1. Generating and Refining Research Ideas
Chapter 3
Generating and Refining Research Ideas
PowerPoint presentation to accompany Research Design Explained 6th edition;
©2007 Mark Mitchell & Janina Jolley

2. Generating Research Ideas
From common sense
From previous research
PowerPoint presentation to accompany Research Design Explained 6th edition;
©2007 Mark Mitchell & Janina Jolley

3. Generating Ideas from Common Sense
Question everything, including old sayings:
True?
When is it not true?
Why is it true?
Attack practical problems
Questions to ask about a phenomenon:
Who/When/Why/How
What are its effects (short-term, long-term, good, bad)?
PowerPoint presentation to accompany Research Design Explained 6th edition;
©2007 Mark Mitchell & Janina Jolley

4. How to Get Research Ideas from Previous Research
Repeat studies
Do a study suggested by a journal article’s author(s)
Improve the study’s external validity
Improve the study’s internal validity
Improve the study’s construct validity
Look for practical implications of the research
Try to reconcile studies that produce conflicting results
PowerPoint presentation to accompany Research Design Explained 6th edition;
©2007 Mark Mitchell & Janina Jolley

5. Generating Research Ideas from Previous Research: Conclusions
Easy way to get started in research
Likely to produce research that is relevant rather than trivial
Consider improving study by improving its internal, external, or construct validity
Consider extending study by looking at practical implications, moderator variables, and mediating variables
PowerPoint presentation to accompany Research Design Explained 6th edition;
©2007 Mark Mitchell & Janina Jolley

6. Converting an Idea into a Research Hypothesis
Make it testable
Make it supportable (Avoid the null hypothesis)
Be sure to have a rationale: How theory can help
Demonstrate its relevance: Theory versus trivia
PowerPoint presentation to accompany Research Design Explained 6th edition;
©2007 Mark Mitchell & Janina Jolley

7. Refine It: 10 Time-Tested Tips
Don’t be afraid to be wrong
Don’t be afraid to deal with constructs
Don’t avoid theory
Manipulate variables
Look for other effects
Reverse cause-effect
Look for moderator variables
Look for mediating variables
Be more specific (functional relationships)
Look at components
PowerPoint presentation to accompany Research Design Explained 6th edition;
©2007 Mark Mitchell & Janina Jolley

8. Make Sure that Testing the Hypothesis Is Both Practical and Ethical
Consult with me
Review ethical guidelines (Chapter 2, Appendix C)
PowerPoint presentation to accompany Research Design Explained 6th edition;
©2007 Mark Mitchell & Janina Jolley

9. Changing Unethical and Impractical Ideas into Research Hypotheses
Make variables more general
Use smaller scale models of the situation
Carefully screen potential participants
Use “moderate” manipulations
Do not manipulate variables
PowerPoint presentation to accompany Research Design Explained 6th edition;
©2007 Mark Mitchell & Janina Jolley

10. Concluding Remarks You can generate many interesting ideas
You will probably have to refine your ideas to turn them into testable, workable hypotheses*
Part of the refining process may involve developing or obtaining valid operational definitions, a topic that will be addressed in Chapter 5
PowerPoint presentation to accompany Research Design Explained 6th edition;
©2007 Mark Mitchell & Janina Jolley

11. Hypothesis Checklist Can it be proven wrong? Specific prediction?
Operational definitions?
Can it be supported?
It can’t be a null hypothesis
Do you have a rationale for your prediction?
Are there implications of your hypothesis for theory, previous research, or a real-world concerns?
Is it practical and ethical to test your hypothesis?
PowerPoint presentation to accompany Research Design Explained 6th edition;
©2007 Mark Mitchell & Janina Jolley