Zaharah Hassan
Abu Daud Silong,
Pusat Pengajian Umum,
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Date: 25 October 2001
Time: 12.00-12.30
 

Qualitative research is becoming more important as a mode of inquiry in social science. However, social scientists who are conducting qualitative research have a major problem of selecting a suitable and proper research design because they are faced with a lot of choices. To ensure the success of any research, every researcher has the responsibility to come up with a sound research design. In this paper, the author discusses the design of qualitative research related to "Behaviors and Leader Styles of Women Academic Leaders". Since this is on going research, not all aspects of the design are discussed in details. Specifically, three main sections of the design are discussed, that is, in the beginning, during and towards the end of the study. Among major areas that are deliberated in the paper are the selection of the topic of the study, questions that guide the study and selection of the strategy used, triangulation and the question of credibility.. Based on the discussion, a general guideline is recommended for those who wish to conduct a research using a similar design.