PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1 11: Research

Covers p. 9-20 of the book.

Research

Pertains to any systematic investigation of any social or natural phenomena where results and conclusions are aimed at contributing to generalizable knowledge.

Scientific Research

Research that contributes to a body of science and follows the scientific method.

Scientific Method

Refers to a standardized set of techniques for building scientific knowledge, such as how to make valid observations, how to interpret results, and how to generalize those results.

Inductive research

• Also known as theory-building/qualitative research.

• It follows a bottom-up approach to research, beginning from specific observations explored through in-depth data collection that would lead to the identification of themes that become the basis of more general conclusions.

Deductive research

• Also known as theory research-testing/quantitative research.

• Proceeds in a top-down approach to research that tests general principles by testing hypothesis that lead to more specific conclusions.

Basic research

• Also known as theoretical research.

• Aims at testing existing theories or generating new theories to advance knowledge or understanding.

Applied research

• Uses knowledge acquired through research in order to contribute directly to the understanding or resolution of practical issues.

Exploratory research

Often conducted in new areas of inquiry, where the goals of this research are:

• Scope out the extent of a particular phenomenon/problem/behavior

• Generate some initial ideas about tthat phenomenon

• Test the feasibility of undertaking a more extensive study regarding that phenomenon.

Descriptive research

Directed at making careful observations and detailed documentation of a phenomenon of interest.

Explanatory research

• Seeks explanations of observed phenomena, problems, or behaviors.

• Answers “why” and “how”

Research design

• The entire strategic plan of how to go about finding the answers to your research question.

• A blueprint for the collection, processing, measurement, and analysis of data.

Research methodology

• Provides the justification for your research design.

• Bridges your ontological and epistemological assumptions or positions to your choice of data collection and analysis methods and procedures.

Ontology

Pertains to the nature or object of social reality & assumptions about how we see the world.

Epistemology

Links to the process or act of knowing or acquiring knowledge & assumptions about the best way to study the world.

Research methods

Tools and techniques that researchers use to gather data.

Inductive reasoning

Draws conclusions based on facts or observed evidence.

Deductive reasoning

Draws conclusions about a phenomenon or behavior based on theoretical reasons and an initial set of premises.

Empirical Sources of Knowledge

Comes from direct sensory experience, observation, and experimentation.

Non-empirical Sources of Knowledge

Derived from reason, intuition, authority, personal reflection, and logical deduction, without relying on new data collection through observation.

IMRAD

Introduction, Methodology, Results, And Discussions.