigms are commonly seen as a naturalistic and interpretative approach that emphasises on words […]

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Research design can be thought of as the structure of research — it is the “glue” that holds all of the elements in a research project together. We often describe a design using a concise notation that enables us to summarize a complex design structure […]

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A systematic literature review is a review where all procedures are documented – the research audit trail of databases and search terms used is made explicit. Systematic reviews were originally developed in the field of medicine, through the Cochrane Collaboration (Hemsley-Brown and Oplatka, 2006). Its […]

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Criticisms of the lack of objectivity and generalizability are often associated with the qualitative method (Phillimore and Goodson, 2004). Extracting and analysing qualitative data is not a straightforward process due to the nature of the method. Furthermore, unlike the analysis of quantitative approach, there is […]

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Qualitative data analysis, which will be referred in the latter contexts as QDA, is defined by Lewins et al. (2010) as a range of processes “whereby we move from the qualitative data that have been collected into some form of explanation, understanding or interpretation” of […]

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Presumptions and premises underpinning decisions during initial qualitative research design; philosophical considerations projected onto sample or vice versa? By Euodia Ong Bryman (2012, p.46) defines research design as a “framework for the collection and analysis of data”. In addition, Saunders et al. (2009) recognises research […]

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