1. The Nature and Kinds of Research Subject matter of course  Class about quantitative research  How is research different from other ways of answering questions?  Research is a systematic way of answering questions about the world

2. The Nature and Kinds of Research Different research for different purposes  Descriptive research  Primary purpose is to describe particular situation or event  Relatively rare  Exploratory research  Investigate phenomena or situations that are not familiar  Tends to be descriptive  Example of exploratory research – experiences of individuals who care for elderly relative or friend  Information is rich and complex, but not specific or predictable

3. The Nature and Kinds of Research Different research for different purposes, con’t  Theoretical research  Purpose is to test and evaluate theories by finding causal relations among variables  Example of theoretical research  Applied (evaluation) research  Purpose is to tell us what to do next  Applied research: Research aimed at solving real-world problems or making practical decisions.  Evaluation research: Focuses on effectiveness of program or treatment

4. The Nature and Kinds of Research Types of Evaluative Research  Summative vs. formative research  Summative research ◄Current effectiveness of program  Formative research ◄Diagnosing areas that are weak ◄Make recommendations for improvements  Impact vs. process evaluation  Impact evaluation ◄Does something work?  Process evaluation ◄How does something work?  Cost-benefit analysis  Compares total cost of program in terms of what good its done (the benefits) and what harm its done (the costs)

5. The Nature and Kinds of Research Special difficulties of applied research  Lack off control  Dealing with reactions of people involved  Measurement and interpretation problems

6. The Nature of Science What makes someone a scientist? The goals of science  Description  Prediction  Correlational research  Explanation  Control

7. Ways of Knowing Traditionalism or Authority  Knowledge passed through traditions or authority figures Rationalism  Knowledge is a result of logical thought and reasoning processes  Deductive reasoning – central tool of rationalism Empiricism  Knowledge arises as a result of observing events and drawing conclusions  Unscientific empiricism  Falsification  Emphasis shifted from proving beliefs to be true to proving them to be false

8. Ways of Knowing How falsification works  Falsifiable statement  Non-falsifiable statements  Non-falsifiable statements ◄Inclusive statements ◄Definitional statements ◄Vapor statements  Confirmation