Groundwork Lecture

Question 1

Why have a theory?

Answer 1

1) By explicitly stating your expectations, they can be evaluated and tested critically.
2) Connects researcher to existing knowledge.
3) Forces researcher to address “why” and “how” questions.
4) By testing theory, you can identify under which condition it holds.

Question 2

First step in developing a theoretical framework?

Answer 2

Identify a broad research question that identifies the phenomenon of interest.

E.g. “Why do people binge drink?”

Question 3

Rudimentary Theory

Answer 3

Think of an answer to the research question –> e.g. there’s usually more than one reason as to why people binge drink. Pick 1 or 2.

Question 4

Identify Variables of Interest (Groundwork)

Answer 4

Binge Drinking Behaviour, enhancement motivation. Take a conceptual approach to variables at the stage.

Question 5

Theoretical Hypothesis

Answer 5

Need to find a theory that answers your hypothetical or research question. Usually pick one theory and centre your paper on it.

Question 6

Operationalizing Variables

Answer 6

Make sure to define behaviours that may seem like common knowledge. Need to define them this way so that other researchers can know what you’re measuring (e.g. binge drinking behaviour.)

Question 7

Empirical Hypothesis

Answer 7

Very specific hypothesis that comes at the end of the intro section. “E.g. freshman students with high levels of enhancement motives with engage in more binge drinking behaviours during Frosh Week compared to students with low enhancements motives.

Question 8

Choosing a research topic

Answer 8

Choose a topic of interest
Choose a well researched area.
Choose a *narrow topic

Question 9

Preliminary reading and search strategies

Answer 9

Lit review

Subject encyclopedias

Question 10

Peer reviewed article

Answer 10

Rigorous review by experts (editors or anonymous).

Criteria for acceptance into journal.

Question 11

Scholarly article

Answer 11

Written by experts in the field, evaluate for relevance, quality, and bias.

E.g. reports published by government agencies.

Question 12

What is the most telling reason that an article is good?

Answer 12

• GOOD METHODS
  1) experiments
  2) longitudinal designs
  3) national surveys
  4) correlational data
  5) small n designs

Participants: clinical samples > general population > students