Types of Research Methods

The research question , ethics , budget and time
are all major considerations in any design.
This is before looking at the statistics required,
and studying the preferred methods for the
individual scientific discipline.
Every experimental design must make
compromises and generalizations , so the
researcher must try to minimize these, whilst
remaining realistic.
For ‘pure’ sciences, such as chemistry or
astrophysics, experiments are quite easy to
define and will, usually, be strictly quantitative.
For biology, psychology and social sciences,
there can be a huge variety of methods to
choose from, and a researcher will have to justify
their choice. Whilst slightly arbitrary, the best
way to look at the various methods is in terms of
‘strength’.
Experimental Research Methods
The first method is the straightforward
experiment, involving the standard practice of
manipulating quantitative, independent variables
to generate statistically analyzable data.
Generally, the system of scientific measurements
is interval or ratio based. When we talk about
‘scientific research methods’, this is what most
people immediately think of, because it passes
all of the definitions of ‘true science’. The
researcher is accepting or refuting the null
hypothesis .
The results generated are analyzable and are
used to test hypotheses , with statistics giving a
clear and unambiguous picture.
This research method is one of the most
difficult, requiring rigorous design and a great
deal of expense, especially for larger
experiments. The other problem, where real life
organisms are used, is that taking something out
of its natural environment can seriously affect its
behavior.
It is often argued that, in some fields of
research, experimental research is ‘too’
accurate. It is also the biggest drain on time and
resources, and is often impossible to perform for
some fields, because of ethical considerations .
The Tuskegee Syphilis Study was a prime
example of experimental research that was
fixated on results, and failed to take into account
moral considerations.
In other fields of study, which do not always
have the luxury of definable and quantifiable
variables - you need to use different research
methods. These should attempt to fit all of the
definitions of repeatability or falsifiability,
although this is not always feasible.
Opinion Based Research Methods
Opinion based research methods generally
involve designing an experiment and collecting
quantitative data. For this type of research, the
measurements are usually arbitrary, following the
ordinal or interval type.
Questionnaires are an effective way of
quantifying data from a sample group, and
testing emotions or preferences. This method is
very cheap and easy, where budget is a problem,
and gives an element of scale to opinion and
emotion. These figures are arbitrary, but at least
give a directional method of measuring intensity.
Quantifying behavior is another way of
performing this research, with researchers often
applying a ‘numerical scale’ to the type, or
intensity, of behavior. The Bandura Bobo Doll
experiment and the Asch Experiment were
examples of opinion based research.
By definition, this experiment method must be
used where emotions or behaviors are measured,
as there is no other way of defining the
variables .
Whilst not as robust as experimental research ,
the methods can be replicated and the results
falsified.
Observational Research Methods
Observational research is a group of different
research methods where researchers try to
observe a phenomenon without interfering too
much.
Observational research methods, such as the
case study, are probably the furthest removed
from the established scientific method. This type
is looked down upon, by many scientists, as
‘ quasi-experimental ’ research, although this is
usually an unfair criticism. Observational
research tends to use nominal or ordinal scales
of measurement.
Observational research often has no clearly
defined research problem , and questions may
arise during the course of the study. For
example, a researcher may notice unusual
behavior and ask, ‘What is happening?’ or ‘Why?’
Observation is heavily used in social sciences,
behavioral studies and anthropology, as a way of
studying a group without affecting their behavior.
Whilst the experiment cannot be replicated or
falsified, it still offers unique insights, and will
advance human knowledge.
Case studies are often used as a pre-cursor to
more rigorous methods, and avoid the problem of
the experiment environment affecting the
behavior of an organism. Observational research
methods are useful when ethics are a problem.

