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Research. Research Modules . What is Research? Research Components Problem Statement Research Questions Literature Review Methods Experiments Results and Discussion Limitations and Conclusion Putting it All Together: Abstract and Summary. What is research? (1/2). Research is….
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Research Modules • What is Research? • Research Components • Problem Statement • Research Questions • Literature Review • Methods • Experiments • Results and Discussion • Limitations and Conclusion • Putting it All Together: Abstract and Summary
What is research? (1/2) • Research is…. “A study done to answer a question” “A carefully planned and performed investigation” “Inquiry into a topic to discover or revise facts” Research is the systematic process of collecting and analyzing information to increase our understanding of the phenomenon under study. It is the function of the researcherto contribute to the understanding of the phenomenon and to communicate that understanding to others. http://www.spaceday.org/index.php/Glossary-of-Aeronautics-Terms.html http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/a-participants-guide-to-mental-health-clinical-research/glossary.shtml www.usg.edu/galileo/skills/ollc_glossary.phtml http://wps.prenhall.com/chet_leedy_practical_8/0,9599,1569572-,00.html
What is research? (2/2) Research is the systematic process of collecting and analyzing information to increase our understanding of the phenomenon under study. It is the function of the researcherto contribute to the understanding of the phenomenon and to communicate that understanding to others. Systematic process Methods Collecting and analyzing information Experiments Phenomenon under study Questions, Problem Statement, and Lit Review Researcher YOU!! Understanding of the phenomenon Results and Discussion Communicate that understanding Limitations and Conclusions; Abstract and Summary
Research Components • Problem Statement • Research Questions • Literature Review • Methods • Experiments • Results and Discussion • Limitations and Conclusion • Putting it All Together: Abstract and Summary
Problem Statement • The study matter or topic that you will be investigating. A problem statement must be … … specific. • Answer the questions: who, what, when, how and where is the problem? … directive. • State the effect or what is wrong (gap analysis) … measureable. • Data from experiments can assist with the investigation. Problem Statement Example During the 2011 (when) NFL Superbowl (where), 400 ticketholders with seats (who) were not able to enter into the Cowboy’s Stadium (what), making the actual attendance of 103,219 fans 0.7% percentage points short of the current attendance record of 103,985 fans (gap).
Research questions • A formal statement of the goal of the study that will help further understand the problem A research question must be … … written as a question … try to answer unknown … requires validation • Research Questions Examples • Why were the temporary seats not ready on time? • Where did the ticketholders who did not enter the stadium watch the Superbowl instead? • How many fans accepted the compensation package (free tickets to the next Superbowl, hotel, air included)?
Experiment • Experiment is a collection of research designs which use manipulation and controlled testing to understand causal processes. • Variables are manipulated in the experiment • Independent variable are manipulated • Dependent variable are measured to see the effect of the manipulation • Experiments typically use some type of sampling • YOU CAN’T TEST YOUR THEORIES ON EVERYONE! • Types of Experiments: • Pretest-Posttest Design • Control Group • Randomized Controlled Trials
Results and discussion • Now, that the experiments is completed… • ASK the question “Why did you do the research in the first place?” • Helps in organizing your data • Ex. Study of Employee Productivity in a Call Center • Call Times, Number of Calls per Day, Number of Call Resolutions, Average time between phone calls, etc. • Focus on your goals • Ex. Productivity – “How Productive is the work site?” • Qualitative vs. Quantative • Qualitative research seeks out the ‘why’, not the ‘how’ of its topic through the analysis of unstructured information – things like interview transcripts, open ended survey responses, emails, notes, feedback forms, photos and videos • Quantitative research referstothesystematicempiricalinvestigationofquantitativepropertiesandphenomenaandtheirrelationships; its objective istodevelopandemploymathematicalmodels, theoriesand/orhypothesespertainingtophenomena.
Results and discussion • Interpreting your results • Compare to what you expected • Discuss observations and appropriate statistics • Record conclusions • Explore recommendations (if applicable) • Communicating Results • Concise, concise, concise!!! • Main question: “Who is your audience?” • Scientific community? – interested in scientific details • Corporate Office? – interested in bottomline • Students/Unaffiliated Parties? – simple overview
Limitations • Access to information • Access to resources • Time management • Access to experts for editing, proofreading, and guidance • Support from organizations and participants • Bias by the researcher
Conclusions • Be concise. • Keep good records. • Know your background. • Use your resources. • Work together!
Abstract… Should be written last! • Motivation: • Why do we care about t your problem and the results? • Why is this significant? • Why is your problem important and what impact will it have? • Problem statement: • What problem are you trying to solve? • What is the scope of your work? • Scope-(it is a generalized approach, or specific)
Abstract • Approach: • How did you solve this problem? • Discuss your method of approach. • What was the extent of your work? • What are the important variables that were controlled, ignored, or measured? • Results: • What was the answer to your problem? • Include numbers and units. • Conclusions: • What do the results mean? • Are they significant? • Are they general, potentially generalizable, or very specific.
Sample Abstract.. Which one is better? • Sample 1: This experiment will determine what will make enzymes effective and what will make them ineffective. We tested different samples of enzymes in a spectrophotometer and recorded their absorption rates. Six samples were placed in the spectrophotometer but two contained no enzyme; these acted as blanks for the other samples. The four remaining samples contained Catecholase ranging from 0.5 ml to 1.75 m. The second half of the experiment contained four test tubes with a constant amount of Catecholase, but the pH levels ranged from four to eight. It was found that if the enzyme was present in large amounts, then the absorption rate was high, and if the pH level ranged from 6 to eight then the absorption rate was high. Therefore it can be said that enzymes work well in neutral pH levels and in large amounts. • Sample 2: This experiment was performed to determine the factors that positively influence enzyme reaction rates in cellular activities since some enzymes seem to be more effective than others. Catecholase enzyme activity was measured through its absorption rate in a spectrophotometer, using light with a wavelength of 540 nm. We compared the absorbance rates in samples with varying enzyme concentrations and a constant pH of 7, and with samples with constant enzyme concentration and varying pH levels. The samples with the highest enzyme concentration had the greatest absorption rate of 95 percent compared to the sample with the lowest concentration and an absorption rate of 24 percent. This suggests that a higher concentration of enzymes leads to a greater product production rate. The samples with a pH between six and eight had the greatest absorption rate of 70 percent compared to an absorption rate of 15 percent with a pH of 4; this suggests that Catecholase is most effective in a neutral pH ranging from six to eight.
Summary.. (Also written Last) • What is a summary? • A record that hits the main points of your writing. • First steps to writing a summary • Read your paper and underline all important points • List the main ideas of the whole piece, the main supporting ideas, and the main evidence for each idea
What is a good summary? • Should answer basic questions • Who, What, and When? • What is the main idea of this paper? • What are the main supporting points? • What are the major pieces of evidence? • Use your own words. • Don’t include too much detail. • Include the main idea of each paragraph or section of your paper. • Should not simply rearrange words used in the original, or substituting in words from your original.
