First section: Introduction
- focus of your research
- research aims/objectives
- how it fits or aligns to your research questions
- structure of this chapter
- 2-3 paragraphs briefly
Second section: Research Design (RD)
- detailed seven (7) research design choices to fulfill your research aims/objectives and answer your research question(s)
1st RD choice: Research Philosophy or Research Paradigm
- beliefs regarding how data about a phenomenon should be collected/gathered, analyzed and used.
- core of your study that undergird and has substantial impact to all subsequent research design choices in a cohesive presentation.
- it is the start of explaining to the readers why you selected your specific research philosophy that will introduce the succeeding RD choices.
- it is actually your approach, model, or framework from which to conduct research, which in turn informs your research methodology.
Three (3) Pillars of the 1st RD choice:
- Ontology addresses the question, “What is reality?” It’s the study of being. This pillar is about finding out what you seek to research. What do you aim to examine?
- Epistemology is the study of knowledge. It asks, “How is knowledge gathered and from what sources?”
- Methodology involves the system in which you choose to investigate, measure, and analyze your research’s aims and objectives. It answers the “how” questions.
1st RD choice that is most suitable for Public Administration research is “Critical Theory Research Paradigm/Philosophy”
- The critical theory paradigm asserts that social science can never be 100% objective or value-free. This paradigm is focused on enacting social change through scientific investigation. Critical theorists question knowledge and procedures and acknowledge how power is used (or abused) in the phenomena or systems they’re investigating. Researchers using this paradigm are more often than not aiming to create a more just, egalitarian society in which individual and collective freedoms are secure. Both quantitative and qualitative methods or mixed methods can be used within this paradigm.
2nd RD choice: Research Types
- Deductive research is most suitable to Public Administration research as it conforms to established theory or framework such as Classics (Bureaucratic Theory, Scientific Management Theory, or Administrative Management Theory), HR & Behavioral theories (Human Relations Theory or Decision-Making Theory), Modern theories (Systems Theory, Public Choice Theory, or New Public Management), and Contemporary theories (Governance Theory or Digital Era Governance).
- Mixed method is most suitable for Public Administration research. It is a research type that combines and integrates qualitative and quantitative research methods in a single research study. It involves collecting and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data to understand a phenomenon better and answer the research questions. Mixed methods research has three classifications, (1) convergent mixed method; (2) Explanatory sequential mixed method; and (3) Exploratory sequential mixed method.
—1. In convergent mixed method, you collect quantitative and qualitative data simultaneously and analyze them separately. After the analysis, you then combine or compare the results to draw a conclusion. Convergent design is used when there is a need to compare statistical results with qualitative findings to understand the research problem better. Researchers also use this mixed qualitative and quantitative research methods design to validate and illustrate qualitative findings with quantitative results.
—2. In explanatory sequential mixed method, you first collect and analyze quantitative data and then follow the results up with a qualitative phase. In this approach, researchers implement the qualitative phase to explain initial quantitative results in more depth.
—3. In exploratory sequential mixed method, you collect and analyze qualitative data and then follow up your results with a quantitative phase. This mixed qualitative and quantitative research methods design aims to explore a phenomenon before deciding which variables you need to measure quantitatively.
3rd RD choice: Research Strategies
Observations: recording detailed field notes.
Interviews: personally asking people questions in one-on-one conversations.
Focus groups: generating discussion among a group of people.
Surveys: distributing questionnaires with open-ended questions.
Action research: systematic research to solve everyday problems.
Case study: in-depth examination of a single subject.
Ethnography: studying cultural practices and behaviors.
Cross-sectional studies: analyzing data from a specific point in time.
- most suitable for Public Administration thesis/dissertation is Action Research strategy in order to fully encapsulate your research aims/objectives and research questions.
4th RD choice: Research Time Horizon
- refers to the time frame within which the research is conducted.
- two main classifications are:
(1) Cross-sectional: Data is collected at a single point in time.
(2) Longitudinal: Data is collected over multiple time points from the same participants to observe changes over time. - The choice of time horizon depends on the research aims/objectives and the type of investigation being conducted.
5th RD choice: Research Locale
- research locale refers to the specific geographical location or setting where a study is conducted. The area is chosen based on your research objectives, questions and requirements of the research, as it provides the necessary context and environment for gathering relevant data.
- this research locale is carefully chosen based on the study’s objectives, the population of interest, and the relevance of the location to the research questions. Selecting an appropriate research locale is crucial as it impacts the validity and generalizability of the study’s findings.
6th RD choice: Data Collection Methods
- Data collection is the systematic process of gathering information from various sources to answer research questions, test hypotheses, and evaluate outcomes. It involves selecting the right method to obtain relevant data for a specific study. Proper data collection is essential for the credibility and validity of research findings.
- Two types of Data:
(1) Primary Data: Data collected directly by the researcher for the first time, tailored specifically to the study’s objectives. Examples include surveys, interviews, and experiments.
(2) Secondary Data: Data collected previously by other researchers or institutions, used for purposes different from its original collection. Examples include government reports, historical records, and previously published studies.
- Quantitative data collection methods: surveys, lab equipment data, analytics data/software, existing data sets or online data collection
- Qualitative data collection methods: interviews, focus groups, or participant observations
Selecting a data collection method depends on several factors:
Research Objectives: Whether the study aims to test hypotheses, describe a phenomenon, or explore a topic in depth.
Type of Data: Quantitative or qualitative, depending on the data’s nature and how it will be analyzed.
Resources and Budget: The availability of time, finances, and resources.
Population and Sample Size: Whether the study involves a large population or a specific, smaller group.
Reliability and Validity: Ensuring that the chosen method produces accurate, consistent, and valid data.
7th RD choice: Data Analysis Techniques
- Qualitative Analysis Techniques: content analysis, thematic analysis, discourse analysis
- Quantitative Analysis Techniques: descriptive statistics analysis (mean, median, mode, or standard deviation), inferential statistical techniques (correlation analysis or regression analysis)
Third section: The Methodological Limitations
- lack time, budget constraints, or analysis method limitations
Last section: Concluding Summary
- summarize key take aways from previous sections and don’t add any new information.
- 2-3 paragraphs briefly
Nassef Manabilang Adiong, PhD 