1. Fundamental of Scientific Research (Research methods)
Dr. Maram Bani Younes,
Assistant Professor
Philadelphia University
Copyright © S. Ghoul (2009)
Graziano & Raulin (1997)

2. Chapter 1 Introduction to Research in Science
What is Research?
• Research: is the search of knowledge
• Research: is a careful investigation or inquiry specially through search for new facts in any branch of knowledge
• Research: is the scientific and systematic process of collecting and analyzing information on a specific issue in order to increase our understanding
Graziano & Raulin (1997)

3. What is Research?
Research: is the investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories or laws.

4. Research Objectives
Generate new knowledge
• Gain familiarity with new insights into a phenomenon
• Interpret the characteristics of a particular situation
• Examine hypothesis between variables

5. Research and Development (R&D)
Research and Development (R&D) is any creative systematic activity undertaken in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this knowledge to devise new applications.

6. Basic Assumptions of Science
Assumptions are accepted without proof
Assumptions of science
True, physical universe exists
Universe is essentially orderly
The principles that define the functioning of the universe can be discovered
All ideas are tentative, potentially changed by new information
Form the basis of all scientific thinking
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon (2007)

7. Observation and Inference
Facts: Events that can be observed
Most “facts” of psychology are behaviors
Constructs: Inferred from observations
Constructed to explain the observations
Examples: memory; emotion; personality
Used “as if” they really existed
Reification of a construct: incorrectly believing it is a fact
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon (2007)

8. Inductive & Deductive Thinking
Inductive thinking: from the specific instance to the general theory
Deductive thinking: from the general theory to predict specific instances
Science
Develops theories through inductive logic
Tests theories by generating predictions through deductive logic and empirically verifying those predictions
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon (2007)

9. Research Philosophy
Model: simplified representation of the real things.
Graziano & Raulin (1997)

10. Research Methods vs. Methodology
Methods are the techniques or procedures used to gather and analyze data for conducting the research.
• Methodology is the strategy, plan of action, process, or design lying behind the choice and use of methods to the desired outcomes.

11. Research Methods
Research methods can be put into the following three groups: 1. Methods concerned with the collection of data. These methods will be used where the data already available are not sufficient to arrive at the required solution; 2. Methods used for establishing relationships between the data and the unknowns 3. Methods used to evaluate the accuracy of the results obtained.

12. Research Methodology
Research methodology is a systematic way for solving the research problem. It includes the various steps that are generally adopted by a researcher in studying his research problem along with the logic behind them.
• Researchers need to know which methods are relevant and which are not, and what would they mean and indicate and why.
• Researchers also need to understand the assumptions underlying various methods and they need to know the criteria by which they can decide that certain methods and procedures will be applicable to certain problems and others will not

13. Research Methodology Research methodology should answer the following:
• Why the researcher chose that focus?
• How will the study be designed and why?
• What is the scientific approach?
• What methods will be used?
• How will the research be conducted scientifically?
• What steps will be carried out?
• Why the alternative was rejected?

14. Research Methodology
Methodology should specify: • Purpose of the study • The models to be used • Type of data to be acquired • The technique of data collection • The methods of data analysis and validation

15. Designing Scientific Research
Research problem investigation
• Research design
• Research design validation
• Do the research
• Evaluate the research
Publish the Research

16. Research Management Research Proposal • Research Plan
• Research Execution
• Research Report
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon (2007)

17. Research Flow

18. Research Phases

19. Research Flow

20. Research Formulation Do a comprehensive theory and research review
• Begin with a statement of the problem, then move on to a review of theory and past research, and conclude with a defining of the research methodology
• Focus your research very specifically
• Organize your research around a set of questions that can guide your research
Choose your methodology wisely
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon (2007)

21. Academic Honesty
Compliance: means the researcher follows the rules set out by the government, funding agencies and the researcher’s institution.
• Ethics: refers to a responsible behavior towards humans, sentient beings, society and ecosystems.
• Both compliance and ethics are required for the Responsible Conduct in Research.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon (2007)

22. Academic Honesty
• Plagiarism: is committed when someone uses another person’s words, ideas or opinions without acknowledging them as being from that other person. Special care should be taken with information taken from web sites and other electronic sources. • Do not copy/paste from the internet • Always give credit to others work that you have used
Turnitin.
Graziano & Raulin (1997)

23. Academic Honesty
• Not everything on the net is true! • Do not copy/paste from internet sources • Do the following steps: • Read  Understand  Select  Copy  Paste  Modify  Summarize  Organize • Most Important Give Credit and Reference other peoples work

24. Academic Honesty
• Fabrication: is the making up of data or results and then documenting them in report • Falsification: is the practice of omitting or altering research materials, equipment, data, or processes in such a way that the results of the research are no longer accurately reflected in the research record. • Fabrication and Falsification are unethical • You would be misleading others who might read and refer to your work

25. Other Forms of Misconduct
Academic Honesty
Other Forms of Misconduct
• Letting other people do your work
• Working with unauthorized collaboration
• Publishing the same paper in two different journals
• Adding a colleague as an author on a paper without him making serious contributions
• Stealing supplies, books, or data

26. In order to make research you should use the following skills:
Skills of Research
In order to make research you should use the following skills:
1- Reading Papers
2- Writing A Paper
3- Presenting your Work
Defend it,