Doing research – chapter 1 – why do you do research?
Doing research properly doesn’t mean that you can get the right answer, but rather that you can ask the
right questions.
At the end of your journey you know whether your plan was good or not:
Evaluation: looking back
Recommendations: looking forward
Also asses the quality of your journey
Informal or systematic
Informal observations: you subconsciously assume that other people do the same as you.
Systematic observations: are based on a phased plan, without having preconceived ideas about the
outcome.
Theory-based and applied research
According to the science of methodology, there are 2 types of research: theory-based research
(fundamental research) and applied research. The main difference between these two is the type of
problem that needs to be solved.
Questions raised in the theory-based research generally answer questions that aim at
developing knowledge they are questions about theory
- Important for science
Applied research is all about solving problems that have a practical application they are
more practical questions
- Important for society
Sometime theory-based research is also applied research. This is the case when the answer to a
question about theory is a good solution for a practical problem.
Qualitative or quantitative
It depends on the main question of your research if you will use the qualitative or quantitative method.
The quantitative method is based on numerical information. With these numbers you can make an
objective measurement for which you use statistical techniques.
For the qualitative method you carry out research in the field. You are interested in the meaning that a
person attaches to a situation or experience. This is known as holism. The methods you use for this
kind of research are open and flexible.
Triangulation and the mixed method approach
Triangulation: looking at the research question from multiple angles, which enhances the reliability
of your research results.
Mixed method approach: in this method you choose a combination of qualitative and quantitative
data collection methods to answer your question.
Inductive or deductive research
When you do inductive research the theory or model about your subject is not known in advance.
Researches who use this method often use qualitative research. This type of research is about
developing a theory. Iteration (repetition) is a guiding principle in this.
,For deductive research you formulate assumptions based on existing theories and models. You asses
whether your model is valid for the information that you have collected. This principle is often used in
quantitative, theory-based research.
Induction and deduction can be used together first you develop a theory inductively and then you
can use deduction to check if the theory is true.
Characteristics of critical research
Attitude
Knowledge
Skills
Quality criteria for carrying out and interpreting research
First, research is judged by the reliability of its results. It has to do with the extent to which it is free
of random errors (=deviations in or aspects of your research that are not verifiable, ones that are
caused by unknown factors).
The most important condition for reliability is, that it can be replicated. A second important condition
for reliability is that it is verifiable. It also has to be refutable (=researches can confirm or reject an
idea or assumption by doing the research again). Research can be replicated, because it has to be in the
public domain to confirm or reject research.
Besides that research has to be very informative. You need to indicate:
The situation you are referring to
The boundaries within which your research applies
The groups involved
The period that is relevant to your research
What the domain of your research is (= the whole area that is relevant to your research,
including the subject and all the elements that your research involves)
The second important criteria for research quality is validity. It has to do with the accuracy of the
research results. You need to be sure that the research doesn’t have any systematic errors (= errors that
cannot be put down to coincidence).
3 kinds of validity discussed in the book:
1. Internally validity: you are able to draw the correct conclusions from your results
2. Construct validity: has to do with “measuring what you want to measure”
3. External validity: you can make assertions about a large group of people or situation. It
concerns the generalizability of your research:
- Statistical generalization: you use statistical tests to see if a practical result is
generalizable.
- Theoretical generalization: you asses whether your results are comparable or applicable
in similar situations that have not actually been studied.
Several practical criteria that all types of research must meet:
Efficiency the costs should be in proportion with the results, and the schedule should be
feasible.
Feasibility you must have a big enough team of researchers, be able to approach people in
your sample, collect and analyse data and report on time.
Usability the research should be usable and it needs to be practical relevant.
,Research cycle
Phase 1: design
The main objective in this phase is to demarcate your objective and to draft the main question of your
research. The next step is to design your research:
Showing how you intend to address the main question
Which data collection methods will you use to do so?
How much time?
What will you need?
Who will be involved?
How are you going to analyse the information?
Phase 2: data collection
You collect the information you need to answer the main question or sub-questions. There are many
strategies for this, depending on the number of subjects you will be researching, the nature of the
question and the time and budget available. You have already indicated this in your research proposal.
Phase 3: analysis
After phase 1 and 2, you analyse the data. Such as in the previous phases, there are many different
methods to choose from. The methods will be discussed later in the book.
