Practical Research 1 - Fundamentals of Research (1st MT)

Research

any systematic investigation of any social or natural phenomena where the results and conclusions are aimed at contributing to general knowledge

Requirements of Research

data should be collected, analyzed, and interpreted to understand, describe, control, or predict a phenomenon

Scientific research

research that contributes to a field or body of science and follows the scientific method

Scientific method

a standardized set of techniques for building scientific knowledge

Inductive and Deductive reasoning

ways of conducting scientific research

Inductive reasoning

- theory building

- follows a bottom-up approach

1. from specific observations or facts that are seen to be relevant

2. explored through indepth collection of data

3. leads to identification of themes

4. used to build or refine general conclusions

Deductive reasoning

- theory testing (also refining, improving, and extending a theory)

- follows a top-down approach

1. from facts or general or initial set principles or theories assumed to be true

2. tested by making a hypothesis

3. hypothesis is accepted, rejected, or modified based on tests/experiments

4. leads to specific conclusions

Qualitative research

Inductive reasoning is also considered as...

Quantitative research

Deductive reasoning is also considered as...

- basic research

- applied research

2 types of research in terms of purpose

Basic research

- pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base

- discovers new phenomena or ideas of general interest

- theoretical research to improve general understanding

Applied research

- finds solutions for practical problems

- funded by governments to further their respective purposes

- provides means for solving problems

Qualitative Descriptive Research

Basic research is also considered as...

Quantitative Experimental Research

Applied research is also considered as...

- Exploratory research

- Descriptive research

- Explanatory research

3 categories of research

Exploratory research

tests feasibility of undertaking a phenomenon

- conducted in new areas of inquiry

- scope out magnitude of a phenomenon

Descriptive research

makes careful observations & detailed documentation of a phenomenon of interest

Explanatory research

Explains reasons behind observed phenomena, problems, or behaviors

- Systematic

- Empirical

- Logical

- Cyclical

- Replicable

5 characteristics of research

Systematic

follows orderly and sequential procedures/steps, based on valid procedures and principles.

Empirical

based on the researchers' direct observations or experiences

Logical

objective, unbiased, and based on data & analytical procedures

Cyclical

starts with a problem and ends with a new problem (because of the study's limitations)

Replicable

could be done by other researchers who would still arrive at valid and conclusive results

Research Design

the blueprint of activities to take in order to answer a research question

- a detailed, strategic plan or method for obtaining data scientifically and answering the research question

Research Methodology

includes the rationale for your research design

-provides justification for your research design

-bridges ontological and epistemological assumptions/positions to your choice of data collection, analysis procedures, and methods

Research Methods

tools and techniques used to gather data

Ontology

pertains to the nature or object of social reality

- the study of being

Epistemology

links to the process or act of knowing or acquiring knowledge

- the study of knowledge (how we know what we know)