INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH IN SPORT
AND LEISURE (RSL360S)
MR U RAMNATH
LECTURE 11: RESEARCH DESIGNS –
METHODS TO COLLECT DATA AND
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS (PART 3)
LECTURE OBJECTIVES
-Introduce the concept of triangulation as a
means of strengthening the validity of
your research.
-Outline
some
of
the
ethical
considerations to be made when
considering your research design.
METHODS TO COLLECT DATA
• The choice of appropriate methods becomes the final consideration of this part of the research process.
Methods are, simply, techniques by which you collect your data.
• The key methods you may encounter include:
• Questionnaires
• Interviews
• Observation
• Participant observation
• Content analysis
The choice of method is obviously important to the success of your project. By this stage in your research process, you should
have an idea of the type of data you need to collect, this being qualitative, quantitative or a combination of the two. Finally, you
should also have an idea of your likely sample in terms of who you would like to collect data from, and the desired sample size.
METHODS TO COLLECT DATA
• There is no one set way to do this, however, the following questions can guide your
approach:
1.
Am I looking to collect quantitative data? If so, then if those data can be directly observed, consider the
use of observation as your data collect method. If not, then consider the use of a questionnaire.
2.
Am I looking to collect qualitative data? If you are looking to explore the thoughts, feelings, emotions and
perceptions of others, then consider the use of in-depth interviews. If you are looking to explore your
own subjective experiences, then use participant observation.
3.
Am I looking to strengthen the validity of the findings through triangulation? If so, consider using more
than one method.
TRIANGULATION
• Triangulation in its most common form refers to the use of multiple means of data collection to explore a
single phenomenon.
• Consider the following example: You may be interested in how pupils on a physical education course react
to a change in the nature of their course of study. You may collect data using a questionnaire, which suggests
that pupils are not overly concerned provided they can comprehend the rationale behind the change.
• Now imagine that you have followed up this initial data collection by using an additional method, for
example by interviewing a sample of pupils. These pupils also suggest that they are not overly concerned,
again provided the rationale behind the change is clear to them. Now your confidence in your findings
should be increased, as you have data from different methods which allows you to draw the same
conclusions.
TRIANGULATION
A number of types of triangulation can be identified:
1.
Data – this may refer to the use of different data sources, for
example, interviews and questionnaires. Alternatively it may
involve using different informants, such as interviews with pupils
and teachers, or informants with the same sample, but at different
times.
2.
Investigator – different researchers may collect, and draw their
own conclusions from the same data.
3.
Theoretical – the same situation may be examined using different
theoretical viewpoints. Generally, this form of triangulation will be
beyond the scope of most student research projects.
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN RESEARCH
DESIGN
• Whatever research design, sampling techniques and choice of
methods you choose to adopt, you will also need to
consider ethical issues associated with research, that is the
question of whether your research design is socially and
morally acceptable.
• Certain research designs (for example experimental designs)
often raise important ethical questions that need to be
addressed, and you should do this before commencing any
data collection from your sample. THIS IS AN AREA WHERE
IT IS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY, especially if the
research involves sensitive or vulnerable groups, such as
children.
• In most cases, your research proposal will be scrutinised by
an ethics committee – you will also have to accept their
decision if the research proposal is considered unethical in
any way.
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN RESEARCH
DESIGN
Voluntary participation, involuntary participation and informed consent
• The obvious way to overcome ethical issues in terms of who participates may be that of asking volunteers to take part.
Unfortunately, a voluntary sample is unlikely to be representative, and your sample is likely to be more highly educated,
more socially oriented, more interested of the subject matter than the population as a whole. If this is the case, it will
be difficult if not impossible for you to generalise your findings to the population.
• The best approach to take is that of informed consent. The sample should be chosen using an appropriate sampling
technique as described earlier. Each participant in the research should then be informed as to the nature of the study,
and the use of the data supplied before data is collected from them through the use of a participant information sheet,
which will then allow them to sign a consent form.
• It is essential that informed consent is not simply seen as a paper exercise, but that the participant is given, and
understands, all the necessary detail to allow them to make a fully informed decision to participate or not. Berg and
Latin (2008) refer to this as ‘valid consent’.
• In terms of the decision not to participate, it is also important that no undue pressure is put upon participants that
may make them feel obliged to take part.
• Subjects must also be given the right to withdraw from the study at any time, and be made aware of this.
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN RESEARCH
DESIGN
The Participant Information Sheet
You should always provide a participant information sheet so that participants are able to make a fully
informed decision about their participation in the research. The information sheet should give a summary of
the research project, clearly outlining the entire process in a clear and accessible manner.
The following list provides an idea of the main topics to be covered:
• Outline the nature and aims of the research
• Explain that participation is voluntary and that participants can withdraw at any time.
• Outline clearly the inclusion criteria, that is why they have been chosen
• Outline any risks, inconvenience or discomfort that could reasonably be expected to result from the study.
• Describe the benefits for participants, and for the wider society as whole.
• Explain how privacy and confidentiality would be maintained
• Provide full contact details of the researcher, and their institutional affiliation.
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN RESEARCH
DESIGN
Language and layout of the Participant Information Sheet:
• Use clear, non-technical language.
• Use appropriate language for the target audience. For example, consider the different ways needed to
communicate to primary school children as opposed to their teachers, or people with expertise in the area
of study as opposed to people with no such expertise.
• Divide the text into paragraphs for ease of reading.
• Consider using sub-headings for clarity.
• Make sure the font is legible.
• Have someone else read through your information sheet before it is circulated.
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN RESEARCH
DESIGN
Confidentiality
• All participants should be informed as to who will
have access to research data. Ideally it should be as
few people as possible, and only those that actually
need access to such data.
• A further recommendation is to ensure that
individuals
cannot
be
identified
by
using
pseudonyms, or assigning numbers to individuals in
the data set (but if you keep a key that allows real
names to be linked to numbers, this must be kept in
an entirely separate location.
ASSESSING THE ETHICS OF YOUR RESEARCH
Carrying out research into social phenomena such as sport is difficult to do without coming across some
ethical issues. Make sure you read the code of conduct laid down by your specific discipline.
Such codes generally include the following key requirements:
• Risks to participants are outweighed by the benefits of the research programme.
• Participation should be voluntary.
• Risks to participants are eliminated or minimised as far as possible, including psychological and social, as well as physical
risks.
• All information should be treated as strictly confidential.
• The participants have the right to be informed of the purpose of the study.
• Participants may withdraw at any time.
ASSESSING THE ETHICS OF YOUR RESEARCH
• It is important to remember that, in research, ethical considerations are an aspect of the
research process that you must get right, without exception, as they ensure the safety
and well-being of others.
• You should ensure that you gain ethical approval from the relevant committee at your
institution before any research program commences.
• Ethics and methodology are closely related, and careful consideration of ethical issues can
only ever improve the overall research design, and that’s how you should approach
research ethics.
ANY QUESTIONS?