Introduction to research methods

Inductive approach

involves beginning with a set of empirical observations, seeking patterns in those observations, and then theorizing about those patterns.

Generalizations, observations, and theories

Deductive

Theories, generalization and hypothesis , analyzation. The deductive approach involves beginning with a theory, developing hypotheses from that theory, and then collecting and analyzing data to test those hypotheses.

Exploratory research

conducted when a researcher has just begun an investigation and wishes to understand her or his topic generally.

Descriptive research

Descriptive research is research that aims to describe or define the topic at hand.

Idiographic model

Idiographic investigations are exhaustive

Nomethetic model

nomothetic investigations are more general.

Causation

Correlation/Cause prior to effect/Absence of rival explanations

Positive correlation

More positive where x and y go up, so does the rest. Where X and Y are positively correlated

Negative Correlation

One goes up and the other goes down 

Unit of Analysis and its types

Individuals
Specific social categories of people in society 

Most common type

Groups: 

Who form a social category

Organizations: 

Social unit of people structured to systematically meet a need to continuously pursue collective goals

Talk about the organizational level

Functions of the organization 

Social interactions: What goes on between individuals

Artifacts and interactions 

Artifacts: Any product of social beings or their behavior 

Face validity

Scientific community agrees it is an acceptable measure (It is in literature review)

Content validity

Making sure that variables are measurable due to the range of means and concepts

Predictive criterion validity

 Predicts a criteria  

Concurrent criterion validit

Estimates the criteria

Convergent construct validity

Indicators of a concept are consistently alike 

Discriminant construct validity

Indicators that the concept is different