Introduction to Research

Introduction to Research NCTU 任維廉

自我介紹：任維廉(William) 現職：交通大學管理學院運輸科技與管理系教授學歷：交大管理科學研究所博士經歷：交大運輸科技與管理學系系主任交大傑出教學獎  台北市交通局顧問新竹市政府市政顧問中華民國運輸學會理事 PCMPCL, Harvard Business School 2 交通大學運管系任維廉

出處 • Lang, G. and Heiss, G. D. , • A Practical Guide to Research Methods

Outline 1 The Research Process Levels of Training in Research 2 3 Some Research Terms 4 Appendix A 5

1. The Research Process 1.1 What is research 1.2 Why are research methods used? 1.3 How are these research methods used?

1.1 What is research • A systematic and unbiased way of solvinga problemthrough generating verifiable data. • John Dewey’s schema for cognition • A puzzling situation • Define the problem • Formulation of hypothesis • Collection, organization and analysis of data • Formulation of possible conclusions • Verification, rejection or modification 大膽假設，小心求證？

1.2 Why Use Research Methods Authority Personal experiences Common sense Intuition Scientific methods • Scientific methods • The most reliable way to move from limited, biased perceptions and opinions to fact or tentative truth • Self-correctingnature

1.3 How to Use Research Methods • Legitimate, ethicaluses of research methods • e.g., design a study: potentially harmful car components will appear to be safe? • Politics of research • Taboo area • e.g., genetic engineering, ……

2. Levels of Training in Research 2.1 Research literacy 2.2 Action research 2.3Applied research 2.4Basic research

2.1Research literacy • Ability to ask cogent questions • Selection of research tools • Analysis of data

2.2Action research • Solving a problem which is of limited, local interest

2.3Applied research • Solve an immediate problem or improve a product or a process • e.g., educational research

2.4Basic research IV.Basic research • Increase understanding of fundamental principles. It is not intended to yield immediate commercial benefits. • It is thebasis for many commercial products and applied research.

3.Some research terms • Operational definition • Clearly define the key variables, concepts, and terms • e.g., “intelligence” Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale • Highly technical nature • e.g., ITS, VRP (Vehicle routing problem) • Common words with a very special meaning • e.g., “Patent”, “Adult” and “Child”

Ask yourself whether someone else reading your proposal clearly understands what you mean by that particular term. • Research is one field where flowery rhetoric will do more harm than good. • A researcher, unlike a politician, must beprecise.

4. Appendix AChecklist for evaluating a research report The title I. Introduction: problem, related research, hypotheses, assumption and delimitation, operational definitions II. Method: materials, instruments, procedure III. Results and conclusions IV. Discussion V. Summary Communication

Q & A wljen@mail.nctu.edu.tw http://140.113.119.160

Introduction to Research