Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
List of figures and tables
Preface
PART I: Introduction and Overview
1. Research Methods: An Overview
1.1. Research and research methods
1.2. Naming and categorizing research methods
1.3. Labeling research methods by data collection technique: A further discussion
1.4. A quick walkthrough of major research methods
1.4.1. Bibliometrics and other metric-based methods
1.4.2. Content analysis
1.4.3. Delphi study
1.4.4. Ethnography/Field study
1.4.5. Experiment
1.4.6. Focus groups
1.4.7. Historical method
1.4.8. Interview
1.4.9. Observation
1.4.10. Questionnaire
1.4.11. Research diary/journal
1.4.12. Theoretical approach
1.4.13. Think-aloud protocol
1.4.14. Transaction log analysis
1.4.15. Other methods
1.5. Taxonomy of research methods by applicability
1.6. A note on the orientation of this book
2. The Research Process and Research Design
2.1. Problem identification and statement
2.2. Literature search and review
2.2.1. Literature search
2.2.2. Literature review
2.3. From problem statement to research questions
2.3.1. Transforming a problem statement to research questions
2.3.2. Hypotheses
2.4. Development of research methodology
2.5. Data collection and analysis
2.5.1. Levels of measurement
2.5.2. Sampling
2.6. Result presentation and discussion
2.7. Conclusion drawing
2.8. Research validity and reliability
2.8.1. Validity
2.8.2. Reliability
2.9. Research ethics
2.9.1. Ethical guidelines concerning researchers
2.9.2. Ethical guidelines for protecting participants
PART II: Stand-Alone Methods
3. Questionnaire
3.1. What is questionnaire?
3.2. Questionnaire development
3.2.1. Questionnaire components and question types
3.2.2. Dos and donโts in questionnaire development
3.3. Using questionnaire in research
3.3.1. Approaches to questionnaire administration
3.3.2. Sample size and response rate
3.3.3. Dos and donโts in questionnaire research
3.4. Case studies of questionnaire research
3.4.1. Case Study 1
3.4.2. Case Study 2
4. Interview
4.1. What is interview?
4.2. Interview questions and types
4.2.1. Main questions
4.2.2. Probe questions
4.2.3. Follow-up questions
4.2.4. Summary of interview questions types
4.2.5. Dos and donโts in formulating interview questions
4.3. Interview types and interview guide
4.3.1. Structured interview
4.3.2. Semi-structured interview
4.3.3. Unstructured interview
4.3.4. Interview guide
4.4. Using interview in research
4.4.1. Interview approaches
4.4.2. Interview procedures and techniques
4.4.3. Common implementations in research
4.4.4. Dos and donโts in interview research
4.5. Case studies of interview research
4.5.1. Case Study 1
4.5.2. Case Study 2
5. Observation
5.1. What is observation?
5.2. Observation types
5.2.1. Participant observation
5.2.2. Structured observation
5.3. Using observation in research
5.3.1. Observation preparation
5.3.2. What to observe
5.3.3. How to observe
5.4. Dos and donโts in observation research
5.5. Case studies of observation research
5.5.1. Case Study 1
5.5.2. Case Study 2
6. Theoretical Approach
6.1. What is theoretical approach?
6.2. Origins and traditions of the theoretical approach
6.2.1. Grounded theory
6.2.2. Phenomenology
6.2.3. Hermeneutics
6.2.4. Grounded theory, phenomenology, and hermeneutics: A brief comparison
6.3. Using the theoretical approach in research
6.3.1. Constructionism
6.3.2. Data saturation
6.3.3. Dos and donโts in theoretical approach research
6.4. Case studies of theoretical approach research
6.4.1. Case Study 1
6.4.2. Case Study 2
7. Metrics-Based Research Methods: From Bibliometrics to Altmetrics
7.1. Bibliometrics, informetrics, and scientometrics
7.2. Major bibliometric data sources
7.2.1. ISIโs citation products
7.2.2. Scopus
7.2.3. Google Scholar
7.3. Major bibliometric techniques
7.3.1. Citation analysis
7.3.2. Impact factor, the h-index, and more variations
7.3.3. Bibliometric laws
7.4. Characteristics and related topics of the bibliometric method
7.4.1. Features of the bibliometric method
