Lesson Report:
# **Lesson Report: Data Collection Strategies and Analytical Frameworks**
### **Synopsis**
In this session, students presented and refined their research methodologies, focusing on data collection strategies and the analytical frameworks necessary for their projects. The discussion involved the differentiation between primary and secondary sources, methods for filtering scholarly literature, strategies for ensuring credible data translation, and techniques for web scraping and media content analysis. The instructor provided tailored feedback, emphasizing the importance of constructing a systematic data collection approach and reinforcing the need for methodological rigor. Key takeaways included clarifying research questions, ensuring valid sources, and overcoming challenges like access restrictions and language barriers.
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### **Attendance**
– No explicit absences mentioned, but some students engaged remotely.
– Hafasa did not respond when called.
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### **Topics Covered**
#### **1. Research Presentations and Data Collection Issues**
– Students presented updates on their research topics, focusing on methods for collecting and analyzing data.
– The instructor emphasized the importance of systematic data filtering mechanisms for secondary source collection.
– Primary data sources discussed included government speeches, policy documents, NGO reports, and media content.
#### **2. Clarifying the Nature of Primary and Secondary Sources**
– The instructor clarified how media reports could serve as primary or secondary sources based on their usage.
– If students analyze biases, framing, or trends in media content, they become primary sources.
– If students use them as factual references, they are secondary sources.
– Emphasis on using direct government documents, laws, and public speeches for primary data collection.
#### **3. Addressing Language Barriers and Translation Accuracy**
– Students using sources in foreign languages were guided to:
– Use machine translation tools such as DeepL and ChatGPT.
– Ensure validity by having translations reviewed by native/fluent speakers.
– Explicitly mention verification strategies in their methodology sections.
#### **4. Systematic Literature Search and Filtering**
– Instructions on filtering academic sources using Google Scholar and JSTOR:
– Importance of specifying filtering mechanisms (e.g., keyword selection, timeframe).
– Avoiding the impression of arbitrarily choosing academic sources.
– Recommended leveraging existing literature reviews as a foundation.
#### **5. Web Scraping and Social Media Data Extraction**
– Students looking to collect social media data faced challenges with access restrictions.
– Suggested strategies:
– Research existing web scraping tools tailored for social media platforms.
– Consult supervisors and explore alternative methodologies if necessary.
#### **6. Theoretical Frameworks and Methodological Adjustments**
– Students struggled to connect their frameworks logically with their data.
– Recommendation: Review related studies that have measured similar concepts (e.g., legitimacy and policy reforms).
– Guidance on refining operational definitions, metrics, and data collection tools to strengthen their arguments.
– Process tracing and media analysis methodologies were introduced as potential analytical tools.
#### **7. Advice on Structuring Theses and Using Visual Aids**
– Questions raised about structuring appendices, tables, and figures:
– Encourage referring to APSA style guidelines for proper formatting.
– Use ChatGPT or Google for APSA formatting clarification.
– No strict limit on tables, but they should be placed strategically.
#### **8. Resources for Improving Research**
– Students were encouraged to use government records, NGO reports, and historical documents if academic sources were limited.
– The instructor offered assistance in retrieving paywalled journal articles by providing DOI numbers.
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### **Actionable Items**
#### **Urgent – Research Development Tasks**
– **Students struggling with methodology (e.g., Mirzael, Farhunda, Danaya) must refine their frameworks.**
– Ensure clear links between their research variables.
– Consult supervisor and book a session with the instructor for additional guidance.
– **Danaya must resolve social media data collection strategy (web scraping ASAP).**
– **Masiha needs to locate tangible primary sources for rule of law impact in Afghanistan.**
– **Farhunda must differentiate her research from existing literature to avoid summarization.**
– Consider adding analysis of modernization, failed tribal integration, or colonial legal influences.
#### **Reading Assignments for Next Week**
– **All students must read two upcoming articles on:**
– **Process tracing methodology**
– **Media content analysis techniques**
– These will help with analytical structuring in Chapter Three of their theses.
#### **General Recommendations**
– **Translate non-English sources systematically with validation from native speakers.**
– **Improve specificity in justifying source selection and filtering criteria.**
– **Ensure primary data collection methods are replicable and clearly documented.**
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This report summarizes key discussions and next steps for students in finalizing their methodological approaches. **Ensuring methodological rigor and refining operational research questions will be crucial in the upcoming weeks.**
Homework Instructions:
NO HOMEWORK.
There was no direct mention of a homework assignment being given to students during the lesson. The primary focus of the discussion was on students’ research projects, sources, methodologies, and analytical frameworks, rather than assigning specific tasks to be completed outside of class.