Research design summary
Part 1 design
1
Fundamental research= answers theoretical questions that aim at developing knowledge
Applied research= solving problems that have a practical application
Theoretical question= a question to which the answers provide knowledge about
subject/research (internal oriented) (fundamental research)
Practical question= a question to which the answers lead to the solution to a practical
problem, in daily life and in society (external oriented) (applied research)
Qualitative research= research not based on numerical information; persons perception of a
subject based on their own background (inductive)
Quantitative research= research based on numerical information, represents objects,
organisations, and people (gender, age etc.)
Reliability is important
Characteristics: Qualitative Quantitative
Emphasis on meaning/context Yes No
Number of respondents Few Many
Data per respondent A lot Not much
Type of information In-depth Superficial
Objectively measurable (numerical) No Yes
Statistically No Possible
Triangulation= tackling the central question using various research methods
Mixed method approach= research that uses qualitative and quantitative research
Inductive research= theory-developing research (not known information) (qualitative)
Deductive research= theory-testing research (know information) (quantitative)
Exploratory hypothesis= test an exploratory hypothesis using a quantitative method
Objective= the personal preferences of a critical researcher must not influence the research
Refuted= your research may be the first in a series of thorough analyses (ongoing/evolving)
Falsifiable= assertions that cannot be proven, that cannot be verified through testing (not
based facts/opinion) (quantitative)
Reliability= extent to which the research is free of random errors
Validity= extent to which the research is free of systematic errors
Internally valid= cannot be put down to coincidence
Construct valid= measuring what you want to measure
External valid= generalizable
,Feasibility= big enough team of researchers to get it done on time
Research cycle:
1. Design, proper objective, central question and how to address the question/which
data collection methods/time/needed/who involved
2. Data collecting, conduct the research, collecting information needed to answer the
question
3. Analysis, analyse gathered data
4. Evaluation and recommendations
2
Options when choosing a subject:
Free choice= own choice
Practical assignment= client can request
Training program= course chooses
Hidden agenda (example)= research is often used to promote products, instead of
researching them
Informed expectations= informing one another about the expectations
Causes good agreements, project running smoothly and higher change of
succeeding
SMART= specific, measurable, acceptable, realistic, and time-related
3
Reasons for doing research:
Practical problem>
> problem demarcation >research proposal
Extend knowledge>
Background to research= reasons why you initiate a research project
6W method: to determine the reason for your research based on 6 questions
1. What is the problem?
2. Whose problem is it?
3. When did the problem arise?
4. Why is it a problem?
5. Where does the problem occur?
6. What is the cause of the problem?
Preliminary research= problem analysis:
Look for background information about your subject
Look for literature about previously presented research results
Collect material by speaking to a few people
, 6 steps when searching for information:
1. Define the problem
2. Decide where you going to look
3. Choose the right search strategy
4. Study the information and select wat you need
5. Organize your information so that it answers your questions or solves the problem
6. Evaluate the results
7 operators that can be used for searching
1. Put your search between citation marks
2. Allintitle/intitle and allinurl/url
3. Search for documents generated in Word/Acrobat by typing: filetype:doc or -pdf
4. Change an “error” website by taking of (.us/.com/.org) and refresh it
5. Using symbols
6. Enter the reference word you are looking for
7. Option to make your search as specific as possible
Logbook/audit trail= research logbook that you write up regularly and in which you make
notes of all the processes and content to do with your research
4
Central question= question that you aim to answer with your research
Objective= function of the research for the researcher and organisation/client
Central question + objective = problem description (core/main question)
Has sub-questions
Analysis questions specific assessment questions that you answer during your analysis
How to use the 6W:
1. Start with question 6
2. Then go to question 1
3. Then answer question 2 to 5
Types of central questions
Descriptive, what?
Defining, what attributes?
Explanatory, why is it that…?
Predictive, what developments, expectations?
Comparative, what is the link, the difference?
Evaluative, how is…assessed?
Prescriptive, which measures?
Tracking trends, which developments, trends?
Design, how can…be researched?
