DSR Final

Action research

research aim gradually changes, solving a practical problem, recommendation + implementation from researcher

Analytical framework

schematic overview of relations between variables

Analytical generlisability

application of results of case study to modify/extended theory

Answering tendencies

patterns of respondents answers diverging from true answers

artefacts

1)objects used in empirical research 2)statistical analyses: artificial effects by-product of actual analyses

axiom

theoretical statement based on empirical research

bivariate

study of relation between two variables

case study

research strategy of one/two cases of test subject in everyday setting

case study protocal

overview of choices made and steps taken in case study

causality

cause-effect relationship between two events; effect of x on y

code book

overview of variables in study and values they assume in data matrix

coding

assigning a code to empirical data during analysis

cohort

homogenous group of units of study sharing certain characteristic

conditions

circumstances showing effect of x on y

construct

theoretical concept or phenomenon that is tangible cannot be measured directly

content analysis

method for gathering and analysing content of existing data sources

control group

units of study not subjected to experimental condition/stimulus

control items

questions or statements in questionnaire to counter answering tendencies

control variables

variables in the analysis to limit their potential interfering influence

correlation

statistically provable relation between two or more variables

cross-sectional design

units of study in the sample are divided into groups sharing common characteristic

data inspection

checking dataset for 1)errors made during data entry 2)statistical features eg mean and spread 3)representativeness of sample

data management plan

plan to describe management of data collection, storage, analysis and making public

data matrix

format for storing quantitative data. rows give data/scores per unit of study; columns show variables

data sources

person, documents, sources of information used for research

deduction

process of deriving suppositions or hypotheses from theory

Delphi method

multi-stage interviewing technique where experts react to questions from researchers or fellow experts; after round of questions research writes report used as input for next round; ends with plenary discussion

desciption

research aimed at describing subject of study

design

research aimed at arriving at a solution to practical problem or formulate recommendations

diagnosis

research aimed at pinpointing the area of struggle in a certain situation

dichotomy

answers that can only assume two shapes eg yes/no

discourse analysis

analysis of contents of a text, use of language

double hermeneutics

risk of research reinterpreting the subject of study, leads to layering of interpretations, lower validity and reliability

elite interview

interview with respondents with important positions in the research situation and are knowledgeable on the subjects of study

empirical

reality and real life; data gathered in real everyday setting

empirical-analytical apparoach

view on science and research tjat stresses testing of theoretical laws and falsification of hypotheses=objectivity, quantitative, emphasis on validity and reliability

empirical cycle

different stages of doing research

endogenous variables

variables part of research situation

epistemology

philosophy of knowledge based on question of whether possible to gain objective knowledge of reality

estimation error

certain amount of unexplained variance in scores=random deviations

ethics committee

committee that assesses ethical aspects of a study

evaluation research

research aimed at establishing whether a certain policy target has been reached. can be ex ante (before) or ex post (after) policy implementation

Existing data sources

data sources produced by others can be primary and secondary data

exogenous variables

variables outside of research situation but can/do exert influence on x and y

experiment

research strategy in which units of study (subjects) divided in two groups; experimental group subjected to stimulus; comparison of pre-test and post-test measurements of both=effect of stimulus established; emphasis on causality

expert

someone who can give advice on selection of cases or documents or can be interviewed for consultancy purposes

exploration research

when little to nothing is known on subject of study; results are a descriptione

external validity

generalisability of research findings to other units of study or different periods and locations

factor analysis

form of statistical analysis used for distilling the common relation between several variables which together constitute a factor; factor not easily captured in one measurement because involves intangible construct

falsification

process of rejecting theoretical predictions or hypotheses by proving the false; as long as hypothesis cannot be refuted it holds true

field experiment

experiment conducted outside the laboratory in everyday setting

focus group

interviewing technique with a group of respondents who have an open discussion led by a moderator

fsQCA

technique for the systematic analysis of qualitative data

fundamental research

research aimed at testing existing theories or formulating new theories

hidden observation

observation technique in which researcher does not get involved in the research situation

Holism

an approach that tries to regard the subject of study as one whole with all relevant contextual features; used for interpretative approach to science

hypothesis

testable prediction in the form of a statement on the change that under conditions will be observed in y as result in change in x

independent variable

variable that causes the effect or change that is the interest of the researcher

induction

deriving axioms from empirical data with aim of formulating new theories

informants

people who are not or no longer involved in the research situation but can provide relevant information to researcher

informed consent

active mostly written consent of repondents/participants to participate in research and have their data used

interdisciplinary

researcher/piece of research integrate knowledge from different disciplines

internal validity

soundness + effectiveness of research. measuring what is really intended to be measured

interpretative approach

philosophy of science which takes the subjectivity of observation as starting point; everyone has different perception of reality

inter-researcher reliability

degree to which measurements or observations of the same phenomenon by different researcher produce same results

inter-subjectivity

knowledge is only valid if it is based on criteria set and agreed on by group of people; validity shared by group but not based on objective criteria

intervening variables

variables that influence the effect of independent on dependent inter

interview

conversation in which researcher poses questions to one or more respondents to gather information on subject of study

interview manual

list of topics or questions for discussion in semi-structured interview

intra-researcher reliability

degree to which several measurements taken by same researcher of several of comparable research phenomena give same results

items

questions or statements in questionnaire

key figure

someone with postion in research situation that enables them to inform researcher about suitability of respondents or document for the study

level of measurement

the kind of values a variable can assume

nominal

variable is measured through values that are in no order

ordinal

variable is measured through values that are ordered but not at regular intervals

interval

variable is measured through ordered values at regular intervals

ratio

variables is measured through equally distant and ordered values

Likert scale

scale used in questionnaires consisting of an uneven number of answer categories

log notes

made by researcher on the decisions made and events that occurred in the course of the study; used to reconstruct research situation

longitudinal research

study with wider time frame, several measurements taken different moments in time

manipulating variables

researcher fully determines which variables will and will not play a role

matching

1) in experiment: dividing test population into experimental group and control group based on equal division of certain characteristics 2) analysis of qualitative data: pattern matching is identifying certain patterns in data

mechanism

the relation between variables in theory or model given certain conditions

member check

presenting research results to the units of study

meta-analysis

method for gathering and analysing existing data from previously conducted studies

multidisciplinary

knowledge from different disciplines is applied at the same time

narrative analysis

form of textual analysis in which information is used to construct a story

multivariate analysis

statistical analysis with several independent variables

non-probability sample

sample in which units of study are selected consciously and purposefully

normative

research conclusion or theory that is prescriptive instead of descriptive

object of knowledge

central object of study in a discipline

observation

research method in which researcher draws conclusions based on observing peoples behaviour.o

observation scheme or protocol

instrument for noting down observations including categories and used to structure observation process

observer effect

subjects or respondents will modify their behaviour when they are aware of being studied

ontology

philosophy of ‘being’ that revolves around the questions of whether reality truly existsop

open access

the availability of academic publications and data to other researchers and general public

open observation

observation technique where the researcher is present in the research situation but does not interact with units of study

operationalisation

process of translating theoretical concepts into variable that can be measured

outlier

score or results that deviates significantly from other observations or measurements

panel study

form of longitudinal research in which same units of study (panel) are measured at several points in time