METHODOLOGY
Exam preparation – Methodology – Premaster CIS – 2018/2019
Contents
Question types...............................................................................................................................................................................1
Question 1: Hypotheses, Variables and Methods.........................................................................................................................2
Question 2: Quantitative methods................................................................................................................................................3
Question 2: Qualitative Methods..................................................................................................................................................6
Questions 2-3-4: Sampling.........................................................................................................................................................11
Questions 2-3-4: Reliability and Validity...................................................................................................................................12
Questions 2-3-4: Ethics...............................................................................................................................................................13
Question types
1. One question will be short description of a study and its hypothesis/hypotheses in which you have to identify the
variables. This question is worth 15 points.
2. The second question will be a research question for which you have to choose the most appropriate method by
discussing advantages and disadvantages of two different methods. We expect you to describe two different
research methods (i.e. not ‘unstructured interview’ and ‘structured interview’). Your description contains
information about the ‘who, what, and how’. Your evaluation and choice should include aspects of reliability,
validity, potential ethical issues, and feasibility. This question is worth 30 points.
3. In the third question you will be presented with a research question and choice of method. Your task is to describe
how you would conduct the study, taking into account everything you know about what is important to make this
particular method work. Your answer should not be about this method in general but clearly applied to the
particular case that is presented. This question is worth 20 points.
4. The forth question will be a short description of a study and you are asked to identify aspects of the study and to
evaluate this study. This question is worth 35 points.
a. Type of method used
b. Identify the independent, dependent, mediating, moderating variables in this study
c. Evaluate the reliability and validity of this study.
d. Evaluate this study based on ethical aspects
, Question 1: Hypotheses, Variables and Methods
Research questions
Open-ended Ask whether there is a relationship between variables
Closed-ended Focus on the direction of the relationship between variables
Hypotheses
One-tailed Hypotheses Specify that there is a relationship between variables and predict the nature of that
relationship (correlation)
Two-tailed hypotheses Indicate that there is a relationship between variables but do not specify the nature
(causation)
Null Hypotheses A null hypothesis indicated that there is no relationship between variables.
Variables
Independent The variable that is the cause of something. Usually this variable get manipulated to
see its effects. The independent variable can also be observed (gender, age etc.) and
has usually 2 or 3 levels.
Dependent The variable where the effect of the independent variable gets measured.
Could there be a third variable that explains the relationship between two variables
Moderator Effect of IV on DV depends on the level of the moderating variable, Moderator only
influences the strength of the effect (gender, age, education)
Mediator In this case, the effect of IV on DV is indirect. The IV has an effect on the
mediating variable, which in turn has an effect on the DV. Mediation is an
explanatory variable and may be partial or complete.
Interaction When you cannot state what the effect of one independent variable on the dependent
variable is without mentioning the other independent variable
Types of variables
Discrete variables Nominal There are more than two categories
Ordinal Categories have a logical order, allow rank ordering
Binary There are only two possible categories (not specified in book)
Continuous variables Interval Equal intervals on the variable represent equal differences in the property being
measured, allow statistical calculations (Likert scale & Semantic differential
scale).
Ratio Ratios of scores on scale must make sense, and contain a true zero that captures
the absence of an attribute (like weight, height and age)
Types of methods
Qualitative methods Look to understand phenomena as seen through the eyes of their research
participants.
Quantitative methods Look for relationships among phenomena
Methods Specified
Qualitative Interview The process of asking questions of a respondent, usually face to face or by
methods phone or video, to elicit information the researcher is interested in
Focus group Small group of people brought together to discuss a topic of interest to the
researcher
Observational A study based on observation of behaviors, is not as in-depth as
ethnography
Ethnographic method The study of human behaviour typically with emphasis on description
Quantitative Experiment Research design based on the technique of manipulating one ore more
methods variables in the hopes of observing an effect.
Survey A method in which predetermined, formatted questions are distributed to a
relatively large numbers of people. Typically, respondents, take survey on
their phone, via computer, e-mail or website.
Content analysis A quantitative, systematic technique for describing the manifest content of
communications
Triangulation: Mixed design which means combining methods