7.4.2. Dos and donโts in bibliometric research
7.5. Case study of bibliometric research
7.6. Webometrics and altmetrics
7.6.1. From webometrics to altmetrics
7.6.2. Altmetric data sources
7.6.3. Using altmetrics in research
7.6.4. Dos and donโts in altmetric research
7.6.5. Case study of altmetric research
8. Other Stand-Alone Methods
8.1. Focus groups
8.1.1. What are focus groups?
8.1.2. Major parameters in focus group research
8.1.3. Using focus groups in research
8.1.4. Dos and donโts in focus group research
8.1.5. Case study of focus group research
8.2. Transaction log analysis
8.2.1. What is transaction log analysis?
8.2.2. Essentials in obtaining and processing transaction logs
8.2.3. Using transaction log analysis in research
8.2.4. Dos and donโts in transaction log analysis research
8.2.5. Case study of transaction log analysis research
8.3. Research diaries
8.3.1. What are research diaries?
8.3.2. Taxonomy of research diaries
8.3.3. Using research diaries in studies
8.3.4. Dos and donโts in research diary studies
8.3.5. Case study of investigation using research diary
8.4. Historical method
8.4.1. What is the historical method?
8.4.2. Features of the historical method
8.4.3. Data sources and evaluation in historical research
8.4.4. Conducting historical research
8.4.5. Dos and donโts in historical research
8.4.6. Case study of historical research
PART III: Super-Methods, Meta-Methods, and Contingent Methods
9. Content Analysis: A Super-Method
9.1. Content analysis as a data collection technique
9.2. Manifest and latent content analysis
9.3. Using content analysis in research
9.3.1. Selecting source texts and determining units of analysis
9.3.2. Defining variables and generating content categories
9.3.3. The coding scheme
9.3.4. The coding process
9.4. Dos and donโts in research using content analysis
9.5. Case study of research using content analysis
10. Meta-Methods: Experiments
10.1. What are experiments?
10.2. Types of experiments
10.2.1. True experimental designs
10.2.2. Quasi-experimental designs
10.2.3. Pre-experimental designs
10.3. Using experiments in research
10.4. Dos and donโts in experimental research
10.5. Case studies of experimental research
10.5.1. Case Study 1
10.5.2. Case Study 2
11. Meta-Methods: Ethnography/Field Study
11.1. What is ethnography/field study?
11.2. Features of field study
11.3. Using field study in research
11.3.1. Steps in conducting field research
11.3.2. Some considerations in conducting field research
11.4. Dos and donโts in field study
11.5. Case studies of field study
11.5.1. Case Study 1
11.5.2. Case Study 2
12. Contingent Methods
12.1. Think-aloud protocols
12.1.1. What are think-aloud protocols?
12.1.2. Think-aloud protocols: Types and features
12.1.3. Using think-aloud protocols in research
12.1.4. Dos and donโts in think-aloud research
12.1.5. Case study of research using think-aloud protocols
12.2. Delphi study
12.2.1. What is Delphi study?
12.2.2. Features of the Delphi method
12.2.3. Using the Delphi method in research
12.2.4. Dos and donโts in Delphi research
12.2.5. Case study of Delphi research
PART IV: Research Design and Method Selection: A Further Look
13. Techniques for Data Analysis and Their Selection
13.1. Techniques for analyzing quantitative data
13.1.1. Descriptive statistical data analysis
13.1.2. Inferential statistical data analysis
13.1.3. Software for quantitative data analysis
13.1.4. More on selecting quantitative data analysis techniques
13.2. Techniques for analyzing qualitative data
13.2.1. Qualitative coding
13.2.2. Content analysis
13.2.3. Quality assurance of qualitative data analysis
13.2.4. Software for qualitative data analysis
13.3. Selection of data analysis techniques
14. Research Design via Method Selection
14.1. Research questions and functions/features of data collection methods
14.2. Method selection and applicability
14.3. Integrated research method designs
14.4. Final words on research methods and design
Appendix: List of Case Study Publications
Index