Lecture 2 and 3: Ethics, Theory, Reflexivity + research problem

causality

variable X causes variable Y → tested for using true experiments

confounding variables

third variables in causality claims that might be the real cause

correlation analysis and surveys test

associations not causality

why do we “fail to reject the null” instead of “accepting the alternate hypothesis”

like guilty vs not guilty (judges never prove innocense) → can never definitively prove a theory (innocence) but you provide reasons that make the alternate (guilt) unlikely

why do we need theory instead of directly studying associations between variables

need to propose and prove your research is significant → need grants, funding, approval, etc

what does theory inform

• what variables to study

• why variables are related

• why a relationship is meanigful

• how to interpretate results

• what findings contribute to existing knowledge

theory gives us the ___ behind the research

rationale → provides the why. however not to be confused with overgneralizing the data

theory is not be confused

what does reflexivity describe

decribes ongoing self awarness as a research of how your background might affect the research at hand

features of relfexivity in research

• continuous

• collaborative → incoperate the whole research team and participants

• multifaceted → consider the context, analysis, etc

• embedded throughout the manuscript

ways of practicing reflexivity throughout research

• reflexivity journal

• keep memos

• discuss reflexivity as a team

• participant reflection

• document methodological

four types of reflexivity

• personal

• interpersonal

• methodological

• contextual

four types of reflexivity: personal

reflecting on 1) past expereinces and b) how it shapes your interpretation of the study

four types of reflexivity: interpersonal reflexivity

relfecting on the relationship between you and other individuals involved

four types of reflexivity: methodological reflexivity

how do the methods impact findings (eg private vs public)

four types of reflexivity: contextual reflexivity

how the place, culture, and time effects the study

which type of research approach is reflexivity most needed for

quantitative data bcs its subjective

6 types of reviews

• narratuve reviews

• scoping reviews

• systematic reviews

• meta analysis

• rapid review

• umbrella review

6 types of reviews: narrative reviews

aka literature or traditional review

• qualitative summary of previous research

• flexible search protocols

6 types of reviews: scoping reviews

• maps all existing evidence and gaps without assessing quality

• strict inclusion criteria pre-set → aims to answer specific q and be reproducible

6 types of reviews: systematic reviews

• asses quality of all existing evdiecne in the literature

• strict inclusion criteria pre-set → aims to answer specific q and be reproducible

6 types of reviews: meta analysis

• combines results of multiple studies, usually within systematic reviews

• strict protocol → answers specific research qs

6 types of reviews: rapid reviews

shortened systematic review

6 types of reviews: umbrella reviews

no individual studies, just a high level of available evidence → not recommended

research problem vs topic

topic → general subject of the study

problem → specific issue or q about the topic requiring investigation

steps of starting research

1. purpose statement → whats the objective?

2. research topic/problem → issue in a subject area

3. map research problem

features of a purpose statment in qual research

• focus on single idea → aims to describe, understand, develop, explore

• inductive

• indentifies participants and setting

• includes the methodolodgy (eg grounded theory)

features of a purpose statment in quant research

• focus on relationships → aims to examine, test, determine, compare

• deductive

• indentifies sample/population and variables

• includes the design (eg survey, experiment)

general steps to mapping your research question

topic → problem → gap → purpose → research question