Page 94 - DLIS401_METHODOLOGY_OF_RESEARCH_AND_STATISTICAL_TECHNIQUES

Unit 5: Research Techniques and Tools

Interrupted involvement Notes

The researcher is present sporadically over a period of time, for example, moving in and out
of the organisation to deal with other work or to conduct interviews with, or observations of,
different people across a number of different organisations. It rarely involves much participation
in the work.

Observation alone
The observer role is often disliked by employees since it appears to be ‘eavesdropping’. The
inevitable detachment prevents the degree of trust and friendship forming between the researcher
and respondent, which is an important component in other methods.
Choice of roles
The role adopted depends on the following:

• Purpose of the research: Does the research require continued longitudinal involvement
(long period of time), or will in-depth interviews, for example, conducted over time give
the type of insights required?
• Cost of the research: To what extent can the researcher afford to be committed for extended
periods of time? Are there additional costs such as training?
• The extent to which access can be gained: Gaining access where the role of the researcher
is either explicit or covert can be difficult, and may take time.
• The extent to which the researcher would be comfortable in the role: If the researcher intends
to keep his identity concealed, will he or she also feel able to develop the type of trusting
relationships that are important? What are the ethical issues?
• The amount of time the researcher has at his disposal: Some methods involve a considerable
amount of time. If time is a problem alternate approaches will have to be sought.

Self Assessment

Multiple Choice Questions:
1. ........................ Questions ask people if something is true or False, correct or incorrect,
accurate or inaccurate.
(a) Attitude (b) Belief
(c) Demographic (d) Behavior.
2. ........................ Questions ask people what they have done, what they do, or what they
plan to do.
(a) Behavior (b) Attitude
(c) Attribute (d) Belief.
3. ........................ or demographic questions ask about age, income, education, and the like.

(a) Belief (b) Behavior
(c) Attribute (d) Attitude.
4. ........................ may be categorized by the number of values.
(a) Close-ended Questions (b) Unordered Questions
(c) Open-ended Questions (d) Partially close-ended.

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