Research Methods Introduction and Chapter 1 PDF

Research Methods Introduction and Chapter 1 “ RESEARCH defined by: ￮ 1.Merriam-Webster ￮ Research is… Dictionary ￮ - a process of investigation, examination ￮ 2.University of California of a subject from different points of view Sa...

Research Methods Introduction and Chapter 1 “ RESEARCH defined by: ￮ 1.Merriam-Webster ￮ Research is… Dictionary ￮ - a process of investigation, examination ￮ 2.University of California of a subject from different points of view San Diego ￮ - hunt for truth ￮ 3.John W. Cresswell ￮ - way to educate yourself ￮ 4.O’Donnell (2012) ￮ 5.Research-Wikipedia ￮ “Research is searching for and gathering (2017) information, usually to answer a particular question or problem” CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH ￮ Leedy (1974) ￮ (goals: to develop critical thinking and 1. 1.Research begins with a question in the mind of the problem solving). researcher 2. 2.Research requires plan 3. 3.Research demands a clear statement of the problem 4. 4.Research deals with the main problem through sub- problems 5. 5.Research seeks direction through appropriate hypothesis 6. 6.Research deals with facts and their meaning ￮ Research is circular Another characterization: ￮ 1.Empirical- based on observations and experimentation on theories. ￮ 2.Systematic- follows orderly and sequential procedure. ￮ 3.Controlled- all variables except those that are tested/experimented upon are kept constant. ￮ 4.Employs hypothesis-guides the investigation process ￮ 5.Analytical- critical analysis of all data ￮ 6.Objective, Unbiased and Logical- logically based on empirical ￮ 7.Employs quantitative or statistical methods- data are transformed into numerical measures. “ Comparisons between Quantitative and Qualitative Research Quantitative ￮ Qualitative ￮ Numerical ￮ Exploratory research ￮ Analyzed using ￮ Used to gain in mathematical and understanding of statistical methods underlying reasons, ￮ Formal opinions, and motivations. ￮ Objective ￮ Uncover trends in ￮ Systematic opinions and dive deeper ￮ Presented in numerical into the problem forms, analyzed through ￮ Need small no. Of statistics participants Comparisons between Quantitative and Qualitative Research ￮ Quantitative ￮ Qualitative ￮ Uses measurable data ￮ Uncover trends in opinions ￮ Needs large number of respondents and dive deeper into the problem ￮ Use structured test (measurable) ￮ Need small no. Of participants ￮ Describe and test relationships ￮ Use of unstructured or semi ￮ Used to examine cause and effect structured technique / relationships questions ￮ Diff. Collection of data: Comparisons between Quantitative and Qualitative Research Quantitative Qualitative Surveys. Interviews, longitudinal studies, etc. Group discussion, indvidual Interviews, participation, observation Goal: to convey numerically what is being seen in the research that can arrive to specific and observable conclusions 4 BASIC TYPES OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH  ￮ 1.Survey “ ￮ ￮ 2.Correlational 3.Causal-comparative ￮ 4.Experimental Survey Research ￮ -uses interview, questionnaires, and ￮ sampling polls to get a sense of behavior ￮ with intense precision several ways in ￮ -expressed percentage conducting survey ￮ -can use one group or compare several research: 1. In person ￮ groups 2. Over the phone ￮ -importance of sampling techniques 3. Mail or email 4. Self-administered ￮ -need of statisticians Descriptive Research ￮ -describe the current status of identified variable or phenomenon Correlation Research ￮ -test for relationships between two variables ￮ -effects of one variable to another ￮ (positive and negative correlation) ￮ -minimum of 2 groups ￮ -measuring the extent of relationship between 2 or more variables using statistical data. ￮ -data, relationships and distribution of variables observed ￮ -NO Variables are manipulated in the study ￮ (occurs in natural setting) Causal-Comparative/ Quasi Experimental Research ￮ -uncover of cause and effect relationship ￮ -it is like experiments but the Independent ￮ Variable is not manipulated but identified ￮ and effects of IV are measured ￮ -not focusing in statistical relationship ￮ between two variables, it tries to identify ￮ how different groups are affected by some circumstances ￮ -naturally formed or pre-existing groups Experimental Research ￮ -true experimentation, uses scientific ￮ method to establish cause-effect ￮ Relationship among group of variables ￮ -subjects are randomly assigned ￮ -Independent Variable (IV) ￮ -manipulated ￮ -Dependent Variable ￮ -not manipulated KINDS OF VARIABLES AND THEIR USES ￮ A variable is any element or entity which can be measured for quantity or quality. Quantitative variables ￮ Can be measured numerically. 1. Discrete variables 2. Continuous variables/ interval variables 3. Ratio variables Discrete variables ￮ can be counted. They can only be denoted by positive whole numbers and are not described in ranges. Examples are frequency of behavior and group sizes. Continuous variables/ interval variables ￮ are measured in ranges and can be denoted by non-whole numbers. It can have positive and negative values and can expressed in fractions. ￮ Example: temperature. Ratio variables ￮ are special type of continuous variable. This type cannot be negative in value. Example are age, height, weight, distance and test score. Qualitative variables ￮ referred to as categorical variables, they involve assigning values to specific categories or groups. Example blood type, color. ￮ Categorical variables are of two types: dichotomous and nominal. Dichotomous variables ￮ are those that have only two distinct categories or values. Example variable is the response of yes and no question Nominal variable ￮ have more than two categories or values. Example: hair color, marital status and etc. Ordinal variable ￮ variables that exhibit the characteristics of both quantitative and qualitative types. Ordinal variables have values that can be ranked or ordered. These values can be numerical like quantitative variables, however they can also be arranged into specific non-numerical classes like qualitative variables. Example: frequency is describes as rare, seldom, sometime, almost always,values of ratings. Variables based on their purpose and role. Dependent and Independent Variables The cause variable, or the one that identifies forces or conditions that act on something else, is the independent variable. The variable that is effect or is the result or outcome of another variable is the dependent variable (also referred to as outcome variable or effect variable). Extraneous Variable and Confounding Variable Importance of Research in Different Fields