CS235 Lecture 4: Lec 4 - Oct 4_
Agenda
● Type of data sources and data collection settings
● Data collection strategies
○ Research design
○ Sampling methods
● Warrants
○ Discovery/positivist paradigm warrant
○ Interpretive paradigm warrant
Types of Data Sources
● Text: symbolic, performed, visual/pictorial data used as evidence to support
communication research claims
○ Direct observations, self reports, other reports (3 methods to collect data)
○ Direct Observations
■ 1. Behavioural observation
● Laboratory observation
● Naturalistic observation
■ 2. Psychological assessment
● Eg indicators of nervousness
○ Self Reports and Other Reports
■ 3. Self reports
● Survey questionnaire
● Interview / focus group
■ 4. Other reports (perceptions of another person’s behaviour)
● Survey questionnaire
● Interview / focus group
Data Collection Settings
● Archive: pre-existing collection of textual/visual/audio data
● Field settings: where communication occurs naturally
● Laboratory settings: the researcher selects and controls the environment for interaction
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Data Collection Strategies
● Research Design
○ Cross-sectional study: data sample collected at one point in time
○ Longitudinal study: data sample collected at several different points in time
■ Cohort study: study a group of people who share a common characteristic
over time
■ Panel study: track the same individuals over time
● Sampling Methods
○ Sample: the segment of the population of interest
○ Representative sample: a sample whose characteristics accurately reflects the
population of interest
○ 5 Steps to Sampling
■ 1. Define the population
● Population: the entire set of cases/instances of interest
○ Can be actually existing or hypothetical
○ May or may not be observable
○ Has properties = characteristics
■ 2. Specify the sampling frame
● Sampling frame: a (complete) list of all members of the population
to be researched:
○ Represents a study’s effective population
○ Provides a way of actually identifying/contacting units
○ Eg a phone book, email list of students
○ Remember, sample frame is not same as population
■ 3. Choose sampling methods
● Random sampling
○ Simple random sampling - eg 15 names chosen from class
list from a hat (whole class is sampling frame, chosen 15
are sample)
○ Systematic random sampling - eg take every 5th unit
○ Stratified sampling
● Non-random sampling
○ Convenience sampling
■ A sample that is readily available to the researcher
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Type of data sources and data collection settings. Text: symbolic, performed, visual/pictorial data used as evidence to support communication research claims. Direct observations, self reports, other reports (3 methods to collect data) Laboratory settings: the researcher selects and controls the environment for interaction. Cross-sectional study: data sample collected at one point in time. Longitudinal study: data sample collected at several different points in time. Cohort study: study a group of people who share a common characteristic over time. Panel study: track the same individuals over time. Sample: the segment of the population of interest. Representative sample: a sample whose characteristics accurately reflects the population of interest. Population: the entire set of cases/instances of interest. Sampling frame: a (complete) list of all members of the population to be researched: Provides a way of actually identifying/contacting units. Eg a phone book, email list of students. Remember, sample frame is not same as population.
