“The scientist has no other method than doing his damnedest.”

1. “The scientist has no other method than doing his damnedest.” • - P.W. Bridgman, Reflections of a Physicist • "It is the theory that decides what can be observed." • Albert Einstein

2. Why Do You Need to Know About Different Methods? • As a graduate student... • To be able to read and understand the empirical literature in your field; to become a critical consumer of information. • As a graduate student preparing for a thesis or dissertation… • To be able to both design and implement your thesis or dissertation as well as future studies that interest you.

3. Why Do You Need to Know About Different Methods? • As a future practitioner… • To be able to intelligently participate in research projects, evaluations, and studies undertaken by your institution. • As an educated citizen ... • To understand the difference between scientifically acquired knowledge and other kinds of information.

5. Method: Techniques for gathering evidence The various ways of proceeding in gathering information Methodology: The underlying theory and analysis of how research does or should proceed, often influenced by discipline What’s the Difference Between “Method” and “Methodology”?

10. Epistemology, Methodology, and Method "a research method is a technique for (or way of proceeding in) gathering evidence" while "methodology is a theory and analysis of how research does or should proceed" and "an epistemology is a theory of knowledge".

11. The Scientific method is the only scientific way accepted to back up a theory or idea. This is the method on which all research projects should be based. The Scientific Method is used by researchers to support or disprove a theory. The Scientific Method involves a series of steps that are used to investigate a natural occurrence.

12. Blend of information, experience and in-sights that provides a framework that can be thoughtfully evaluated when assessing new information or evaluating relevant situations KNOWLEDGE Determination of relationship amongst data with a view to facilitating understanding of the phenomena, their relationships and decision-making INFORMATION DATA Measurements of phenomena The Building Blocks of Research

13. Demands on Data & Information • Relevance to the problem or situation at hand • Must be available in a timely manner to the right person (for example:decision-maker) • Completeness • Accuracy • Accessibility • Affordability • Integrateability into a broader global information or decision-support system

16. Decision-Making • Decision-Making is the process of resolving a • problem or choosing amongst alternative • opportunities • What is the problem or opportunity? • How much Information is available? • What Information is needed? Absolute Ambiguity Complete Certainty Decision-Making Situation Value of Research

17. Certainty, Uncertainty, Ambiguity • Certainty – Decision-maker has all the requisite information concerning the business problem (or opportunity). Research may be unnecessary. Complete certainty about the future is rare in practice • Uncertainty – General nature of the business problem is clear but information about alternative courses of action is incomplete as are the events which may occur. Research may be a potentially valuable tool here • Ambiguity – Nature of the problem to be solved is unclear. Objectives are vague and alternatives difficult to define. Research may be a useful excercise

19. DECISION-MAKING INVOLVES THREE ACTIVITIES: