chapter 1 conducting & reading research baumgartner et al chapter 1 nature and purpose of...
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Chapter 1Conducting & Reading
ResearchBaumgartner et al
Chapter 1
Nature and Purpose of Research
Chapter 1Conducting & Reading
ResearchBaumgartner et al
• Profession: Knowledge– Publications of new work– New knowledge may challenge old
beliefs
• Research: Way to obtain new knowledge– Requires unique set of skills
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What is Research?
• Usually systematic, organized• Usually focused on question of
interest• Searches for “truth”• Should be free of bias and should
be objective
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Search for “Truth” – Where do your beliefs come from?
• Custom and tradition• Authority• Personal experience• Deductive reasoning• Scientific inquiry
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Deductive reasoning (logic)
• Direction of thinking from general assumption to specific application
• Syllogism:
• Major weakness:
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Induction
• Direction of thinking is from the specific to the general
• Basic principle of scientific inquiry• Researcher observes individual or
group from larger population
• Perfect induction vs. imperfect induction
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Scientific Method
• Integration of deduction and induction by Charles Darwin
• Series of logical steps that define a pathway to acquire knowledge
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Scientific Method - steps
1. Identifying the problem2. Formulating a hypothesis3. Developing a Research Plan4. Collecting and analyzing the data5. Interpreting results and forming
conclusions• Frequently return to Step 1!
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1) Identifying the problem
• Problem needs to be:
• Specify a problem statement
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2) Formulating a hypothesis
• What is a hypothesis?– Belief, hunch, prediction about what
you think the data will look like at the end of the study and what that will mean
• Exploratory studies may not have a hypothesis
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3) Developing a Research Plan
• MOST IMPORTANT STEP!• Strategy for collecting and
analyzing data1. Methodology2. Subject composition, recruitment3. Procedures for obtaining data
(interviews, questionnaires, lab tests?)
4. Analysis methods
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4) Collecting and analyzing data
• Follow procedures from step 3 (hopefully!)
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5) Interpreting results and forming conclusions
• How does the data you gathered support/refute the hypothesis?
• Goal of the conclusions is to provide an explanation of the results (not just restate them)
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Application of Scientific Method
• Not always possible to control and design your dream experiment
• Many differences between natural science and social sciences in application
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Theory
• Belief or assumption about how things relate to each other
• Establishes cause-effect relationship with goal of explaining and predicting
• Example: benefit of exercise on human health
• May lead to development of new hypotheses!
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Research Classifications
• Basic research• Applied research• Quantitative research• Qualitative research• Experimental research• Causal-comparative research• Descriptive research• Correlationl research• Historical research
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Basic research
• Pure, fundamental
• Theoretical
• Goal is to discover new knowledge & develop new theory
• May not have immediate practical value
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Applied research
• Goal is to solve immediate practical problem
• Hopes to make inferences beyond study sample to larger population
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Quantitative research
• Collection & analysis of numerical data
• Use direct testing1. Questions clearly stated2. Hypotheses3. Well-developed procedures4. Controls for extraneous factors5. Large samples6. Statistical analyses
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Qualitative research
• Extensive observations & in-depth interviews
• Non-numerical data• Usually conducted in “natural”
settings (less control)• Situational-specific results
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Experimental research
• Exploration of cause and effect
• Manipulation of independent variables
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Causal-comparative research
• Tries to explain cause and effect
• Independent variable not manipulated
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Descriptive research
• Information is collected to systematically, factually, and accurately describe certain characteristics
• Focus on the present (what is)• Frequently comes before
experimental research
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Correlational research
• Nonexperimental• Related to descriptive and causal-
comparative• Determine extent of relationship
between 2 variables and try to make predictions
• No variable manipulation
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Historical research
• Nonexperimental
• Qualitative and descriptive
• Try to record and understand past events to predict future events
• Limited to study of data that already exist