Part 1: Design; Chapter 1 – 5
Chapter 1: Why do you do research
Fundamental or applied research?
- Main difference: type of problem, which needs to be solved
1. Fundamental research: answers questions that aim at developing knowledge (theoretical
questions)
Theoretical question is a question to which the answers provide knowledge about a
subject
2. Applied research: solving problems that have practical applications (practical questions)
Practical question is a question to which the answers lead to the solution to a practical
problem
Quantitative method: numerical information, usage of statistical techniques to process attributes
and test assumptions, information in figures, statistical analyses, researcher takes a distance, testing
hypothesis
Qualitative method: hardly any figures, probing into the meaning of the research subject, research
‘into the field’, researcher mainly interested in meaning that person attaches to situation
Triangulation and the mixed method approach
- Used to enhance quality of research (e.g., reliability, validity)
- Mixed method approach, choose combination of qualitative and quantitative data collection
methods to answer question
Triangulation: tackling central questions using various methods
Mixed method approach: research that uses qualitative and quantitative methods
Inductive or deductive?
Inductive research, theory known in advance; researcher’s objective is to develop theory as you
go along; person makes statements based on observations; developing a theory
Iteration (repetition), leads to higher standard of results; researcher gathers information and
draws first conclusions, establishes additional information that is required, researcher then gathers
new information
Deductive research (theory testing), researcher formulates assumptions on basis of (existing)
theories and models; researcher gathers and analyses information to assess whether the theories
hold water you assess whether model (theory) is valid (true) for information collected
= Induction and deduction complement each other; you develop theory inductively, then use
deduction to check if theory is correct
Characteristics of a critical researcher
a) Attitude: must be objective, own opinion of situation is not what it is about, strive for
openness, scientific attitude, Attitude, Independent, Owner, Into research
b) Skill- Experience, Structure, Applying methods and instruments
c) Knowledge- Methodology, Content wise
,Quality criteria for carrying out and interpreting research
a) Reliable
b) Testable, Repeatable, refutable, unambiguously, and public
c) Clear (internal validity), Draw the right conclusions
d) Generalizable, Valid for large groups domain as big as possible, High information content
and specific subject, Measured in the right way (conceptually valid)
e) Measure what you want to measure,
f) Applicable, Efficient, Usable, Valid in other situations (content)
Internal and construct validity
has to do with accuracy of research results (does not have systematic errors)
construct validity has to do with ‘measuring what you want to measure’
External validity
the extent to which you can generalize the finding of a study to other situations, people, settings,
and measures
in other words, can you apply finding of your study to broader context?
important for quantitative and qualitative research
Reliability the extent to which the research is free of random errors
Validity the extent to which the research is free of systematic errors
Practical criteria when conducting research
- Efficiency
- Feasibility
- Usability the extent to which research has practical relevance
Research phases
1. Design
- achieve proper objective and central question, if you don’t have it risk that research
becomes unwieldy, unable to draw clear/useable conclusions
- How you intend to address the question, which data collection methods you will use to do
so, how much time etc.
- Specify how you’ll analyze information and which method you used
2. Data collection
- Conduct the research when you go about collecting the information that you need to
answer research questions
3. Analysis
- Analyze data you have collected
4. Evaluation and recommendations
- Look at beginning; what was I researching, methods used, did I manage to answer all
questions, recommendations made
Research report or professional product
- After completing all research phases report, gives insight which methods were used, and
results are presented
- How will research be used? Report or professional product
- Being accountable, describe results and conclusions, Do recommendations
- Present a plan of approach, Present a design
- Use protocols, Implementation plan
, Chapter 2: Choosing the subject
Finding a subject
• Free choice You propose a topic yourself
• Practical assignment A client has a research question, research agenda, you choose a
subject based on your study program or a lectorate
Informed expectations clear and unambiguous expectations of the results of a project formulated
and recorded in advance, and known to and discussed by all those concerned
Chapter 3: The background to your research
Recognizing the reason
Background to research
reasons why you
initiate a research project
The 6W method
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’s the cause of the problem?
Method that you can use to determine the reason for your research based on 6 questions
Data collection
- Gather information about research topic preliminary research/problem analysis
Searching information: Big 6
1. Define the search assignment search question
2. Choose a search strategy
3. Think about where to search
4. Study the information and select what you need
5. Organize the information
6. Evaluate the result
Seven operators can be used for searching
1. US of double quotation marks
2. (All)intitle
3. Filetype
4. File not found 404
5. Symbols like +, -, &, *
6. Tilde ~
7. Abreviations and key words
8. Use advanced search
Chapter 1: Why do you do research
Fundamental or applied research?
