1. Chapter 4 Research Design

2. Chapter Outline Three Purposes of Research The Logic of Nomothetic Explanation Necessary and Sufficient Causes Units of Analysis The Time Dimension How to Design a Research Project The Research Proposal

3. Three Purposes of Research Exploration Description Explanation

4. Purpose of Exploratory Studies Satisfy the researcher’s curiosity and desire for better understanding. Test the feasibility of undertaking a more extensive study. Develop the methods to be employed in any subsequent study.

5. Criteria for Nomothetic Causality A statistical correlation between the two variables. The cause takes place before the effect. There is no third variable that can explain away the observed correlation as spurious.

6. False Criteria for Nomothetic Causality While research can determine some causes, it cannot determine complete causation. Exceptions do not disprove a causal relationship. Causal relationships can be true even if they don’t apply in a majority of cases.

7. Necessary and Sufficient Causes Necessary cause represents a condition that must be present for the effect to follow. Sufficient cause represents a condition that if present, guarantees the effect in question. Causes that are necessary and sufficient are the most satisfying outcome in research.

8. Units of Analysis What or whom to study: Individuals Groups Organizations Social artifacts

9. Units of Analysis and Faulty Reasoning Ecological fallacy – assuming something learned about an ecological unit says something about the individuals in the unit. Reductionism – reducing something to a simple explanation when in reality it is complex.

10. How to Design a Research Project Define the purpose of your project. Specify exact meanings for the concepts you want to study (conceptualize). Choose a research method. Decide how to measure the results.

11. How to Design a Research Project Decide whom or what to study. Collect empirical data. Process the data. Analyze the data. Report your findings.

12. Elements of a Research Proposal Problem or objective Literature review Subjects for study Measurement

13. Elements of a Research Proposal Data-collection methods Analysis Schedule Budget