Understanding Research Methodologies

• Research is a systematic investigation following scientific methods
• A scientific method is a standardized set of techniques for building scientific knowledge
• Inductive reasoning involves theory building to infer concepts
• Deductive reasoning involves theory testing to test concepts
• Qualitative research uses inductive reasoning to understand the world through experiences and perception
• Quantitative research uses deductive reasoning to understand the world through values
• Basic research aims to gain knowledge and master the topic
• Applied research focuses on using or applying knowledge
• Empirical research involves gathering information through direct data collection and first-hand experiences
• Non-empirical research relies on second-hand information based on others' experiences
• Scientific research involves a generalized body of laws that explains phenomena
• Exploratory research investigates under-researched aspects of life
• Explanatory research explains observation through answering how and why
• Descriptive research describes life by answering who, what, when, and where
• A research design is a plan or blueprint
• Methodology refers to strategies or approaches
• A method refers to tools
• Phenomenology emphasizes experience, belief, and perception
• Ethnography involves immersing oneself in one's culture and way of life
• A case study is an in-depth investigation of a complex issue within a specific context or area
• Discourse analysis extracts shared meaning; text, language, and conversation is the object of analysis
• Inductive thematic analysis presents stories and experiences as comprehensively as possible
• Grounded theory constructs theories based on data
• Narrative analysis focuses on narratives or stories

Semi-structured Interviews

• Strengths: Prevents imposing biases, digs down information using open-ended questions, and ensures mutual understanding between participant and interviewer
• Weaknesses: Tendency to ask leading questions; time-consuming, subjective, and not generalizable; participant's accounts, however, always mean something, but they cannot always be taken at face value

Observations

• Strengths: Involves first-hand accounts of observing to prevent preconceived ideas and explore unforeseen effects
• Weaknesses: Time-consuming and not generalizable; observer's presence may influence participants; observers may misinterpret actions, and can be subjective

Focused Group Discussion

• Strengths: Less expensive than individual interviews, relaxed atmosphere to allows people to freely express their views and strengths; responses can be more spontaneous than in a one-to-one interview
• Weaknesses: Findings are not generalizable unless using sampling techniques to constitute the groups; based on people's ability to talk in groups and group dynamics may inhibit people
• Beneficence: Mutual benefit and burden; research design and competencies are appropriate
• Veracity or Justice: Truth and agreement must be met; treat people morally
• Voluntary Participation: People must be aware that they must be willing
• Anonymity and Confidentiality: Protecting people's identity and privacy
• Disclosure: Boundary on what to tell the participants about the study
• Next make searches with specific keywords, create a list of desired sources and find sources and look them over
• APA is the American Psychological Association
• MLA is the Modern Language Association
• AMA is the American Medical Association
• Chronological order is steps in a time-order process
• Comparison and contrast presents similarities and differences