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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