Introduction to Research Methodology

Introduction to Research Methodology

Acquiring KnowledgeWays of Knowing • Tenacity • Intuition • Authority • Rationalism • Empiricism • Science

Tenacity • A willingness to accept ideas as valid because they have been accepted for so long or repeated so often that they seem true

Intuition • Accepting ideas as valid because the “feel” intuitively true

Authority • Accepting ideas as valid because some respected authority asserts that ideas are true

Rationalism • Developing valid ideas using existing ideas and principles of logic

Empiricism • Gaining knowledge through observation; knowing by experiencing through our senses. • Pure reason is not enough. • Naïve versus Sophisticated

Science • A process that combines the principles of rationalism with the process of empiricism, using rationalism to develop theories and empiricism to test the theories.

Assumptions & Science • Assumptions are: ideas that are tentatively accepted as being true without further examination. • In science, we make a few assumptions, preferring to subject our ideas to the rigorous demands of rational and empirical challenges.

Basic Assumptions of Science • #1. A true, physical universe exists.

Basic Assumptions of Science • #2. While there may be randomness and thus unpredictability in the universe, it is primarily an orderly system.

Basic Assumptions of Science • #3. The principles of this orderly universe can be discovered, particularly through scientific research.

Basic Assumptions of Science • #4. Our knowledge of the universe is always incomplete. New knowledge can, and should, alter current ideas and theories. Therefore, all knowledge and theories are tentative.

Parsimony • Ockham's Razor

Phases of a Research Study 1. Idea generating phase 2. Problem-definition phase 3. Procedures-define phase 4. Observation phase 5. Data-analysis phase 6. Interpretation phase 7. Communication phase

Idea generating phase • Identify a topic of interest to study.

Problem-definition phase • Refine the vague and general idea(s) generated in the Idea Generating Phase step into a precise question to be studied. • Search the literature – “Lit Review”

Procedures-define phase • Decide on the specific procedures to be used in the data gathering and statistical analysis of the data.

Observation phase • Using the defined procedures to collect observations.

Data-analysis phase • Analyze the data collected using the appropriate statistical procedures.

Interpretation phase • Compare your results with the results predicted on the basis of your theory. Do your results support the theory?

Communication phase • Prepare a written or oral report of your study for publication or presentation to colleagues. Your report should include a description of all of the preceding steps.

Levels of Constraint “Types”of Scientific Research • Naturalistic observation • Case study • Correlational research • Differential research • Experimental research

Naturalistic observation • The observation of participants in their natural environment. • The researcher should do nothing to limit or change the environment or the behavior of the participants.

Case study • Involves moving the participant into a moderately limiting environment, intervening to a slight degree, and observing the participant’s responses.

Correlational research • The focus is on quantifying the degree of relationship between two variables. • The measurement procedures must be carefully defined and precisely followed. • Causation?

Differential research • Two or more preexisting groups of participants are compared. The setting is usually highly constrained, and the measurement procedures must be carefully defined and precisely followed.

Experimental research • Similar to differential research except that the participants are assigned without bias to the various groups or conditions in the study.

Introduction to Research Methodology