Pls hope the NOUN website is still down... Cos I still can't login to my portal from here

Olalekanbanky1:
Pls hope the NOUN website is still down... Cos I still can't login to my portal from here

Still down

donbrowser:
Still down

I don fear... Cos I never finish my tma

donbrowser:
Still down

I don fear... Cos I never finish my tma

Please am in dear need of past questions for PGD mobile Comm Tech: CIT 711, CIT 734 bolupeter.apata@gmail.com . Thanks in anticipation

AquaPetals:
Noun administration don tire me sef
How would they just announce closure of course registration with only a day notice?
And have been trying to register all through that week with no avail. All thanks to their crappy website. Now what am I gonna do?
I hope a strong malware attacks that crap they call a website tonight...

having the same issues here o. I don tire

what's happening to the school site, can't login & have not paid for my I.T & Exam...

sorry miss but the course & exam registration closed 30th of september

femisadeola4it:
what's happening to the school site, can't login & have not paid for my I.T & Exam...

my lawd! So this thread dey here..

I searched every corner and holes for it.
Ikeja study center 200level political science student. Just quote me. I will follow asap

Good Day to u all...Are u aware that noun website is Temporarily down be patient!!!

AIT news just announced to us that national open university school website have been hacked, those that paid their school fees from 15th of September to 30th of September should keep their tellers very well and wait as school management is doing their best to rectify d problem.thanks

ANOUNCEMENT!!!
NOUN is subscribed to a database server (Microsoft) and that is the picture you always see lately whenever you click on course registration or try to open the TMA portal.
Sometimes, they have issues with the subscription (which may be _*possibly*_ due to some financial or technical glitch) and once such issue comes up, the NOUN portal will be bringing out that blue screen until the issue is resolved. It sometimes takes up to a week or less, depending on how long the due processes are taken before the issues are resolved.
it has affected the TMA portal, Students portal and also Application portal (for prospective students who are applying to for admission in NOUN).
This however does not indicate closure or the portal. If at all, anything would close, it is the REGISTRATION PORTAL and not the TMA portal. No portal would close without prior notice.So knowing the implications on students, NOUN would never close the TMA portal without prior information!
The TMA portal will be re-opened once the server issue is being resolved. If at all it would close, then you will be informed head. Tho the notification might be short (that would be up to their discretion).
Usually, NOUN TMA portal does not close until the very last day of the e-exam.. even if anything would change (perhaps as a result of the new administration), there will still be a prior information in that respect, no matter what.
We are still working on it,
SHT ALWAYS ABOVE

For more information contact Anthony:07081013721

Anthonyo15:
ANOUNCEMENT!!!
NOUN is subscribed to a database server (Microsoft) and that is the picture you always see lately whenever you click on course registration or try to open the TMA portal.
Sometimes, they have issues with the subscription (which may be _*possibly*_ due to some financial or technical glitch) and once such issue comes up, the NOUN portal will be bringing out that blue screen until the issue is resolved. It sometimes takes up to a week or less, depending on how long the due processes are taken before the issues are resolved.
it has affected the TMA portal, Students portal and also Application portal (for prospective students who are applying to for admission in NOUN).
This however does not indicate closure or the portal. If at all, anything would close, it is the REGISTRATION PORTAL and not the TMA portal. No portal would close without prior notice.So knowing the implications on students, NOUN would never close the TMA portal without prior information!
The TMA portal will be re-opened once the server issue is being resolved. If at all it would close, then you will be informed head. Tho the notification might be short (that would be up to their discretion).
Usually, NOUN TMA portal does not close until the very last day of the e-exam.. even if anything would change (perhaps as a result of the new administration), there will still be a prior information in that respect, no matter what.
We are still working on it,
SHT ALWAYS ABOVE

What Noun did prior to shutdown was completely unprofessional.
They should have given enough days notice before the 30th.
Imagine me trying to register on the morning of Thursday the 29th... Only to come back on Sunday to find the site is closed. Not fair at all!
And to think I took a bargain with money I should have invested in a healthy business

For Writing of Assignments Contact- 07058449932

Anthonyo15:
AIT news just announced to us that national open university school website have been hacked, those that paid their school fees from 15th of September to 30th of September should keep their tellers very well and wait as school management is doing their best to rectify d problem.thanks

technical glitch or hack? have NOUN released an official statement? they need to desist from keeping us in the dark. this isn't getting funny anymore.