2 ways of creating clear sub-questions
1. Unravel
Part 1 design
1
Fundamental research= answers theoretical questions that aim at developing knowledge
Applied research= solving problems that have a practical application
Theoretical question= a question to which the answers provide knowledge about
subject/research (internal oriented) (fundamental research)
Practical question= a question to which the answers lead to the solution to a practical
problem, in daily life and in society (external oriented) (applied research)
Qualitative research= research not based on numerical information; persons perception of a
subject based on their own background (inductive)
Quantitative research= research based on numerical information, represents objects,
organisations, and people (gender, age etc.)
Reliability is important
Characteristics: Qualitative Quantitative
Emphasis on meaning/context Yes No
Number of respondents Few Many
Data per respondent A lot Not much
Type of information In-depth Superficial
Objectively measurable (numerical) No Yes
Statistically No Possible
Triangulation= tackling the central question using various research methods
Mixed method approach= research that uses qualitative and quantitative research
Inductive research= theory-developing research (not known information) (qualitative)
Deductive research= theory-testing research (know information) (quantitative)
Exploratory hypothesis= test an exploratory hypothesis using a quantitative method
Objective= the personal preferences of a critical researcher must not influence the research
Refuted= your research may be the first in a series of thorough analyses (ongoing/evolving)
Falsifiable= assertions that cannot be proven, that cannot be verified through testing (not
based facts/opinion) (quantitative)
Reliability= extent to which the research is free of random errors
Validity= extent to which the research is free of systematic errors
Internally valid= cannot be put down to coincidence
Construct valid= measuring what you want to measure
External valid= generalizable
,Feasibility= big enough team of researchers to get it done on time
Research cycle:
1. Design, proper objective, central question and how to address the question/which
data collection methods/time/needed/who involved
2. Data collecting, conduct the research, collecting information needed to answer the
question
3. Analysis, analyse gathered data
4. Evaluation and recommendations
2
Options when choosing a subject:
Free choice= own choice
Practical assignment= client can request
Training program= course chooses
Hidden agenda (example)= research is often used to promote products, instead of
researching them
Informed expectations= informing one another about the expectations
Causes good agreements, project running smoothly and higher change of
succeeding
SMART= specific, measurable, acceptable, realistic, and time-related
3
Reasons for doing research:
Practical problem>
> problem demarcation >research proposal
Extend knowledge>
Background to research= reasons why you initiate a research project
6W method: to determine the reason for your research based on 6 questions
1. What is the problem?
2. Whose problem is it?
3. When did the problem arise?
4. Why is it a problem?
5. Where does the problem occur?
6. What is the cause of the problem?
Preliminary research= problem analysis:
Look for background information about your subject
Look for literature about previously presented research results
Collect material by speaking to a few people
, 6 steps when searching for information:
1. Define the problem
2. Decide where you going to look
3. Choose the right search strategy
4. Study the information and select wat you need
5. Organize your information so that it answers your questions or solves the problem
6. Evaluate the results
7 operators that can be used for searching
1. Put your search between citation marks
2. Allintitle/intitle and allinurl/url
3. Search for documents generated in Word/Acrobat by typing: filetype:doc or -pdf
4. Change an “error” website by taking of (.us/.com/.org) and refresh it
5. Using symbols
6. Enter the reference word you are looking for
7. Option to make your search as specific as possible
Logbook/audit trail= research logbook that you write up regularly and in which you make
notes of all the processes and content to do with your research
4
Central question= question that you aim to answer with your research
Objective= function of the research for the researcher and organisation/client
Central question + objective = problem description (core/main question)
Has sub-questions
Analysis questions specific assessment questions that you answer during your analysis
How to use the 6W:
1. Start with question 6
2. Then go to question 1
3. Then answer question 2 to 5
Types of central questions
Descriptive, what?
Defining, what attributes?
Explanatory, why is it that…?
Predictive, what developments, expectations?
Comparative, what is the link, the difference?
Evaluative, how is…assessed?
Prescriptive, which measures?
Tracking trends, which developments, trends?
Design, how can…be researched?
2 ways of creating clear sub-questions
1. Unravel
