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The Research Process: Getting Started

The Research Process: Getting Started. Researcher as a detective Seeking answers to questions Answer exists, but is unknown to you If the answer is not known or available, conduct research to find the answer Research process depends on your abilities to search for and track down information.

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The Research Process: Getting Started

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  1. The Research Process: Getting Started Researcher as a detective Seeking answers to questions Answer exists, but is unknown to you If the answer is not known or available, conduct research to find the answer Research process depends on your abilities to search for and track down information

  2. The Research Process Model Rules and traditions to be followed Multiple paths exist Proceeds logically and steadily, yet is circular and cyclical Be aware of obstacles and pitfalls

  3. The Deductive Research Model Theory guides the investigation Gather data to assess whether theory is correct Move from known position to data

  4. The Inductive Research Model Gather and analyze data framed around research question Formulate theories based on data Move from specific data to more general explanation

  5. Identifying theResearch Problem • Ideas from your experiences • Ideas from the media • Turn broad topics into preliminary questions • What do your questions assume? • Rephrase for clarity

  6. Evaluating Your Questions Clearly stated? Do others agree about its clarity? Asks only one question? Communication orientation? Biased? Can it be observed or measured? Time and resources? Who would be interested? How could the information be used?

  7. Library Resources • Scholarly articles in academic journals • Communication journals • Multidisciplinary journals • Scholarly books • Single-authored • Edited collections

  8. Online Resources • Assessing online credibility • Domain? • Who owns/authors the site? • Personal, organizational, or association? • Is there a person’s name or email? • Credentials? • Website purpose? • Is it current?

  9. As you gather information, you may have to adjust your question

  10. Adjusting the Question Adjust your question as you learn more Incorporate information you find into your question Did you uncover any relevant theories? Do theories provide competing explanations?

  11. Reading Scholarly Books & Articles Evaluate the quality of the information Get a historical overview Start with the literature review Identify primary ideas and conclusions Track down others’ references Summarize what you’ve found

  12. The Role of Theory in Research • Generally, quantitative research starts with theory • Generally, qualitative research answers questions to develop theory • Theories are . . . • Developed and tested incrementally over time • Never complete

  13. Theory-Research Link • Theory • provides patterns for interpreting data • links one study to another • provides a framework for understanding how communication concepts and issues are important • helps us interpret the meaning of research findings

  14. Theory-Research Link Scientific inquiry is a process of developing and testing theory Process is not always linear Meaningful inquiry drives theory or is theory-driven Multiple studies used to develop or challenge theory

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