- Main difference: type of problem, which needs to be solved
1. Fundamental research: answers questions that aim at developing knowledge (theoretical
questions)
Theoretical question is a question to which the answers provide knowledge about a
subject
2. Applied research: solving problems that have practical applications (practical questions)
Practical question is a question to which the answers lead to the solution to a practical
problem
Quantitative method: numerical information, usage of statistical techniques to process attributes
and test assumptions, information in figures, statistical analyses, researcher takes a distance, testing
hypothesis
Qualitative method: hardly any figures, probing into the meaning of the research subject, research
‘into the field’, researcher mainly interested in meaning that person attaches to situation
Triangulation and the mixed method approach
- Used to enhance quality of research (e.g., reliability, validity)
- Mixed method approach, choose combination of qualitative and quantitative data collection
methods to answer question
Triangulation: tackling central questions using various methods
Mixed method approach: research that uses qualitative and quantitative methods
Inductive or deductive?
Inductive research, theory known in advance; researcher’s objective is to develop theory as you
go along; person makes statements based on observations; developing a theory
Iteration (repetition), leads to higher standard of results; researcher gathers information and
draws first conclusions, establishes additional information that is required, researcher then gathers
new information
Deductive research (theory testing), researcher formulates assumptions on basis of (existing)
theories and models; researcher gathers and analyses information to assess whether the theories
hold water you assess whether model (theory) is valid (true) for information collected
= Induction and deduction complement each other; you develop theory inductively, then use
deduction to check if theory is correct
Characteristics of a critical researcher
a) Attitude: must be objective, own opinion of situation is not what it is about, strive for
openness, scientific attitude, Attitude, Independent, Owner, Into research
b) Skill- Experience, Structure, Applying methods and instruments
c) Knowledge- Methodology, Content wise
,Quality criteria for carrying out and interpreting research
a) Reliable
b) Testable, Repeatable, refutable, unambiguously, and public
c) Clear (internal validity), Draw the right conclusions
d) Generalizable, Valid for large groups domain as big as possible, High information content
and specific subject, Measured in the right way (conceptually valid)
e) Measure what you want to measure,
f) Applicable, Efficient, Usable, Valid in other situations (content)
Internal and construct validity
has to do with accuracy of research results (does not have systematic errors)
construct validity has to do with ‘measuring what you want to measure’
External validity
the extent to which you can generalize the finding of a study to other situations, people, settings,
and measures
in other words, can you apply finding of your study to broader context?
important for quantitative and qualitative research
Reliability the extent to which the research is free of random errors
Validity the extent to which the research is free of systematic errors
Practical criteria when conducting research
- Efficiency
- Feasibility
- Usability the extent to which research has practical relevance
Research phases
1. Design
- achieve proper objective and central question, if you don’t have it risk that research
becomes unwieldy, unable to draw clear/useable conclusions
- How you intend to address the question, which data collection methods you will use to do
so, how much time etc.
- Specify how you’ll analyze information and which method you used
2. Data collection
- Conduct the research when you go about collecting the information that you need to
answer research questions
3. Analysis
- Analyze data you have collected
4. Evaluation and recommendations
- Look at beginning; what was I researching, methods used, did I manage to answer all
questions, recommendations made
Research report or professional product
- After completing all research phases report, gives insight which methods were used, and
results are presented
- How will research be used? Report or professional product
- Being accountable, describe results and conclusions, Do recommendations
- Present a plan of approach, Present a design
- Use protocols, Implementation plan
, Chapter 2: Choosing the subject
Finding a subject
• Free choice You propose a topic yourself
• Practical assignment A client has a research question, research agenda, you choose a
subject based on your study program or a lectorate
Informed expectations clear and unambiguous expectations of the results of a project formulated
and recorded in advance, and known to and discussed by all those concerned
Chapter 3: The background to your research
Recognizing the reason
Background to research
reasons why you
initiate a research project
The 6W method
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’s the cause of the problem?
Method that you can use to determine the reason for your research based on 6 questions
Data collection
- Gather information about research topic preliminary research/problem analysis
Searching information: Big 6
1. Define the search assignment search question
2. Choose a search strategy
3. Think about where to search
4. Study the information and select what you need
5. Organize the information
6. Evaluate the result
Seven operators can be used for searching
1. US of double quotation marks
2. (All)intitle
3. Filetype
4. File not found 404
5. Symbols like +, -, &, *
6. Tilde ~
7. Abreviations and key words
8. Use advanced search
