Research Design and Methods Introduction: the Essence of Research

Goals of the Course To equip you with the knowledge to formulate and pursue a research program. To equip you with the knowledge to formulate and pursue a research program. Learn the basic elements of research design. Learn the basic elements of research design. Learn how to find and read scientific literature. Learn how to find and read scientific literature. Learn how to derive meaning from data. Learn how to derive meaning from data. Learn how to write a research proposal. Learn how to write a research proposal. Learn how to present your research. Learn how to present your research.

What We’re NOT Going to Learn in this Course Specific experimental techniques and methods. Specific experimental techniques and methods. A full treatment of statistical methods of analysis. A full treatment of statistical methods of analysis. Explicit reviews of the history or philosophy of science. Explicit reviews of the history or philosophy of science.

Question: What is Research? Some possibilities: Some possibilities: Going to the library and reading books, encyclopedias, and magazine articles. Going to the library and reading books, encyclopedias, and magazine articles. Searching the internet for the best sports sedan under $40,000. Searching the internet for the best sports sedan under $40,000. Doing experiments in a college lab course. Doing experiments in a college lab course. A key element: data acquisition and interpretation. A key element: data acquisition and interpretation. Deriving meaning from collected data. Deriving meaning from collected data.

What Research Is Research starts with a question/problem. Research starts with a question/problem. Research requires a clear articulation of a goal. Research requires a clear articulation of a goal. Research follows a particular plan of procedure. Research follows a particular plan of procedure. Well-conceived attack v. fishing expedition. Well-conceived attack v. fishing expedition. Reaching the goal requires strategy. Reaching the goal requires strategy.

What Research Is (cont.) The principal problem is usually divided into smaller sub-problems. The principal problem is usually divided into smaller sub-problems. Research is guided by a specific problem, question, or hypothesis. Research is guided by a specific problem, question, or hypothesis. The importance of the “educated guess”. The importance of the “educated guess”. Unsupported hypotheses are replaced by new hypotheses. Unsupported hypotheses are replaced by new hypotheses. Multiple supported hypotheses yield theories. Multiple supported hypotheses yield theories. Hypotheses and theories are tentative. Hypotheses and theories are tentative.

What Research Is (cont.) Research accepts certain critical assumptions. Research accepts certain critical assumptions. Assumptions = axioms…self-evident truths. Assumptions = axioms…self-evident truths. Research requires interpretation of data. Research requires interpretation of data. Data interpretation: objective or subjective? Data interpretation: objective or subjective? Research is helical in nature. Research is helical in nature. One research project provides new questions, new problems for future research. One research project provides new questions, new problems for future research. Enjoy the process! Enjoy the process!

Methodology is Crucial Methods dictate how the research question is addressed. Methods dictate how the research question is addressed. Methods define the nature of the data acquired. Methods define the nature of the data acquired. Methods define the scope of data analysis and interpretation. Methods define the scope of data analysis and interpretation.

Research Design: the Research Paper Key element: reporting new knowledge. Key element: reporting new knowledge. Consummation of the research process. Consummation of the research process. “Pay-off” for the investigator. “Pay-off” for the investigator. The final and necessary stage of research. The final and necessary stage of research. The paper is a condensed version of the research process. The paper is a condensed version of the research process. Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion