Question

Methodology must align with the research question(s). What research method would you select for a study on improving teacher effectiveness? Justify your recommendation with journal articles.

Answer 1

Qualitative methodologies focus on understanding a range of lived human experiences, describing a social phenomenon/culture, or generating a theory to be tested in future research. Typical qualitative research questions begin with words or phrases like “How” or “In what ways” or “What,” which establish an open approach to gathering information. Mixed methodologies blend the two methods in particular sequences and use designs from each method that not only align with the specific methodology but also be mixed in specific ways to address the research question.

When it comes to constructing your research plan, prospectus, and Chapter 1, one of the most important factors to keep in mind is that of alignment between your problem statement, purpose statement, and research questions. While this may seem like something insignificant and easy to remember, this is often the very thing that holds dissertation students back when trying to progress to the next level. Many chairs will focus specifically on this aspect of crafting your study, and if one little thing does not align between any of the aforementioned components, they will not hesitate to send you back to the drawing board.

An important rule of thumb for a well-designed, well aligned research study is a clearly developed central research question and either strongly developed sets of hypotheses for quantitative research or a strongly developed set of 2-4 sub-questions for a qualitative research study. Mixed methods will need an overarching central research question for the entire study as well as a research question to govern the quantitative research portion of the study (with hypotheses) and a central research question with appropriate sub-questions for the qualitative research portion of the study. Both the quantitative research portion and qualitative portion of the study must answer the overarching central research question. A key point to remember is that the more questions and hypotheses that exist in a study, the more difficult the study is to conduct, to manage, and to write up. Well-defined, well-scoped studies are easier for researchers to conduct, to manage, and to write. Take the time to prepare the study by reading critically, widely, and exhaustively in all aspects of the study – from content and background through the methodology and design that will be used.

No need to fret, though, as this is something that can be managed. The first step to all of this is selecting and finalizing your variables. These are going to remain constant across the board, so there is not much change to throw you off course. Just be sure to word them in the exact same order throughout the document, as chairs, who have the potential to be sticklers, may ding you for misalignment of variables as you move through your document. Once you have selected your variables, jot them down on a notecard and place “IV” above your independent variables and “DV” above your dependent variables (this is purely for your benefit to help keep things in order).

Now that you have established your variables, ensure that they are mentioned within your problem statement. Essentially, you are ensuring that the variables match the problem and vice versa. One of the best ways to guarantee that your problem statement goes through without a hitch is to root it in the recommendations of previous researchers (when doing article research, this can usually be found in the discussion of the findings section). Your purpose statement is a natural extension of your problem statement, and as such, be sure that your variables carry through and are clearly outlined.

Lastly, for dissertations and publications, aligning the study to a degree program or field of study is necessary. For dissertations, the emphasis on alignment to degree program or field of study is to ensure that the doctoral candidate can conduct discipline-specific research on a problem within the given field within an appropriate timeframe. The tradition in doctoral education is for the dissertator to make some insightful contribution to the field in which he or she receives the doctorate. For future publications, aligning studies to a degree program or to a larger field of study ensures the researcher can find grants, journals, conferences, and other publication venues where his or her work can be received well by colleagues and to continue building the discipline’s or field’s knowledge base.

Just as a general tip, it helps to map out these components before committing them to the page. One of the best ways to go about this is to write out each on a separate notecard, one for problem, one for purpose, one for research questions. Line them up side by side and ask yourself “Is this a natural progression from one to the next?” If the problem and research questions make sense, but the purpose is a little shaky, you will know that the purpose is the spot to focus your edits. This can occur in any combination.

In thinking of alignment and its importance within the establishment of the study, I am reminded of the words of ex-Smiths’ frontman, Morrissey, “Such a little thing, such a little thing, but the difference it made was grave.” This is the case of alignment of your study: such a little thing that makes such a big difference.

In short, a research study that is in alignment across all aspects – research question, methodology, design, and degree program or field of study – are “solid, display mastery of the field, and are executed competently and confidently”. The studies are thoughtful, have a proper use of the methods, yield relevant results that are interpreted well. The dissertator demonstrates that he or she can manage a full-scale large research project in the discipline; the seasoned researcher demonstrates an original, current contribution to the field.