field methods (lesson 1)

research

is derived from the French word "recherche" which is means "to go about seeking".

research

is an activity that aims to develop or contribute to knowledge that can be generalized (including theories, principles, relationships), or any accumulation of information using scientific methods, observation, inference, and analysis.

applied research

basic/pure research

Two categories of research:

applied research

aims to solve a specific problem.

basic/pure research

has no immediate application to solve a specific problem.

tenacity

intuition

authority

rationalism

empiricism

METHODS OF KNOWING AND ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE

tenacity

Information is accepted as true because it has always been believed or because superstition supports it.

tenacity

Information acquired might not be accurate and a belief that is widely accepted on the basis of tenacity is very difficult to change.

intuition

Information is accepted on the basis of hunch or "gut feeling".

intuition

No mechanism for separating accurate from inaccurate knowledge.

authority

A person relies on information or answers from an expert in the subject area.

authority

Answers obtained from an expert could represent subjective, personal opinion rather than true expert knowledge

authority

People often accept expert's statement without question.

rationalism

Seek answers by the use of logical reasoning.

Rational Method

does not involve directly observing or actively gathering information

empiricism

Uses observation or direct sensory experience to obtain knowledge.

empiricism

Time consuming and dangerous.

scientific methods

allows researchers to create a body of knowledge that involves steps for ensuring that the information will correct.

SPENCER RATHUS (2017)

a psychologist, describes the scientific process in research.

Step 1: Formulating research question/Find a research idea: Select a topic and Search the Literature to Find an unanswered questions

Step 2: Form a hypothesis

Step 3: Determine how you will define and measure your variables

Step 4: Identify the participants or subjects of the study, decide how they will be selected, and plan for their ethical treatment

Step 5: Select a research strategy

Step 6: Collect the study

Step 7: Evaluate the data

Step 8: Report the results

Step 9: Refine or reformulate your research idea

steps of scientific methods

null hypothesis

alternative hypothesis

two ways of stating hypothesis

null hypothesis

suggest that no statistical relationship and significance exist among a set of variables.

alternative hypothesis

is the contrary to the null hypothesis. It is usually the expectation based on theory.

PERSONAL INTERESTS AND CURIOSITIES

CASUAL OBSERVATIONS

REPORTS OF OTHERS OBSERVATION

PRACTICAL PROBLEMS OR QUESTIONS

COMMON SOURCES OF RESEARCH TOPIC

primary sources

secondary sources

Conducting Literature Search:

primary sources

is a firsthand report of observations or research results written by the individual (s) who actually conducted the research and made the observation.(Theses, dissertations, empirical journal articles

secondary sources

is a description or summary of another person’s work. (Books, Textbooks)

1. PsycINFO

2. PsycARTICLES

3. ERIC (Education Resource Information Center)

4. MEDLINE with Full Text

Databases:

Databases

contains about one million publications, or records, that are all cross-referenced by subject words and authors name.

1. To gain general familiarity with the current research in your specific area of interest.

2. To find a small set of research studies that will serve as the basis for your own research idea.

Purpose of Literature Search

field research or studies

are nonexperimental approaches used in the field or in real-life setting.

field research or studies

It is a research method that collects raw data outside the laboratory, school or workplace.

field research or studies

It includes wide range of methods, such as observation, surveys, interviews, case study etc.

field research or studies (uses and importance)

It is important in both social and natural sciences.

field research or studies (uses and importance)

Field research allows researcher to explore behavior that probably would not be seen in the laboratory.

field research or studies (uses and importance)

It allows researchers to collect data about places, people and species in a natural environment.

field research or studies (uses and importance)

It enables students and researchers to examine the way scientific theories interact with real-life situations.