Introduction
Unit 7: Research Skills
What is Research?
Researchis the application of the scientific method and a systematic process
of collecting and logically analyzing information (data)
Research may be defined as the systematic and objective analysis and
recording of controlled observations that may lead to the development of
generalizations, principles, or theories, resulting in prediction and possible
control of events
(Best and Kahn, 1998).
The main goal of research is the gathering and interpreting of information to
answer questions , in a systematic way
(Hyllegard, Mood, and Morrow, 1996).
What is Research?
Research is what we do when we have a question or a problem we
want to resolve
We may already think we know the answer to our question already
We may think the answer is obvious, common sense even
But until we have subjected our problem to rigorous scientific
scrutiny, our 'knowledge' remains little more than guesswork or at
best, intuition.
What is Research?
First priority is to formulate your question
Then figure out how you are going to answer
it
How have others answered it?
How does your proposal fit in with what others have
done?
How will you know when you have answered it?
Then you can present your answer
Research Methodology
Research Methods (Methodology)
the ways one collects and analyzes data
methods developed for acquiring trustworthy
knowledge via reliable and valid procedures
Classical scientific method
Observation of some phenomenon
Maybe systematic, occasional or accidental
Some idea of an explanation (hypothesis)
Induction, conjecture, intuition, guesswork
Usually informed by related work
Testing of the hypothesis
Test and revision cycle
Types of Research
Trochims Classifications
descriptive
e.g., percentage of regular exercisers
relational
e.g., link between age and exercise
causal
e.g., effect of behavior change intervention on exercise
participation
Types of Research
Other Common Classifications
basic vs. applied vs. evaluation
experimental vs. non-experimental
analytical vs. descriptive vs. experimental vs.
qualitative
Key Concepts and Issues in
Research
time in research
variables
types of relationships
hypotheses
types of data
fallacies
structure or research
deduction and induction
ethics
validity
Time in Research
cross-sectional vs. longitudinal
repeated measures
time series
Variables
variable
any observation that can take on different values
attribute
a specific value on a variable
Variable
Age
Gender or sex
Satisfaction
Attribute
18, 19, 20, etc...
Male, female
1 = very satisfied
2 = satisfied
3= somewhat satisfied
4 = not satisfied
5 = not satisfied at all
Types of Variables
independent variable (IV)
what you (or nature) manipulates in some way
dependent variable (DV)
what you presume to be influenced by the IV
Types of Relationships
correlational vs. causal relationships
variables perform in a
synchronized manner
one variable causes the other
variable
correlation does not imply causation!
(its necessary but not sufficient)
patterns of relationships
no relationship
positive relationship
negative relationship
curvilinear relationship
