OG

Week Review: Approaches to Research & Research Design Overview

Week 1: Approaches to Research & Research Design Overview

  • Research Importance: Systematic knowledge production, helps/hurts society.

  • Learning Objectives:

    1. Understand the systematic nature of research.

    2. Distinguish research types: qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods, participatory.

    3. Recognize research purposes: explore, describe, explain, predict, evaluate, act.

    4. Identify research harms and power structures.

Types of Research Approaches

Type

Description

Example

Qualitative

Meaning, experiences; interviews, observations.

Lived experiences of refugees.

Quantitative

Measurable data; statistical analysis.

Survey correlations between income & health.

Mixed Methods

Combination of qualitative & quantitative methods.

Surveys + interviews on public opinion.

Participatory

Collaborative with participants; empowerment focus.

Community action research with Indigenous groups.

Six General Purposes of Research

  1. Exploration: Discover new topics.

  2. Description: Document social phenomena.

  3. Explanation: Identify causes/relationships.

  4. Prediction: Forecast trends.

  5. Evaluation: Assess policy effectiveness.

  6. Action/Empowerment: Promote change and justice.

Ethics & Power in Research

  • Research can benefit (e.g., inform policy) or harm vulnerable groups (exploitation, misrepresentation).

  • Ethical research must assess who benefits and whose knowledge is valued.

  • Social Science Research: Systematic investigation of social interactions and relationships.

Research as an Iterative Process

  • Not linear; stages include Topic → Literature Review → Design → Ethics → Data Collection → Analysis → Writing.

Modes of Reasoning

Mode

Logic

Use

Example

Inductive

Observations → General conclusion

Discover patterns; generate hypotheses

Interviewing to identify drug trends.

Deductive

Theory → Specific conclusion

Test hypotheses

Testing link between supply & overdose rates.

Abductive

Best explanation from incomplete data

Problem-solving

Explaining unexpected research results.

Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research

Qualitative

  • Goal: Understand meaning.

  • Data: Words, images.

  • Methods: Interviews, observation.

  • Analysis: Thematic.

Quantitative

  • Goal: Measure causal relationships.

  • Data: Numerical.

  • Methods: Surveys, statistics.

  • Analysis: Descriptive & inferential stats.

Motivations for Research Type

  • Applied: Solve practical problems (e.g., evaluate policies).

  • Basic: Expand knowledge driven by curiosity.

Good Research Questions

  • Should be clear, testable, and topic-focused.

Week 2: Research Ethics

  • Ethical Research: Maintains trust and accountability.

  • Historical context emphasizes preventing misuse of research.

  • Core Principles (Canada)

    1. Respect for Persons: Informed consent.

    2. Concern for Welfare: Minimize harm.

    3. Justice: Fair treatment of participants.

Integrating Ethics in Research

  • Ethics integrated at every research stage.

  • Address sensitive topics thoughtfully.

Research Ethics Importance

  • Ethics shape research integrity; aim for beneficial knowledge.

Ethical Challenges

  • Confidentiality vs. legal obligations, vulnerable participants.

Types of Harm

  • Emotional, social, legal, physical.

Anonymity vs Confidentiality

  • Anonymity: No identity known.

  • Confidentiality: Identity known but protected.

Week 3: Core Concepts

  • Objectivity vs. Subjectivity: Researcher's influence on findings.

  • Positionality: Researcher's social position impact on research.

  • Reflexivity: Critical self-examination throughout the research.

Stages of a Research Project

  1. Identify topic.

  2. Conduct literature review.

  3. Formulate research question.

  4. Choose research design.

  5. Address ethics.

  6. Collect data.

  7. Analyze data.

  8. Interpret and write results.

Week 4: Assessing Research Quality

  • Evaluate clarity, methodology, transparency, ethics, credibility.

Quantitative Quality Criteria

  • Reliability, validity, internal/external validity, statistical significance.

Qualitative Quality Criteria

  • Credibility, transferability, dependability, confirmability, rich rigour.

Participatory Research

  • Focuses on collaboration, community leadership, ethical knowledge production.

  • Responds to harm from traditional research.

Critical Perspectives

  • Knowledge and power intertwined; participation fosters empowerment and social justice.