I am not with the last bank printout I paid with. left it with the accountant when I was tired of going to the bank and finding out they barely get remita network.

Anthonyo15:
ANOUNCEMENT!!!
NOUN is subscribed to a database server (Microsoft) and that is the picture you always see lately whenever you click on course registration or try to open the TMA portal.
Sometimes, they have issues with the subscription (which may be _*possibly*_ due to some financial or technical glitch) and once such issue comes up, the NOUN portal will be bringing out that blue screen until the issue is resolved. It sometimes takes up to a week or less, depending on how long the due processes are taken before the issues are resolved.
it has affected the TMA portal, Students portal and also Application portal (for prospective students who are applying to for admission in NOUN).
This however does not indicate closure or the portal. If at all, anything would close, it is the REGISTRATION PORTAL and not the TMA portal. No portal would close without prior notice.So knowing the implications on students, NOUN would never close the TMA portal without prior information!
The TMA portal will be re-opened once the server issue is being resolved. If at all it would close, then you will be informed head. Tho the notification might be short (that would be up to their discretion).
Usually, NOUN TMA portal does not close until the very last day of the e-exam.. even if anything would change (perhaps as a result of the new administration), there will still be a prior information in that respect, no matter what.
We are still working on it,
SHT ALWAYS ABOVE

Are you part of that crap mgt?

I am Tunde, a Nigerian student in Hyderabad... If you need help with your application for study in India and guidance on how to successfully apply for visa and any other important details regarding studying/ living in India, whatsapp or call +919542553703 or check my profile info for my facebook details..

PS: for Undergraduate and Postgraduate applicants

Hello everyone,

Please I am new on this thread and currently running PGD in Education. I need to know how the TMA works plus is there any past questions on it for this courses: GST 707, EDU 721, EDU 716, EDU 712, EDU 724, EDU 726 and CIT 101.

Please reply, thank you.

ginssel:
Hello everyone,

Please I am new on this thread and currently running PGD in Education. I need to know how the TMA works plus is there any past questions on it for this courses: GST 707, EDU 721, EDU 716, EDU 712, EDU 724, EDU 726 and CIT 101.

Please reply, thank you.

TMA means Tutor Marked Assignment. It plays the role of Continuous Assessment of conventional university. Each course has 4 Tma ranging from Tma 1 to TMA 4. Each Tma has 20 questions. The best 3 Tma are used as your CA. How to solve it: The best thing is to print the Tma if you cannot save it offline before answering them. Then find answers to the questions in your materials. And then go back to the portal and submit your answers.
Yes there are past questions for them.

Baba how far na?

Kazrem:

TMA means Tutor Marked Assignment. It plays the role of Continuous Assessment of conventional university. Each course has 4 Tma ranging from Tma 1 to TMA 4. Each Tma has 20 questions. The best 3 Tma are used as your CA. How to solve it: The best thing is to print the Tma if you cannot save it offline before answering them. Then find answers to the questions in your materials. And then go back to the portal and submit your answers.
Yes there are past questions for them.

I can send you any past question paper that you need. from 2012- 2016


is it on pop or e-exam. I need pop, pol science courses.

pls can anyone sent me past questions on PGD course CIT722, CIT736, CIT752, CIT756, CIT734 to ejalism@gmail.com.
Thanks in anticipation

Those ICT people at NOUN are very wicked o. Imagine, the website is still not up yet.

Please, any idea if admission for postgraduate studies is still on? Pls, help a sister.

Vicben:
Those ICT people at NOUN are very wicked o. Imagine, the website is still not up yet.

Not wicked but incompetent flock of mediocre .....
.
How can a site be down for this long during this crucial time.
after now, they will post their yeye Announcement.
TMA SUBMISSION CLOSES BLA BLA BLA .
monkey them.