Chapter 2 : Where to Start

5 sections of empirical research

abstract, intro/literature review, method, results, discussion

informants

are the people who help researchers understand the dynamics of particular cultural and organizational settings

meta-analysis

used statistical procedures to analyze the results of a number of studies and draw statistical conclusions

respondents

who take part in survey research

method subsection 2

described the characteristics of the participants

three basic types of research reports

literature, theory articles, empirical articles

method subsection 1

presents an overview of the design to prepare the reader for the material that follows

literature reviews

provides summaries of previous research on a particular topic

theory articles

summarize and integrate research to provide a new framework for understanding something

abstract

summary of the research report / 150-250 words

introduction

the researcher outlines the problem that has been investigated

discussion

the researcher reviews the research from various perspectives

appendix A

ends with an entire article in manuscript form

prediction

follows directly from a hypothesis / is testable / includes specifics

facilitated communication

intended to help children who are diagnosed with autism

empirical research article

is a report of a study in which data we gathered to help answer a research question

theory

is a systematic body of ideas about a particular topic or phenomenon

hypothesis

is a tentative answer to the research question

what do theories do

organize and explain a variety of specific facts / generate new knowledge

two functions of a theory

1. organize/explain a variety of specific facts 2. generate new knowledge by focusing out thinking so that we notice new aspects of behavior

PsycINFO

is a digital database that maintains abstracts of articles in psychology and related disciplines, indexed by topic areas

how is the hypothesis supported

is a prediction is confirmed by the results of the study

scientific theory

is grounded in actual data from prior research as well as numerous hypotheses that are consistent

research question

is the first and most general step in the research process / must be specific