Peter Archibong, Ph.D.

 

 

 

The effect of Inappropriate Research Design for Software Development Project: From Data Gathering Tools To Choosing A Research Design

 

Abstract

 

Cooper and Schindler (2003) report that statistical studies attempt to capture a population’s characteristics by making inferences from a population sample’s characteristics.  The quality of inferences to address the research problem and solution depends on the quality of research tools such as data gathering and statistical analysis.  The significance of this paper lies in the fact that 40% of software development project failed (Mandell, 1997) because of using inappropriate research design for data gathering and analysis.  The determinant of good research is therefore based on: (a) design (e.g., quantitative, qualitative, or mixed); (b) sample/population characteristics; and (c) data gathering tools/instrumentation. The finding is that researches on software development projects use more quantitative methodology and less qualitative and mixed methodologies.  However, future research is recommended to confirm this findings.


 

Table of Contents

Abstract PAGEREF _Toc120370473 \h 3

Problem Statement PAGEREF _Toc120370474 \h 8

Purpose of the Paper  PAGEREF _Toc120370475 \h 8

Research Guidelines  PAGEREF _Toc120370476 \h 9

Quantitative versus Qualitative Research Methodologies. PAGEREF _Toc120370477 \h 10

Quantitative design  PAGEREF _Toc120370478 \h 11

Qualitative design  PAGEREF _Toc120370479 \h 11

Sample/Population Characteristics. PAGEREF _Toc120370480 \h 12

Sampling as a process  PAGEREF _Toc120370481 \h 13

Sampling plan  PAGEREF _Toc120370482 \h 13

Target population  PAGEREF _Toc120370483 \h 14

Sampling frames  PAGEREF _Toc120370484 \h 15

Eligibility criteria  PAGEREF _Toc120370485 \h 15

Sampling design  PAGEREF _Toc120370486 \h 16

Sample size  PAGEREF _Toc120370487 \h 16

Significance and Power  PAGEREF _Toc120370488 \h 17

Sample Recruitment PAGEREF _Toc120370489 \h 18

Data Gathering Tools/Instrumentation. PAGEREF _Toc120370490 \h 19

Literature searches  PAGEREF _Toc120370491 \h 19

Talking with people  PAGEREF _Toc120370492 \h 20

Focus group  PAGEREF _Toc120370493 \h 20

Formal interview   PAGEREF _Toc120370494 \h 21

Telephone survey  PAGEREF _Toc120370495 \h 21

Mail survey  PAGEREF _Toc120370496 \h 21

E-mail survey  PAGEREF _Toc120370497 \h 22

Internet survey  PAGEREF _Toc120370498 \h 23

Analysis of Data Gathering Tools. PAGEREF _Toc120370499 \h 23

Validity  PAGEREF _Toc120370500 \h 24

Reliability  PAGEREF _Toc120370501 \h 24

Data types and statistics  PAGEREF _Toc120370502 \h 25

Contemporary IS/IT Research Literature Review.. PAGEREF _Toc120370503 \h 26

IBM Uses Mixed Methodology  PAGEREF _Toc120370504 \h 26

COCOMO-II  Uses Bayesian Statistical PAGEREF _Toc120370505 \h 27

Chulani’s Research Uses Multiple Regression  PAGEREF _Toc120370506 \h 29

Germany Uses Test driven software development  (TDD) PAGEREF _Toc120370507 \h 30

Test Driven Software Development Reliability. PAGEREF _Toc120370508 \h 30

Test Driven Software Development Validity. PAGEREF _Toc120370509 \h 30

Test Driven Software Development Qualitative Analysis. PAGEREF _Toc120370510 \h 31

Test Driven Software Development Statistical tools. PAGEREF _Toc120370511 \h 31

Test Driven Software Development Findings. PAGEREF _Toc120370512 \h 31

Pros and cons of quantitative & qualitative designs. PAGEREF _Toc120370513 \h 34

Conclusion. PAGEREF _Toc120370514 \h 37

References. PAGEREF _Toc120370515 \h 41

 

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Last modified: July 04, 2008