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6

ethnography, grounded theory, narrative,

phenomenology and case study, as the

content of Biggam’s (2018) text demonstrates.

The approach taken in this book is that, for

undergraduate study, having a grasp of the

philosophical positions of positivism and

interpretivism and the differences between

quantitative and qualitative research will

equip students well for their studies. So, this

means that if your particular research methods

module includes other philosophical aspects as

highlighted earlier, or if you are studying

at postgraduate level, you will need to add

your own reflections on these aspects to your

journal entries.

In addition, some research terminology

is potentially confusing, especially the

terms ‘method’ and ‘methods’. These

particular terms are often used

interchangeably in published literature.

For the purpose of clarity in this book,

and in response to feedback from other

educators in higher education, they are

used in this way: the term ‘method’ in the

singular is used to refer to the choice of

approach to research, whether quantitative

or qualitative. The term ‘methods’ in the

plural is used to refer to more specific

techniques that researchers use to carry

out their studies, such as questionnaires,

interviews and observations.

A decision was also made not to use two

particular terms in relation to research. First, the

term ‘research objectives’, which usually refers

to the specific things that someone is trying to

achieve (or even answers they are trying to

find) by carrying out their study. In this book

the term ‘research questions’ is used because

in the social sciences research often involves

gaining insights and understandings rather than

specific outputs. Second, the term ‘research

strategy’ has also not been used. This is an

umbrella term that encompasses each aspect of

the design of your study; the focus in this book

is on each aspect of your research. However,

you will need to be strategic at all times in your

approach in order to succeed.

Outline of contents

The Research Journal is organised in two parts.

Part 1 has ten themes, each focusing on a

particular issue or area. These themes have short

pieces of relevant content, broken down into

subsections, with reflective activities to complete

to enable you to develop your critical thinking,

your ideas and your work. They are designed

The Research Journal

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