On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
distinguish approaches to research and evaluation in information systems and identify the complexities and challenges involved in social research
describe various research designs (including citation analysis and meta-analysis, and be able to decide which designs would be appropriate for particular research questions
identify different approaches to evaluation and relate these to planning evaluation projects
explain the principles of research design
outline the principles of data collection in practice
explain why consideration of ethics is so important
explain key terms in quantitative data analysis
analyse quantitative data using SPSS to enter data, define variables, run parametric and non-parametric tests, print and interpret results
prepare and enter data into a qualitative data analysis software package, code and memo and demonstrate various methods of analysing the data for later display and discussion
apply the study of research and evaluation methods to the critical appraisal, or review, of information systems research articles.
Brief description
This module is designed to give you a flavour of doing research, as well as helping you critique other people?s research. Some of the guidelines provided should help you in designing a project of your own. The module introduces the concepts and practice of research and evaluation, including the use of data analysis software, to help you understand how the results on the pages of a research article, or research report, might have been obtained. Unit 1 introduces various philosophical approaches to research, and contrasts quantitative and qualitative approaches to research design. Various types of research design (e.g. experimental, cross-sectional, longitudinal, case study, meta-analysis) are discussed in the Unit 2. For information systems, evaluation is important, and various evaluation philosophies and approaches are considered in Unit 3. Unit 4 deals with the principles of research design (comparison, standardisation, measurement, validity, sampling). Unit 5 deals with methods for collecting data, and Unit 6 covers some of the ethical issues to be considered when planning and conducting research. Unit 7 provides guidance on using SPSS, and Unit 8 provides guidance on using qualitative data analysis software (NVIVO), for the tutorials on the CD enclosed in the pack. Unit 9 concludes the module by discussing how to critique research articles.
Reading Lists
Books ** Essential Reading
Brace, N, Kemp, R and Snelgar, R (2000) SPSS for psychologists: a guide to data analysis using SPSS for Windows
Basingstoke : Palgrave Publishers Ltd
Brynman, A (2001) Social research methods
Oxford : Oxford University Press
Hart, C. (1998) Doing a literature review
London: Sage Publications
In addition, the resource pack for the module contains essential readings for each Unit, and the module conference area contains Web site links.