The Nature and Kinds of Research

1. The Nature and Kinds of Research • Subject matter of course • Class about quantitative research • How is research different from other ways of answering questions? • Research is a systematic way of answering questions about the world

2. The Nature and Kinds of Research • Different research for different purposes • Descriptive research • Primary purpose is to describe particular situation or event • Relatively rare • Exploratory research • Investigate phenomena or situations that are not familiar • Tends to be descriptive • Example of exploratory research – experiences of individuals who care for elderly relative or friend • Information is rich and complex, but not specific or predictable

3. The Nature and Kinds of Research • Different research for different purposes, con’t • Theoretical research • Purpose is to test and evaluate theories by finding causal relations among variables • Example of theoretical research • Applied (evaluation) research • Purpose is to tell us what to do next • Applied research: Research aimed at solving real-world problems or making practical decisions. • Evaluation research: Focuses on effectiveness of program or treatment

4. The Nature and Kinds of Research • Types of Evaluative Research • Summative vs. formative research • Summative research • Current effectiveness of program • Formative research • Diagnosing areas that are weak • Make recommendations for improvements • Impact vs. process evaluation • Impact evaluation • Does something work? • Process evaluation • How does something work? • Cost-benefit analysis • Compares total cost of program in terms of what good its done (the benefits) and what harm its done (the costs)

5. The Nature and Kinds of Research • Special difficulties of applied research • Lack off control • Dealing with reactions of people involved • Measurement and interpretation problems

6. The Nature of Science • What makes someone a scientist? • The goals of science • Description • Prediction • Correlational research • Explanation • Control

7. Ways of Knowing • Traditionalism or Authority • Knowledge passed through traditions or authority figures • Rationalism • Knowledge is a result of logical thought and reasoning processes • Deductive reasoning – central tool of rationalism • Empiricism • Knowledge arises as a result of observing events and drawing conclusions • Unscientific empiricism • Falsification • Emphasis shifted from proving beliefs to be true to proving them to be false

8. Ways of Knowing • How falsification works • Falsifiable statement • Non-falsifiable statements • Non-falsifiable statements • Inclusive statements • Definitional statements • Vapor statements • Confirmation