Book material
Chapter 1: Foundations of Research
Methods
💡 1.1 The Research Enterprise
Research is a type of systematic investigation that is empirical in nature
and is designed to contribute to public knowledge.
● Systematic investigation: Research is done in a conscious effort to concentrate
our thinking, to
do it in a rational, careful manner.
● Empirical effort: An effort that is based upon systematic observation that yields
data you can use in your decision-making.
● Public effort: Research is conducted so that it can contribute to a broader base of
knowledge.
Research enterprise is the macro-level effort to accumulate knowledge across
multiple empirical systematic public research projects.
Translational research is the systematic effort to move research from initial discovery
to practice and ultimately to impacts on our lives. We can think of the research
enterprise as encompassing a research practice continuum within which translation
occurs. It is assumed that different discoveries take different pathways through this
continuum
Research-practice continuum is the process of moving from an initial research idea
or discovery to
practice, and the potential for the idea to influence our lives or world.
Book material 1
, ● Basic research is designed to generate discoveries and to understand how the
discoveries work. Basic research satisfies curiosity and is conducted out of interest,
it expands basic knowledge, it results in universal principles and is conducted by
people in universities on a flexible timescale
● Applied research is research where a discovery is tested under increasingly
controlled conditions in real-world contexts. It is done to find answers to “real life”
problems, to improve understanding of business or management problems. It results
in solutions, new knowledge limited to the problem, it has a tight timescale and is
undertaken by people in various settings
● Implementation and dissemination research assesses how well an innovation
or discovery can be distributed in and carried out in a broad range of contexts that
extend beyond the original controlled studies.
● Impact research assesses the broader effects of a discovery or innovation on
society.
● Policy research is designed to investigate existing policies or develop and test
new ones.
Problem: Research literature has become voluminous and is often very technical,
making it a barrier for practitioners that reduces the rate of adoption of new
discoveries.
Solution: System for synthesizing the large numbers of research studies in different
topical areas.
Research synthesis is a systematic study of multiple prior research projects that
address the same research question or topic and that summarizes the results in a
manner that can be used by practitioners.
1. Meta-analysis, a type of research synthesis that uses statistical methods to
combine the results of similar studies quantitatively in order to allow general
conclusions to be made (always a quantitative synthesis).
2. Systematic review, a type of research synthesis that focuses on a special
question or issue and uses preplanned methods to identify, select, assess, and
summarize the findings of multiple research studies. It may or may not include meta-
analysis (may be a judgmental expert-driven synthesis, a meta-analysis, or both).
Problem: Both types of research syntheses can be somewhat technical and are
written in a scientific style that typically is cautious about making formal
recommendations for action.
Solution: Practice guideline, a systematic process that leads to a special set of
Book material 2
, research-based recommendations for practice that usually includes some estimates
of how strong the evidence is for each recommendation.
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a movement designed to encourage or require
practitioners to employ practices that are based on research evidence as reflected in
research syntheses or practice guidelines. It represents a major attempt of the
research enterprise to achieve a better integration of research and practice
Evolutionary epistemology is the branch of philosophy that holds that ideas evolve
through the process of natural selection. An individual discovery or idea is like an
organism in biology; it competes with other established and emerging discoveries
Conceptualizing Research
Where do researchers topics come from?
Practical problems in the field. Many researchers are directly engaged with in
social, human, or health service program implementation and come up with
ideas based on what they see happening around them.
Literature in your specific field. Many researchers get ideas for research by
reading the literature and thinking of ways to extend or refine previous research
Requests for proposals (RFPs). A document issued by a government agency or
other organization that, typically, describes the problem that needs addressing,
the contexts in which it operates, the approach the agency would like you to take
to investigate the problem, and the amount the agency would be willing to pay
for such research.
Think up research topic. Simply think of a topic on your own.
Literature review is a systematic compilation and written summary of all the
literature published in scientific journals that is related to a research topic of interest.
A literature review is typically included in the introduction section of a research write-
up.
