introduction to scientific research for psychologist

Cross-Cultural Research Methodologies: Quantitative Methods (1/6)

Prof. Dr. Hora Tjitra & Dr. He Quan

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Agenda: Cross-Cultural Research Methodology - Quantitative Research Method

1. Quantitative Methods• Introduction• Our Research• What is Science

3. Scales & Reliability• Intercultural Competence (1)• Scales & Variables• Reliability Analysis

5. Statistical Analysis• Hypothesis Testing• Inference Statistic• SPSS Introduction

2. Research Design & Validity• Complex Problem Solving• Designing Quant. Research• Good Quality - Validity

4. Survey Research• Intercultural Competence (2)• Questionnaire Design• Sampling Method

6. Research Articles• Basic structure of articles• Understanding

Scientific Journals

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What is the science ?

Knowledge

The process of science inquiry

Identifying the problem

Design the research

Conducting the research

Analyzing the data

Communicating the research

result

... a process or method for generating a body of knowledge. Science, therefore, represents a logic of inquiry or a specific method to be followed in solving problems and thus acquiring a body of knowledge (Christensen, 2004)

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The four objectives of science

Description: The portrayal of a

situation or phenomenon

Prediction…. The ability to

anticipate the occurrence of an event

Objectives…To understand the World in which we

live

Control… The manipulation of a

condition that determine the phenomenon

Explanation… Determination of the

cause of a given phenomenon

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Characteristics of the scientific approach

… it allows us to obtain knowledge that is free of bias and opinion (objective knowledge)

Control: Eliminating the influence of any extraneous variables that can affect observation. It enables scientist to identify the causes of their observation.

Operationism: The definition of concepts by the operations used to attain or measure them. Science must be specific and precise and that concepts must be defined by the steps or operations used to measure them.

Replication: The observation made must be replicable. The data obtained in an experiment must be reliable - the same results must be found if the study is repeated.

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e.g. Sales Training and Annual Revenue Laboratory Experiments

Causes / Treatments /Independent Variables

Effects / Outcomes /Dependent Variables

Comparison / Experimental / Control Units

Extraneous Forces / Controlled Setting

The Concept of Casual Inference

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The role of theory in science

Observations from use of the scientific

method

Initial formulation

of the theory

Test of predictions using the scientific method

Prediction confirmedPrediction refuted

Indicates theory

is inaccurate

Generations predictions

Indicates theory is useful in accounting for a

phenomenon

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Quantitative and Qualitative Research Paradigm

Quantitative Method

• Laboratory

• „hard“ Method

• Natural Science

• Deductive

• Nomothetic

• Explanation

Qualitative Method

• Field

• „soft“ Method

• Social / Humanistic Science

• Inductive

• Idiographic

• Understanding

adapted from Bortz, 1995

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Quality Factors of Qualitative Research

Process Documentation

Argumentative Interpretation Assurance

Following Rules

Closeness to the Research Object

Communicative Validation

Triangulation

Flick, 2003

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Triangulation: Three Pillars of Good Qualitative Research

Data Resources

Interpreter

TheoriesMethods

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The Three Quality Factors of Scientific (Quantitative) Research

... the best available approximation to the truth or falsity of propositions, incl. propositions about cause.

Objectivity

Validity

Reliability ... is the "consistency" or "repeatability" of your measures. A measure is considered reliable if it would give us the same result over and over again.

... is standardized situation as well as analyzing and interpretation process in performing psychological research.

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Quantitative Research Methods

Experimental Quasi-Experimental Single Case

Experimental Research Approaches

Observation Survey Research Unobtrusive Measures of Behavior

Non-Experimental Research Approaches (Descriptive Methods)

• The most basic and oldest research method.

• Quantitative and Qualitative

• Asking people directly about their opinions and attitude

• Questionnaire

• Examining physical traces of behavior and archival records.

• E.g. clock in different cultures

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Combining Qualitative and Quantitative methods

QUAL QUAN Results

QUAL to develop QUAN tool

QUAL Results QUAN

QUAL and QUAN equal

QUAL

QUAN Results

QUAL to explain QUAN results

QUAL

QUAN

Results

QUAB to enlarge on QUAL study

Tashakkori & Teddlie, 1998

@ Tjitra, 2010

Thanks YouAny comments & quest ions

are welcomeContact me at hora_t@sianuonline.com

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