Theory
It was very interesting to listen to a person whose article you have read two days ago, and understand some points that were left unclear during the reading.
Dr. Martha Cleveland-Innes told us about quantitative methods and her actual practice of using them in her research of online and distance learning. She explained how she used quantitative methods in her analysis of emotions and their impact on the learning process. She also pointed out that online education is more effective than "offline" learning, but, according to her, the most useful type of studying is a blended environment that mixes both of face to face and online activities.
Personally, I still find it impossible to research emotions using such criterias as gender and age, as it is a deeply psychological question, but now I understand how this research process works.
On example of this research, among others, Martha gave us a good picture of situations when we should use a quantitative method, and what is the difference between using a quantitative and a qualitative method.
She explained how to do sampling and made the "random sampling" principle very clear. The more random is data, the more chances to increase an experimental noise, which leads to new results of research, if correct analysis and understanding of data were applied, of course.
Mixed method of research is more demanding, but makes it possible combine data from different sources, and gives more precise results at the end, still it is difficult to analyse all the data, make correct questions and hypothesis.
It was nice to have a dialogue with a lecturer, and get a positive response, discussing such points as what questions should be asked when deciding what method to use, or logical principles of analysis, deduction or induction.
Dr. Martha Cleveland-Innes recommended us the book, "The Handbook of Emergent Technologies in Social Research" by Sharlene Nagy Hesse-Biber, which I find really helpful. It is very useful for our group project already, as it discusses the benefits and misuses of new technologies usage in the research process.
Martha shared her thoughts on this topic: she is sure that we should use modern technologies in order to get data, and I am totally agree, so it is very good to be able to see now also the disadvantages of this method of data gathering.
Practice
It was very interesting to listen to a person whose article you have read two days ago, and understand some points that were left unclear during the reading.
Dr. Martha Cleveland-Innes told us about quantitative methods and her actual practice of using them in her research of online and distance learning. She explained how she used quantitative methods in her analysis of emotions and their impact on the learning process. She also pointed out that online education is more effective than "offline" learning, but, according to her, the most useful type of studying is a blended environment that mixes both of face to face and online activities.
Personally, I still find it impossible to research emotions using such criterias as gender and age, as it is a deeply psychological question, but now I understand how this research process works.
On example of this research, among others, Martha gave us a good picture of situations when we should use a quantitative method, and what is the difference between using a quantitative and a qualitative method.
She explained how to do sampling and made the "random sampling" principle very clear. The more random is data, the more chances to increase an experimental noise, which leads to new results of research, if correct analysis and understanding of data were applied, of course.
Mixed method of research is more demanding, but makes it possible combine data from different sources, and gives more precise results at the end, still it is difficult to analyse all the data, make correct questions and hypothesis.
It was nice to have a dialogue with a lecturer, and get a positive response, discussing such points as what questions should be asked when deciding what method to use, or logical principles of analysis, deduction or induction.
Dr. Martha Cleveland-Innes recommended us the book, "The Handbook of Emergent Technologies in Social Research" by Sharlene Nagy Hesse-Biber, which I find really helpful. It is very useful for our group project already, as it discusses the benefits and misuses of new technologies usage in the research process.
Martha shared her thoughts on this topic: she is sure that we should use modern technologies in order to get data, and I am totally agree, so it is very good to be able to see now also the disadvantages of this method of data gathering.
Practice
Ester Appelgren introduced us to SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) program, which is very useful for the survey analysis, and helps to visualize quantitative research methods. Previously I used Excel only, so the differences are obvious.
During the lab I built one multiple response variable, using the data on the subject of radio listening, another one was a split variable, differentiated between gender and age groups.
It was really easy to get the results (when SPSS was working, which was - not always) and to analyse this variable data in a graphic/table view. For example, I learned that podcast radio in Sweden is mostly popular among male teenagers - SPSS made this data literally illustrative.
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