1. get a quick start form a similar study
2. help to ensure that u include all the relevant constructs
3. help to select appropriate measurement instruments
Book material 3
Chapter 1: Foundations of Research
Methods
💡 1.1 The Research Enterprise
Research is a type of systematic investigation that is empirical in nature
and is designed to contribute to public knowledge.
● Systematic investigation: Research is done in a conscious effort to concentrate
our thinking, to
do it in a rational, careful manner.
● Empirical effort: An effort that is based upon systematic observation that yields
data you can use in your decision-making.
● Public effort: Research is conducted so that it can contribute to a broader base of
knowledge.
Research enterprise is the macro-level effort to accumulate knowledge across
multiple empirical systematic public research projects.
Translational research is the systematic effort to move research from initial discovery
to practice and ultimately to impacts on our lives. We can think of the research
enterprise as encompassing a research practice continuum within which translation
occurs. It is assumed that different discoveries take different pathways through this
continuum
Research-practice continuum is the process of moving from an initial research idea
or discovery to
practice, and the potential for the idea to influence our lives or world.
Book material 1
, ● Basic research is designed to generate discoveries and to understand how the
discoveries work. Basic research satisfies curiosity and is conducted out of interest,
it expands basic knowledge, it results in universal principles and is conducted by
people in universities on a flexible timescale
● Applied research is research where a discovery is tested under increasingly
controlled conditions in real-world contexts. It is done to find answers to “real life”
problems, to improve understanding of business or management problems. It results
in solutions, new knowledge limited to the problem, it has a tight timescale and is
undertaken by people in various settings
● Implementation and dissemination research assesses how well an innovation
or discovery can be distributed in and carried out in a broad range of contexts that
extend beyond the original controlled studies.
● Impact research assesses the broader effects of a discovery or innovation on
society.
● Policy research is designed to investigate existing policies or develop and test
new ones.
Problem: Research literature has become voluminous and is often very technical,
making it a barrier for practitioners that reduces the rate of adoption of new
discoveries.
Solution: System for synthesizing the large numbers of research studies in different
topical areas.
Research synthesis is a systematic study of multiple prior research projects that
address the same research question or topic and that summarizes the results in a
manner that can be used by practitioners.
1. Meta-analysis, a type of research synthesis that uses statistical methods to
combine the results of similar studies quantitatively in order to allow general
conclusions to be made (always a quantitative synthesis).
2. Systematic review, a type of research synthesis that focuses on a special
question or issue and uses preplanned methods to identify, select, assess, and
summarize the findings of multiple research studies. It may or may not include meta-
analysis (may be a judgmental expert-driven synthesis, a meta-analysis, or both).
Problem: Both types of research syntheses can be somewhat technical and are
written in a scientific style that typically is cautious about making formal
recommendations for action.
Solution: Practice guideline, a systematic process that leads to a special set of
Book material 2
, research-based recommendations for practice that usually includes some estimates
of how strong the evidence is for each recommendation.
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a movement designed to encourage or require
practitioners to employ practices that are based on research evidence as reflected in
research syntheses or practice guidelines. It represents a major attempt of the
research enterprise to achieve a better integration of research and practice
Evolutionary epistemology is the branch of philosophy that holds that ideas evolve
through the process of natural selection. An individual discovery or idea is like an
organism in biology; it competes with other established and emerging discoveries
Conceptualizing Research
Where do researchers topics come from?
Practical problems in the field. Many researchers are directly engaged with in
social, human, or health service program implementation and come up with
ideas based on what they see happening around them.
Literature in your specific field. Many researchers get ideas for research by
reading the literature and thinking of ways to extend or refine previous research
Requests for proposals (RFPs). A document issued by a government agency or
other organization that, typically, describes the problem that needs addressing,
the contexts in which it operates, the approach the agency would like you to take
to investigate the problem, and the amount the agency would be willing to pay
for such research.
Think up research topic. Simply think of a topic on your own.
Literature review is a systematic compilation and written summary of all the
literature published in scientific journals that is related to a research topic of interest.
A literature review is typically included in the introduction section of a research write-
up.
1. get a quick start form a similar study
2. help to ensure that u include all the relevant constructs
3. help to select appropriate measurement instruments
Book material 3
