RSMET Activities Week 6

Paper: Soc1 “How is the training of IT managed in schools?”

How much consideration did the author give to choosing a Research design at all? 

The author of this project refers to using DSDM (Dynamic Systems Development Methodology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_Systems_Development_Method#The_DSDM_approach as an approach to the project (Project approach pg 5) which has little if anything to do with conducting research as this is a methodology used to develop software systems. However reading through the project and identifying the methods used to gather the primary data, it is possible to recognize that a qualitative approach has been adopted.

Do you have any evidence that the author considered any choice of design?
 
There does not appear to be a direct discussion or statement within the article to suggest which design was adopted. Although reading chapter 3 of the article in the section marked Methodology the author reveals that due to the time constraints of the staff being observed within the research the use of questionnaires would be the most appropriate method of collecting data. Also conducting a short interview with the IT coordinator would provide more in-depth answers to any questions posed within the questionnaire.

Did the author use a flexible research design and, if not, do you think that there were possibilities for qualitative research that were missed?

In my opinion the researcher adopted a flexible approach to the research provided in the article, even though no statement to this affect appears within the document. The evidence of the style of research (Questionnaires, interviews and observation) suggests that this was the method that was chosen. It is possible that given enough time the researcher could have given greater understanding to the findings in the report by utilizing quantitative methods to support the conclusions which were drawn. For example out X number of teachers who took the questionnaire six responded that they found the equipment provided in the school to be excellent. This would have given the opportunity for further discussion within the report, by allowing the writer to comment on the lack of formal training effecting the results, as knowledge of the systems was limited therefore the experience the teachers had with the systems was limited and this was reflected in the opinions given within the questionnaire.