Dynamic Research Design: Iteration in Field-Based Inquiry

Author(s):  
Diana Kapiszewski ◽  
Lauren M. MacLean ◽  
Benjamin L. Read

This article examines how “iteration”—the dynamic updating of a research design in the course of conducting a study—contributes to making fieldwork a powerful form of inquiry. Considering epistemic disagreement on the utility and acceptability of iteration and drawing on published work, our own experiences, and an original survey and interviews, we contend that iteration is a core aspect of field-based inquiry because such work often examines areas for which theory or empirical knowledge is underdeveloped and requires reacting as the research environment evolves. We demonstrate why iteration is challenging, consider the analytic risks it poses, and offer a framework to help scholars iterate in analytically productive ways. We conclude by outlining the implications for the discipline of embracing and being transparent about iteration.

Author(s):  
Leping Liu

This article issues a call for dynamic research in the field of using information technology in education. I have (a) reviewed the quality of current publications in the field, (b) summarized the progress of research in educational information technology in terms of three stages of research along with three stages of technology integration, (c) discussed some factors related to the progress with respect to research design and research ideas in the field, and (d) proposed a dynamic research model in relation to a set of dynamic factors in current research that can be used to systematically generate meaningful research ideas.


2006 ◽  

Qualitative research has never been a popular research design within Malaysian academics and research environment. Understanding the convention and fundamentals of conducting a qualitative research is important as it offers a different approach and generates a range of information of different quality from the quantitative approach. The compilation of the five articles included in this book has been carefully selected so that this book of reading represents different issues and problems that may arise when conducting a qualitative research. This book provides a good description of the research processes and issues that may also be encountered by other researchers especially those that are novice in qualitative research. The readings of the different research compiled in this book will hopefully contribute to the growing field of qualitative research as a research design among educators, researchers and professionals in Malaysia.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-74
Author(s):  
Mohan Kumar Tumbahang

This article attempts to discuss the various forms of the Kiraat Yaakthung Mundhum language employed in the various ritualistic performances. It has applied the qualitative research design in which the study attempts to gather non-numerical data explicitly referring to the meanings, concepts, definitions, or characteristics. Written documents related to the Kirat Yaakthung Mundhum are not adequate for having the ideas about the linguistic variations because the Mundhum is mostly based on oral tradition of recitation. The Limbu priests locally known as 'Saambaas' recite the diverse forms of the Mundhum depending on types of rituals they are performing. Basing on the available voice records, empirical knowledge, and written Mundhum documents, the paper has been prepared. After the analysis, the study has revealed that the elements of ethnographies of communication play a crucial role to bring about the distinctiveness in the level and meaning of the Mundhum utterances. This study may be helpful for those who are interested in the structure of the ritual language.  


Author(s):  
Jerry Ameis

The vignette concerns a study that investigated engagement in mathematical problem solving under difficult conditions. It provides an example of dynamic research design, using chaos theory as a metaphor for both designing research and examining findings, and sets the stage for a later in‐depth article about dynamic research design in education.


2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Tetnowski

Qualitative case study research can be a valuable tool for answering complex, real-world questions. This method is often misunderstood or neglected due to a lack of understanding by researchers and reviewers. This tutorial defines the characteristics of qualitative case study research and its application to a broader understanding of stuttering that cannot be defined through other methodologies. This article will describe ways that data can be collected and analyzed.


2001 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 187-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
John R. Nesselroade

A focus on the study of development and other kinds of changes in the whole individual has been one of the hallmarks of research by Magnusson and his colleagues. A number of different approaches emphasize this individual focus in their respective ways. This presentation focuses on intraindividual variability stemming from Cattell's P-technique factor analytic proposals, making several refinements to make it more tractable from a research design standpoint and more appropriate from a statistical analysis perspective. The associated methods make it possible to study intraindividual variability both within and between individuals. An empirical example is used to illustrate the procedure.


2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 187-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Vierhaus ◽  
Arnold Lohaus ◽  
Indra Shah

This investigation focuses on the question whether assessments of the development of internalizing behavior from childhood to adolescence are affected by the kind of research design (longitudinal versus cross-sectional). Two longitudinal samples of 432 second-graders and 366 fourth graders participated in a longitudinal study with subsequent measurements taken 1, 2, and 3 years later. A third sample consisting of 849 children covering the same range of grades participated in a cross-sectional study. The results show that the development of internalizing symptoms in girls – but not in boys – varies systematically with the research design. In girls, there is a decrease of internalizing symptoms (especially between the first two timepoints) in the longitudinal assessment, which may reflect, for example, the influence of strain during the first testing situation. Both longitudinal trajectories converge to a common trajectory from grade 2 to grade 7 when controlling for this “novelty-distress effect.” Moreover, when we control this effect, the slight but significant decrease characterizing the common trajectory becomes similar to the one obtained in the cross-sectional study. Therefore, trajectories based on longitudinal assessments may suggest more changes with regard to internalizing symptoms over time than actually take place, while trajectories based on cross-sectional data may be characterized by an increased level of internalizing symptoms. Theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.


Methodology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 123-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon Willis ◽  
Hennie Boeije

Based on the experiences of three research groups using and evaluating the Cognitive Interviewing Reporting Framework (CIRF), we draw conclusions about the utility of the CIRF as a guide to creating cognitive testing reports. Authors generally found the CIRF checklist to be usable, and that it led to a more complete description of key steps involved. However, despite the explicit direction by the CIRF to include a full explanation of major steps and features (e.g., research objectives and research design), the three cognitive testing reports tended to simply state what was done, without further justification. Authors varied in their judgments concerning whether the CIRF requires the appropriate level of detail. Overall, we believe that current cognitive interviewing practice will benefit from including, within cognitive testing reports, the 10 categories of information specified by the CIRF. Future use of the CIRF may serve to direct the overall research project from the start, and to further the goal of evaluation of specific cognitive interviewing procedures.


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