Phase 4: evaluation and recommendations
At the last phase you look back to the beginning:
What was it that you were researching?
Which methods were used?
Did you manage to answer all the questions and what were the answers?
What recommendations can be made?
Are there any other opportunities for research?
How can we evaluate the research project?
Is it good quality research?
Etc.
Something there is a follow-up research.
Part 1. Design
Part 4. Evaluation
Part 2. Data
and
collection
recommendations
Part 3. Analysis
, Doing research – chapter 2 – choosing the subject
Finding a subject
Usually, when you are doing applied research, the subject is determined by a question from your client
or company. While the research area may be decided, you are always free to choose your own subject.
This depends on:
Your ideas about the research design
Your interests in a specific subject
Your research-oriented attitude and your motivation to tackle practical problems
The process by which, together with the client, you define the subject so that there is an area
to be researched
Your ability to demarcate the subject and to make the right decisions so that your research
design ultimately answers the question or solves the problem
Brainstorming about the subject
Brainstorming: exchanging ideas, ordering them and trying to find associations between
concepts.
Storm writing: writing down your ideas so you can use them for later, because for instance it
is not your turn to share your ideas.
When you want to visualise the brainstorm results. You can put them in a mindmap.
Graduate internships and clients: you can’t always get what you want
On page 41 of the book there is a list of tips and tricks that may help you with doing an consultation
with a client. I did not list these, because I felt like they were not really relevant for the test. But if you
need them, you can find them back on page 41.
Steps of determining a subject out of a question of a client
1. Intake interview make a list of what the client wants
2. Demarcating your subject you turn the clients issue in a researchable question
3. Reading literature when demarcating the research
When you established the main question, you think of ways to address the main question. You choose
a design for your research. The answer depends on the nature of the question, but also on the
possibilities and limitations that the client may impose, for instance as far as the budget or time are
concerned. The solution depends on:
What is possible in terms of the research area
Whether it’s possible to gather information from the specified target group
Whether you can organise the research project in terms of the time available to you
Whether you can organise the research project in terms of a specific budget
The possibilities and limitations of the main question and sub-questions, if there are any.
- Main question: a practical question or question about theory
Doing research properly doesn’t mean that you can get the right answer, but rather that you can ask the
right questions.
At the end of your journey you know whether your plan was good or not:
Evaluation: looking back
Recommendations: looking forward
Also asses the quality of your journey
Informal or systematic
Informal observations: you subconsciously assume that other people do the same as you.
Systematic observations: are based on a phased plan, without having preconceived ideas about the
outcome.
Theory-based and applied research
According to the science of methodology, there are 2 types of research: theory-based research
(fundamental research) and applied research. The main difference between these two is the type of
problem that needs to be solved.
Questions raised in the theory-based research generally answer questions that aim at
developing knowledge they are questions about theory
- Important for science
Applied research is all about solving problems that have a practical application they are
more practical questions
- Important for society
Sometime theory-based research is also applied research. This is the case when the answer to a
question about theory is a good solution for a practical problem.
Qualitative or quantitative
It depends on the main question of your research if you will use the qualitative or quantitative method.
The quantitative method is based on numerical information. With these numbers you can make an
objective measurement for which you use statistical techniques.
For the qualitative method you carry out research in the field. You are interested in the meaning that a
person attaches to a situation or experience. This is known as holism. The methods you use for this
kind of research are open and flexible.
Triangulation and the mixed method approach
Triangulation: looking at the research question from multiple angles, which enhances the reliability
of your research results.
Mixed method approach: in this method you choose a combination of qualitative and quantitative
data collection methods to answer your question.
Inductive or deductive research
When you do inductive research the theory or model about your subject is not known in advance.
Researches who use this method often use qualitative research. This type of research is about
developing a theory. Iteration (repetition) is a guiding principle in this.
,For deductive research you formulate assumptions based on existing theories and models. You asses
whether your model is valid for the information that you have collected. This principle is often used in
quantitative, theory-based research.
Induction and deduction can be used together first you develop a theory inductively and then you
can use deduction to check if the theory is true.
Characteristics of critical research
Attitude
Knowledge
Skills
Quality criteria for carrying out and interpreting research
First, research is judged by the reliability of its results. It has to do with the extent to which it is free
of random errors (=deviations in or aspects of your research that are not verifiable, ones that are
caused by unknown factors).
