Ch. 2: WHERE TO START
Idea outline
Idea to hypothesis; design study to conduct study; analyze data to interpret results; report results to refine hypothesis = new knowledge. REPEAT.
Intro
Outlines problems investigated; goes into past research and theories; formal hypotheses or specific expectations of the present research are introduced and connected to past research.
Prediction
a statement that makes an assertion concerning what will occur in a particular research investigation
Hypothesis
a tentative question waiting for evidence to support or refute it
Anatomy of research article
abstract, intro, method, results, discussion
Supported/unsupported
hypothesis
Confirmed/Disconfirmed
predictions
Discussion
review research from various perspectives; explain how the results compare with past results; including suggestions for practical implications; including suggestions for future research on the topic; present methodolical weaknesses and or strengths.
Method
subsections depend upon the complexity of design: overview of design, characteristics of participants, procedure, equipment or testing materials. PRECISE
Abstract
summary of research report; 120 words or less; includes hypothesis, procedure, and broad pattern of results; typically last part written
Theories
systematic body of ideas that: organize and explain, generate new knowledge, can be modified by new research
Source of ideas
Common sense; observations of personal and social event; theories; past research; practical problems
Results
findings presented three ways: description in narrative form; description in stats language; material in table or graph
Learning objectives
Discuss how a hypothesis differs from a prediction; Describe the different sources of ideas for research; Identify the two functions of a theory; Summarize the information included in the abstract, introduction, method, results, and discussion sections of research articles