Collecting evidence and research design

Question 1

what is epistemology?

Answer 1

the very of knowledge, especially in regards to method and validity

justification that distinguishes fact from opinion

• what is viewed as appropriate knowledge
• positivism - scientific methods should be used in social science
• interpretivism

Question 2

what is evidence based management?

Answer 2

• based on tasing questions and alleging data to underpin effective action
• makes decisions more justified
• different questions require different data and different methods

Question 3

what is positivism?

Answer 3

assertion that every rationally justified assertion canoe scientifically verified or logical proof

Question 4

what is interretivism?

Answer 4

interpret elements of the study and therefore include human interests, reflect the distinctiveness of humans

Question 5

what is the purpose of a study?

positivism and deception

Answer 5

to generate testable hypotheses

research must be conducted in an objective manner
]clear distinction between normative and scientific statements

Question 6

what is a normative statement?

Answer 6

statement of opinion

Question 7

what is deduction?

Answer 7

• developing a hypotheses based on existing theory

= theory 
= hypotheses 
= data collection 
= findings 
= hypotheses confirmed etc 
= revision of theory

Question 8

what type of data is usually collected in a deductive research?

Answer 8

quantitative as you want to collect are amount to prove the theory

Question 9

what is quantitative data and analysis?

Answer 9

characterised by:

• large samples
• precise measurement of variables
• relationships are describes / evaluated in statistical terms

Question 10

what research design are assoictaied with quantitative data?

Answer 10

• experiments

- sample survey

Question 11

what is inductive research?

Answer 11

generation of a new theory out of the data

= gather info 
= ask questions 
= form categories 
= look at patterns 
= develop theory 
= compare theory

Question 12

what is the basis of interpretivism?

Answer 12

there is a difference between the explanation of human behaviour and understanding human behaviour

Question 13

what is an example of inductive research?

Answer 13

Sackman 1992 into organisational cultures

case study approach with an open interviewing techniques focusing on a single value

Question 14

what data is normally collected in inductive studies?

Answer 14

qualitative as trying to find themes rather than prove n existing theory

Question 15

what is qualitative data and analysis?

Answer 15

characterised by:

• small samples
• close continental observation
• focuses on the process of subjective conception and interpretation of the social world

Question 16

what are the research designs associated with qualitative research?

Answer 16

• ethnographic study

- case study

Question 17

what are the two research paradigms?

Answer 17

interpretivism/inductive/qualitative

positivism/deductive/quantitative

Question 18

what does incommensurability mean?

Answer 18

no neutral language

feature of research paradigms

Question 19

what are the advantages of positivist / deductive and quantitative?

Answer 19

economical collection of large amounts of data

clear theoretical focus ar outset

researcher in control throughout

Question 20

what are the disadvantages of P/D/Q?

Answer 20

• inflexible
• abstraction from important detail
• weak in understanding social processes
• never meets subject
• ignores intangible factors
• focus on individuals

Question 21

what are the advantages of I/I/ qual?

Answer 21

facilitates understanding of how and why

• change focus during research
• includes non quantifiable factors

Question 22

what are the disadnatves of I/I/Q?

Answer 22

data collection time consuming

• data analysis not straight forward
• uncertainty clear patterns may not emerge, no way of making sure
• subjective and perceived to be less credible

cannot generalise or replicate

Question 23

are the two paradigms competing or complimentary?

Answer 23

• inductive approach uses quantitative data
• exploratory surveys
• qualitative variables measured quantitatively
• combining different techniques to study different aspects
• using different methods as a cross check on findings (triangulation)
• both observe a fact and ask why
• advance a tentative (t fixed) exmplanntin
• test whether the hypotheses can explain the facts

so may not be mutually exclusive

Question 24

what is a research design?

Answer 24

• strategy to implement plan
• framework for research (what informatio, whom and how?)
• foundation for research techniques
• link between research questions and data
• concerned with threats to validity

Question 25

why is the research deign so important?

Answer 25

determines importance to;

• connections between variables
• generaliabilty
• understanding behaviour and its meaning in specific social context
• having temporal appreciation of social phenomena

Question 26

what are the four elements of research design?

Answer 26

• comparison
• contort
• manipulation
• generalsatbility

Question 27

what is internal validity?

Answer 27

• establishing causality between 2 variables
• 3 conditions that need t be met
  = X and Y vary together
  = Y is affected by X not affected by Z
  = Y is affected by X and not X affected by Y

Question 28

what are examples of z variable?

Answer 28

• moderation variable
• confounding
• intervening

Question 29

what is a moderating variable

Answer 29

z
second independent variable that affects the relationship between X and Y

e.g. four day week will lead to high productive especially among young workers (Z)

Question 30

what is the confounding variable?

Answer 30

similar to moderating variable another independent variable

Question 31

what is the intervening variable?

Answer 31

conceptual mechanisms through which X and MV ugh impact upon Y

Question 32

what is external validity?

Answer 32

can findings be generalised outside of research context

circa importance of selecting respondents and cases

importance of representative samples in quantitate research

Question 33

what is ecological validity?

Answer 33

• applicable to everyday nathan settings

- may be valid but does it apply to peoples lives?

Question 34

what is reliability?

Answer 34

are results repeatable

are measures sonsitent and stable over time

Question 35

what are the influences on research?

Answer 35

social research is influenced by theory, epistemology, values and beliefs and practical considerations