Research Design and Methods

Research Design

• Definition: A detailed plan outlining how to conduct a research study, including the methods and procedures to be used.
• Components:
  • Research question or hypothesis
  • Literature review
  • Methodology (data collection and analysis)
  • Sampling strategy
  • Data collection tools (e.g. surveys, interviews)
  • Data analysis plan
  • Timeline and budget

Reliable Resources

• Types of sources:
  • Academic journals
  • Government reports
  • Non-profit organization publications
  • Primary sources (e.g. data, images)
• Evaluation criteria:
  • Authority (author's expertise and credentials)
  • Currency (timeliness of information)
  • Relevance (alignment with research topic)
  • Objectivity (lack of bias)
  • Peer-review status

Search Engines

• Types:
  • General search engines (e.g. Google, Bing)
  • Academic search engines (e.g. Google Scholar, Microsoft Academic)
  • Specialty search engines (e.g. PubMed, arXiv)
• Search strategies:
  • Using keywords and phrases
  • Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT)
  • Quotation marks for exact phrases
  • Advanced search features (e.g. file type, date range)

Bias

• Types:
  • Confirmation bias (selective information processing)
  • Selection bias (non-random sampling)
  • Information bias (inaccurate or incomplete data)
  • Confounding bias (extraneous variables affecting results)
• Mitigation strategies:
  • Use of control groups
  • Randomization and blinding
  • Data triangulation (multiple sources and methods)
  • Awareness of personal biases and assumptions

CRAAP Test

• A framework for evaluating the credibility and reliability of sources:
  • C - Currency: Is the information up-to-date?
  • R - Relevance: Is the information relevant to the research topic?
  • A - Authority: Is the author an expert in the field?
  • A - Accuracy: Is the information accurate and reliable?
  • P - Purpose: What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform, persuade, or entertain?

Test your understanding of research design, including components, reliable resources, search engines, bias, and the CRAAP test. Learn how to evaluate sources and mitigate bias in research studies.