Thesis Seminar Module 7: Method II
Thesis Seminar Recap for Week 7Thesis Seminar Recap for Week 7 - Notes
🎯 Understanding
Instructors will understand that…
-
Effective method sections maintain tight alignment among the thesis/purpose, research questions, and the structure (headings) of the methodology chapter.
-
Participant selection tools (e.g., screening questionnaires) and interview protocols must be purpose-built to gather the specific information needed for the study and to justify sampling decisions.
-
Ethical access (informed consent, voluntary participation, confidentiality) is not an add-on; it shapes what data can be collected and how it can be reported.
🎯 Language Objective
Students will be able to…
-
check alignment by mapping each research question to a planned data source and a matching methodology subheading (3–6 bullet points).
-
draft a short screening questionnaire for selecting participants (6–10 items) using clear, unambiguous wording and consistent response formats.
-
draft a semi-structured interview guide (8–12 questions plus prompts) that includes opening, core, and closing questions and uses neutral, non-leading language.
🎯 Vocabulary
-
alignment (research questions–method)
-
methodology chapter / section headings
-
participant selection
-
screening questionnaire
-
sampling criteria
-
semi-structured interview
-
interview guide / protocol
-
prompts / probes
-
neutral wording / leading question
-
informed consent
-
voluntary participation
-
confidentiality / anonymity
🎯 Learning Sequence
Review March 1, 2024 session: Unit II – Method.
-
Make sure research questions align with section headings and thesis statement found in your literature review.
-
How to create a questionnaire for choosing participants
-
Designing a semi-structured interview guide
-
Common types of data sources when doing qualitative research
Tips and links
-
Make sure teachers who you choose for you study sign an informed consent form. See Informed consent form template.
-
Which of the following designs best fits your study: Phenomenology_Diving into a lived experience, Case study_ Delving deep into specifics, or Narrative research?
-
Using AI to generate ideas for creating a questionnaire