RESEARCH Lessons 1 - 3 (1Q)
Inductive reasoning
"bottom up" approach
Deductive reasoning
"top down" approach
Key objectives of sampling design
- avoidance of bias - attainment of maximum precision
Characteristics of research
- controlled - rigorous - systematic - valid & Verifiable - empirical - critical
Types of research objectives
- descriptive - correlational - explanatory - exploratory
Scientific research
- exploration and observation - gathering and analyzing data - forming and testing hypotheses
Research report
- informs the world of the conclusions of your findings - written in academic style or scientific writing - is divided into chapters or sections based on your study
Collection of data
- involves interviews, questionnaires, conducting nominal/focus group discussions, or making observations - requires ethical clearance
Hypothesis must be
- testable - in the scope of science
Purely descriptive analysis
- use dissertation/report on the basis of your field notes - content analysis
Expectations of research
- within a framework of a set of philosophies - use procedures, methods, and techniques that have been tested for their validity, and reliability - unbiased and objective
Science
Latin for 'knowledge'
Research Proposal
a plan that specifies what information will be obtained and how
Pure research
a type of scientific investigation that seeks to gain knowledge for the sake of knowledge itself
Subjectivity
an integral part of way of thinking
Quantitative research
analytical
Research tools and instruments
anything that becomes a means of collecting information for your study
Qualitative research
authentic (not necessarily value-free)
Inductive reasoning
based on premises
Theory
broader in scope
Explanatory research
clarify why and how there is a relationship between two aspects of a situation or phenomenon
Step 6 of research process
collecting data
Backtracking
compiling a set of all possible solutions
Step 2 of research process
conceptualize research design
Deductive reasoning
conclusion follows from premises (available facts)
Empirical research
conclusions are based upon hard evidence from real life experiences or observations
Valid and verifiable research
conclusions are correct and verifiable
Phase III of research
conducting research study step six to step eight
Step 3 of research process
construct instruments for data collection
Hypothesis
constructed before any research has been done
Phase I of research
deciding what to research step one
Bias
deliberate attempt to conceal or highlight something
Evidence-based practice
delivery of services based upon research evidence about their effectiveness
Accuracy
depends on sample selection
Descriptive research
describe systematically a situation, problem, phenomenon, service, or program or attempts to provide information
Goal of qualitative research
describe variation (perspective)
Quantitative research
discovers regularities/formulates theories
Subjectivity is influenced by
education, discipline, philosophy, experience, and skills
Correlational research
establish the existence of a relationship between two or more aspects of a situation
Controlled experiment
experimental group is compared with control group
Hypothesis
explanation based on observations and assumptions that lead to testable predictions
Qualitative research
explores experiences
Variables
features or quantities that vary in an experiment
Step 1 of research process
formulate research problem
Purely quantitative analysis
frequency distribution, cross-tabulations or other statistical procedures such as regression analysis, factor analysis, and analysis of variance
Theory
general enough to lead to new, testable hypotheses
Deductive reasoning
general to specific
Inductive reasoning
generalizations from data analyses and specific observations
Qualitative research
has fewer cases
Quantitative research
has greater sample size to represent population
Scientific Method
idealized process of inquiry
Exploratory research
investigate the possibilities of undertaking a particular research study
Feasibility study
investigation that gauges the probability of success of a proposed project and provides a rough assessment of the project's feasibility
Pure research
involves developing and testing theories and hypotheses that are intellectually challenging
Process of inquiry
making observations, forming logical hypotheses, and testing them
Controlled research
minimize effects of other factors affecting the relationship between two variables
Hypothesis
more narrow in scope
Qualitative research
narrative
Pure research
no practical application at the present time or in the future
Quantitative data
numerical measurements, tables, graphs
Quantitative research
objective (rationalism)
Phase II of research
planning a research study step two to step five
Systematic research
procedures adopted to undertake an investigation follow a certain logical sequence
Rigorous research
procedures are relevant, appropriate, and justifiable
Critical research
process must be foolproof and free from any drawbacks
Step 7 of research process
processing and displaying data
Biologists rely on
published contributions of fellow scientists or "peer-reviewed publication"
Types of research
pure and applied
Goal of quantitative research
quantify extent of variation, focuses on measurement and classification
Mode of inquiry
quantitative or qualitative
Types of sampling design
random/probability and non random/non probability
Qualitative data
recorded descriptions
Data
recorded observations
Quantitative research
reliable and objective (value-free)
Starting point of research process
research questions / destination
Final line of research process
research steps
Applied research
research techniques, procedures, and methods that form the body of research methodology are applied to the collection of information
Applied research
scientific study that aims to solve practical problems
Experiment
scientific test carried out under controlled conditions
Inquiry
search for information and explanations of natural phenomena
Step 4 of research process
select samples
Inductive reasoning
specific observations to broader generalizations
Hypothesis
specific prediction based on specific observation
Quantitative research
statistics
Research Design
strategy (or "blueprint") for deciding how to collect and analyze research information.
Quantitative research
structured and predetermined
Qualitative research
subjective (empiricism)
Theory
supported by large body of evidence
Research
the systematic study of materials and sources
Dependent variable
the variable predicted to be affected
Qualitative research
theme/description
Things to consider in research
time, finance, expertise, knowledge
Goal of research
to establish facts and reach new conclusions
Qualitative research
unstructured and flexible
Qualitative research
used to explore the nature of the problem
Field testing
used to test instrument
Deductive reasoning
uses general premises to make specific predictions
Independent variable
variable that is manipulated
Step 5 of research process
write research proposal
Step 8 of research process
writing research report