Activity : More research methods

Listed below are the questions we would like to ask about the way the research was carried out. These questions are more fully explained and then they are related to some more general questions which you might ask about any report of experimental research.

Question 1 : How many children were asked?
In general, questions need to be asked about the Sample Size.

Question 2 : Were they all at the same school/did they know each other?
This is important because if they were at the same school, the results may reflect the school OR the children might have influenced one another.

In general, questions need to be asked about the Representativeness of the Sample.

Question 3 : How was the question phrased?
This is important, for example were they asked ‘would you prefer to go to school or watch TV?’

In general, questions need to be asked about questionnaire design.

Question 4 : How was the questionnaire administrated?
This is important because if the children were not asked in private, their answers might have been influenced by peer pressure.

In general, questions need to be asked about sources of bias.

So you don't have to be an expert in research methods to ask a few basic questions. It might be assumed, however, that research reports which have been accepted for publication will meet the appropriate standards, but this is not foolproof. There have been reported cases of fraudulent research which has successfully fooled the research establishment.

Now close this window and return to the tutorial.

Adapted from the Open University's SAFARI tutorial by Cardiff University, with permission from the Open University Library.