Research Methodology Overview

Research Scope and Delimitations

• Specifies the study's coverage, subject, instruments, issues, and duration.

Research Types

• Descriptive: Observing phenomena.
• Correlational: Investigating variable relationships.
• Experimental: Examining cause-and-effect relationships between two or more variables.

Hypotheses and Research Questions

• Hypotheses predict variable relationships and connect to the research problem.
• Factor-relating questions: Explore relationships among factors (non-experimental research).
• Factor-isolating questions: Isolate, categorize, describe, or name factors and situations.

Defining Terms

• Conceptual definition: From dictionaries or encyclopedias (e.g., GPA as grade points earned divided by total credits).
• Operational definition: Concrete definition for measurement within the study.

Research Preparation

• Familiarize yourself with research terminology.
• Review existing research for relationships and relevance.
• Ensure research question accuracy and relevance.

Citations

• Use APA in-text citation style (e.g., (Jones, 1998, p. 199)).

Hypothesis Types

• Hypothesis: An educated guess.
• Null hypothesis: No significant difference or effect.
• Alternative hypothesis: A significant difference or effect.

Research Example: Effect of Temperature on Plant Pigmentation

• Independent variable: Temperature.
• Dependent variable: Plant pigmentation.

Important Note on Problem Statements

• Avoid including sub-problems, background, conclusions, implications, and recommendations in the problem statement.

Redundancy in Research Titles

• Avoid phrases like "An Analysis of," "An Investigation of," and "The Study of" as they are often redundant.

Extraneous Variables

• Also known as facilitating, mediating, or intervening variables.

Variable Types

• Discrete: Countable (e.g., cars, attendance).
• Continuous: Infinite (e.g., weight, height, price).
• Nominal: Unordered categories (e.g., business types, eye color).
• Ordinal: Ranked categories (e.g., clothing sizes).

Characteristics of Quantitative Research

• Objective, logical, and systematic.

Intervening Variables Example

• In a study on Koi fish survival, water, oxygen, and tank conditions are intervening variables.

Research Framework Components

• Statement of the problem: Contains specific research questions.
• Scope and delimitation: Includes location, respondents, and time.
• Research title: Summarizes the study’s main ideas.
• Research background: Provides historical context and background information.

Research Methods Summary

• Descriptive: Observing phenomena.
• Correlational: Studying variable relationships.
• Experimental: Examining cause-and-effect relationships.
• Conceptual framework: Explains key factors, concepts, or variables.
• Theoretical framework: Uses abstract concepts and relationships to explain and predict observations.

Hypothesis Formulation Guidelines

• Hypotheses should predict the relationship between the research problem and variables.
• A good research title is concise and clear.
• Poor research questions lack significance.

Additional Notes on Hypotheses and Research Discussion

• The CARS model helps structure problem discussion.
• Hypotheses should be declarative statements establishing logical relationships.

Citing Multiple Authors

• For articles with six or more authors, use the first author's name followed by "et al." in the citation.