The most important condition for reliability is, that it can be replicated. A second important condition
for reliability is that it is verifiable. It also has to be refutable (=researches can confirm or reject an
idea or assumption by doing the research again). Research can be replicated, because it has to be in the
public domain to confirm or reject research.
Besides that research has to be very informative. You need to indicate:
The situation you are referring to
The boundaries within which your research applies
The groups involved
The period that is relevant to your research
What the domain of your research is (= the whole area that is relevant to your research,
including the subject and all the elements that your research involves)
The second important criteria for research quality is validity. It has to do with the accuracy of the
research results. You need to be sure that the research doesn’t have any systematic errors (= errors that
cannot be put down to coincidence).
3 kinds of validity discussed in the book:
1. Internally validity: you are able to draw the correct conclusions from your results
2. Construct validity: has to do with “measuring what you want to measure”
3. External validity: you can make assertions about a large group of people or situation. It
concerns the generalizability of your research:
- Statistical generalization: you use statistical tests to see if a practical result is
generalizable.
- Theoretical generalization: you asses whether your results are comparable or applicable
in similar situations that have not actually been studied.
Several practical criteria that all types of research must meet:
Efficiency the costs should be in proportion with the results, and the schedule should be
feasible.
Feasibility you must have a big enough team of researchers, be able to approach people in
your sample, collect and analyse data and report on time.
Usability the research should be usable and it needs to be practical relevant.
,Research cycle
Phase 1: design
The main objective in this phase is to demarcate your objective and to draft the main question of your
research. The next step is to design your research:
Showing how you intend to address the main question
Which data collection methods will you use to do so?
How much time?
What will you need?
Who will be involved?
How are you going to analyse the information?
Phase 2: data collection
You collect the information you need to answer the main question or sub-questions. There are many
strategies for this, depending on the number of subjects you will be researching, the nature of the
question and the time and budget available. You have already indicated this in your research proposal.
Phase 3: analysis
After phase 1 and 2, you analyse the data. Such as in the previous phases, there are many different
methods to choose from. The methods will be discussed later in the book.
Phase 4: evaluation and recommendations
At the last phase you look back to the beginning:
What was it that you were researching?
Which methods were used?
Did you manage to answer all the questions and what were the answers?
What recommendations can be made?
Are there any other opportunities for research?
How can we evaluate the research project?
Is it good quality research?
Etc.
Something there is a follow-up research.
Part 1. Design
Part 4. Evaluation
Part 2. Data
and
collection
recommendations
Part 3. Analysis
, Doing research – chapter 2 – choosing the subject
Finding a subject
Usually, when you are doing applied research, the subject is determined by a question from your client
or company. While the research area may be decided, you are always free to choose your own subject.
This depends on:
Your ideas about the research design
Your interests in a specific subject
Your research-oriented attitude and your motivation to tackle practical problems
The process by which, together with the client, you define the subject so that there is an area
to be researched
Your ability to demarcate the subject and to make the right decisions so that your research
design ultimately answers the question or solves the problem
Brainstorming about the subject
Brainstorming: exchanging ideas, ordering them and trying to find associations between
concepts.
Storm writing: writing down your ideas so you can use them for later, because for instance it
is not your turn to share your ideas.
When you want to visualise the brainstorm results. You can put them in a mindmap.
Graduate internships and clients: you can’t always get what you want
On page 41 of the book there is a list of tips and tricks that may help you with doing an consultation
with a client. I did not list these, because I felt like they were not really relevant for the test. But if you
need them, you can find them back on page 41.
Steps of determining a subject out of a question of a client
1. Intake interview make a list of what the client wants
2. Demarcating your subject you turn the clients issue in a researchable question
3. Reading literature when demarcating the research
When you established the main question, you think of ways to address the main question. You choose
a design for your research. The answer depends on the nature of the question, but also on the
possibilities and limitations that the client may impose, for instance as far as the budget or time are
concerned. The solution depends on:
What is possible in terms of the research area
Whether it’s possible to gather information from the specified target group
Whether you can organise the research project in terms of the time available to you
Whether you can organise the research project in terms of a specific budget
The possibilities and limitations of the main question and sub-questions, if there are any.
- Main question: a practical question or question about theory
