PGTRB: TOOLS OF RESEARCH AND TESTS.

 RESEARCH METHOD.

TOOLS OF RESEARCH AND TESTS.

Objective:

• Understand the criteria of selecting a research tool.
• The factor related to tools construction.

SYNOPSIS:

1. Criteria for selection of tools
2. factors related to construction of tools.
3. tools of different type research and tests.

Introduction:

psychological investigation are;

• Observations
• Interview
• Questionnaire
• Check list
• Interview
• Rating scales.

Criteria for selection of tools:

There are two major classification in research.

• qualitative studies.
• quantitative studies.

Qualitative studies: are those in which the description of observation is not ordinarly expressed in quantitative terms.

Quantitative studies: the investigator may use observations, interviews and the examination of documentary materials, little measurement may be involves.

The qualitative research the empricial data is collected in the quantitative research. The operational definition of a particular psychological construct tells us what the researcher must to do measure the variable.

Before employing the tools the following important criteria of a test.

• Reliability
• Validity
• Economy
• Administration and Interpretation
• Interest

Factors related to construction of tools:

There are many instruments available to psychological researchers. There are occasions when researchers have to develop their own instruments.

Become acquainted with common approaches to measure the trait or behaviour of interest.

Write out specific objectives for your instrument with one objective for each trait or behaviour of interest.

• Area and discussions
• Review
• Pilot study
• Check for clarity
• Check for an adequate distribution of scores for each item in the instruments.
• Review, delete and add items where necessary, depending on feedback from the simple subject in the pilot study.

Tools of different types:

Observation:

The observation reliable and valid, it is necessary that it is to be conducted by an expect, purposive, systematic, carefully focused, and thoroughly recorded.

1. attention
2. sensation
3. perception
4. conception

Observation as a tool of research is useful in descriptive researches, evaluation of certain personality traits, evaluation of physical aspects of school plan, physical activities of students in games and in classroom situations.

Types:

Observation may be classified as (i) participant and (ii)non-participant

The first observer is one of the participants while in the second, observer does not participate in the situation under watch.

A second observation needs careful planning, expert execution and adequate recording.

Planning:

In planning for an observation, the observer should distinctly define the behaviour to be observed in specific activities. The observation will be centered around an individual or a group of individuals. The time to be spent in observation, the mode of observation and the mode of recording should be decided upon before the actual executive of observation.

Execution:

Proper condition should be manipulated for observation.

Recording

For a systematic collection of data through observation, sometimes recording is done with the help of 

1)Check list

2)Rating scales

3)Score cards

4)Scaled specimens

5)Blank forms.

Guidelines to observer:

1. Observer one situation at a time
2. Have specific criteria for making observations.
3. Observations should be made over a period of time.
4. The thing should be observed in differing and natural situations.
5. The thing should be observed in the context of the total situation.

Merits:

1. Being a record of the actual overt behaviour observations is more reliable and objective.
2. It can be done in a natural situation.
3. It does not require any special tools or equipment.
4. It can be used in every situation.
5. It is adaptable both to individuals and groups.

Limitations:

• There is a great scope for personal prejudice and bias of the observer.
• There may be some time lag in observing and recording thing.
• It is very difficult to observer everything.
• It reveals the overt behaviour only.

Interview:

Meaning:

Interview is one of the important and powerful tools for data collection in social research. It is mostly a verbal method.

PAULINE V.YOUNG:

Interviews as “an effective, informal verbal and non-verbal conversation”.

All interview have three elements in common:

• A person to person relationship.
• A means of communication with each other.
• An awareness on the part of at least one of the personal for the purpose of interview.

Objectives:

1. The main purpose of interview as a tool of data collection is to gather information needed to solve a research problem.
2. exchange of ideas and experience.
3. to elicit information pertaining to a particular phenomenon.

steps in interviewing:

1)Preparation for the interview and establishing report.

2)The unfolding of the problem.

3)The joint working out of the problem.

4)The closing of the interview.

5)Evaluation of the interview.

6)Follow up of the interview.

Classification of interviews:

i)Formal and informal interviews:

*If the interview is carried out with well defined purpose and with carefully prepared list of questions. It is a formal interview.

*When the interview has full freedom to make suitable alteration in the questions to suit a particular situation it is informal interview.

ii)Personal and Group interviews:

 *Personal interview is carried out with a single individual 

*group interview is carried out with a group of person.

iii)Qualitative and Quantitative interviews:

*Qualitative interview are about complex subject matter.

