During an asynchronous question and answer session with George Veletsiano, professor and researcher in the field of learning and technology at Royal Roads University, I was able to gain new knowledge and reinforce my perspectives on research.

A research concept I learned through the session was snowball sampling. This is when a researcher uses research participants to help find other participants within their network. As George explained, this is used when a researcher is trying to study a particular phenomenon within a group of people or identify participants with specific traits that may not be easy to access. Presumably, a participant that is part of a unique group will know others that share that same uniqueness the researcher wants to study. As more participants join the study, they will bring in others, hence a snowball effect.

A perspective George reinforced, was the diligence needed to carry out research in general. Over several questions he stressed the needed to have a well thought out plan around the research question being studied. In addition, having clear and open communication with the participants was identified as being essential. Though this is understandable and mandatory in terms of having consent from participants, he expressed his desire to try and go beyond what is required of researchers. This mindset creates a better research study in terms of authentic participation from research participants and thus, a study less prone to error.

 

Reference:

Veletsianos, G. (2019). Questions about Research for George Veletsiano [Audio recording]. Retrieved from https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yzG3Sqo0wImXN0tUf9dcjXODISiSYt9gH8_gJnMC_hY/edit