*Quantitative interview are those in which certain facts are gathered about a large number of people.

iv)Research interviews:

These interviews are held to gather information pertaining to certain problems. Questions are prepared and the responses are collected for the purpose of solving a research problem.

v)Some other types of interviews:

a)Diagnostic interview-To understand the causes of a melody to grasp the nature and causes of a disease.

b)Treatment interview– To know the psychological melody of a patient to treat lunatics.

c)Telephone interview-It is used for personal interviews.Interview schedule or guide:

The interviewer uses either a schedule of a guide. They are prepared after a thorough study of the subject concerned and careful thinking and planning. A schedule is a structred set of questions, which are usually used orally and the responses are recorded by the interviewer.

Schedule or guide focuses the attention on salient points on the study.

Interview-Questionnaire and observation:

The observational techniques are restricted mostly to non-verbal acts.

Preparation for research interview:

1)The category.

2)The interviewer should have a clear conception of the purpose and the information required.

3)The schedule or a guide of the best sequence of questions should be prepared. 

4)The type of interview 

5)A ready plan for recording the responses should be made available at hand.

6)The time for the interview should be fixed up with the interview well in advance.

Executing an interview and collection of data:

The interviewer should be friendly and courteous to keep the respondent at ease.

Merits:

• It helps to reduce tension.
• It serves to accept and clarify negative feelings.
• It helps to recognize and reinforce positive relationship.
• It may develop the insights of the individual.
• It is the most dynamic way of understanding the individuals as a whole.
• It is natural like conversation.
• It can be made very flexible.
• It can be used for a variety of purpose.
• It is relatively easy to conduct.
• It is very useful in those cases where the individuals are illiterate.

Demerits:

1. Interview method is very expansive.
2. Sometime the respondent may give a biased information.
3. Interview technique is time consuming.
4. Interview requires a high level of expertise.

Questionnaire:

Questionnaire is a research tool containing a set of questions to be answered by the respondent.

Classification:

P.V.Young:

i)Structured questionnaire

ii)Non-structured questionnaire.

i)Structured questionnaire:

It contains definite and concrete questions.

ii)Non-structured questionnaire:

This questionnaire is often known as interview.

George.A Lundber:

i)Questionnaire of facts which requires information from the respondent. certain information without any reference to his opinion or attitude about them.

Closed form which contains set of questions with require ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response (or) ‘correct’ or incorrect response.

ii)Open form, which contains questions to which the respondent gives a free response.

Construction of a questionnaire:

• It includes important items only.
• Responses expected are simple .
• It should not be suggestive.
• It should not embarrass the respondents.
• It should be clearly worded.

Improving a questionnaire:

It takes a great deal of time to frame suitable items.

To analyse the problem and then see what type of question need be framed.

The items have to be carefully analysed by the investigator, discussed with friends, experts and superior before the questionnaire is mailed out of the respondents.

• Double negative should also be avoided. 
• Double barreled questions are undesirable.
• A point of reference is necessary where ratings or comparisons are needed.
• Systematic qualification of responses should be provided.
• The items should be complete and appropriate to all respondents.

Characteristics of a good questionnaire:

• All questionnaire are relevant and significant
• It seeks information which cannot be procured by any other mode.
• It iis short but complete.
• It looks attractive.
• The questionnaire are objective, the directions are clear.
• The items are categorically arranged.
• The order of presentation of question items is logical.
• It can be easily tabulated and interpreted.
• It is clearly printed or cyclostyled as short as possible and clear.

Problems in preparing the questionnaire:

• Information we need for realizing the objective of the study.
• The language used.
• Leading questions.
• Length of the questionnaire.
• Crossing the checking.
• Types of questions.
• Different categories of questions.
• Ordering of questions.
• Short gun questions.

Administrate the questionnaire:

1. You should make – sure that the respondent is a fit person to answer your questions.
2. Questionnaire must take minimum of the respondents time.
3. The purpose of the investigation should be made cleaar to him.
4. Direction to fill out the questions should be brief and clear.
5. The respondents can be selected in such a way that we may get the maximum return of the questionnaire.

Advantages:

• It is less expensive & less time consuming.
• Once skillfully constructed the investigator can employ anyone to administer it.
• It places less pressure on the subject for immediate response.
• It can be administered to a large group of people simultaneously.

Disadvantage:

• Questionnaire cannot be used with illiterates and children.
• If a subject misinterprets a question there is no way of instructing him.
• It is not helpful in finding information about the emotional attitude, private sentiments of the subject.
• Some respondents may not like to put their views on controversial issues in writing.