HANDOUT 2 Flashcards
A systematic and objective analysis and recording of controlled observations that may
lead to the development of generalizations, principles or theories, resulting in prediction and
possible control of events.
RESEARCH
Research Approaches:
Basic / Pure Research
Applied Research
Evaluation Research
Research Approaches:
involves developing and testing theories and hypotheses that are
intellectually challenging to the researcher but may or may not have practical application
at the present time or in the future.
Basic / Pure Research
Research Approaches:
aims to find potential solutions to human and societal problems
Applied Research
Research Approaches:
aims to see whether a program or activity is meeting or has met
the objectives set for it.
Evaluation Research
Evaluation Research
seeks to understand the outcomes or effects of something
Summative evaluation
Evaluation Research
seeks to strengthen or improve the person or subject being
tested
Formative evaluation
Research Approaches:
aims to bring about an improvement in their own practice.
Action Research
Goals of Research:
- Description
- Prediction
- Understanding / Explanation
Criteria of Good Research:
- Systematic
- Logical
- Empirical
- Controlled
- Replicable
- Self-correcting
Test of Researchability
- Timeframe for the research study duration
- Money needed to conduct the research
- Access to facility and data
- Availability of expertise
Type of Research in the Academe:
- Empirical research project with secondary data
- Synthesized literature reviews or review essays
- Theoretical essays
- Positivism
- Constructionism
Scientific Research must fulfill the following criteria:
- Replicability
- Precision
- Falsifiability
- Parsimony
Research Categories:
- Exploratory Research
- Descriptive Research
- Explanatory Research
Research Categories:
conducted in new areas of inquiry; aims to generate initial ideas
about a certain new phenomenon.
- Exploratory Research
Research Categories:
making careful observations and detailed documentation of a
phenomenon.
- Descriptive Research
Research Categories:
seeks explanation of observed phenomenon.
- Explanatory Research
Research Ethics:
- Voluntary participation and harmlessness
- Anonymity and confidentiality
- Informed consent
- Accurate and complete reporting of findings (even negative ones)
- Justice
based on facts, not opinions
e.g. My hand has 5 fingers.
The rock is heavy.
Observation
reasonable conclusion drawn from the observation; possible explanation for the
observation; using all evidences to draw conclusions
e.g. All my socks are blue and they all have holes in them. Therefore, all blue socks
have holes in them
Inference
an educated guess about a future event that can be drawn from inferences
e.g. I predict if I buy a blue sock it will have a hole in it.
Prediction
used by scientists to collect measurable, empirical evidence in an experiment
related to a hypothesis that may support or contradict a theory.
Scientific Method
observations about the world around us
Fact
a proposed explanation for a phenomenon
Hypothesis
describes what happens in nature
Scientific Law
explains why a phenomenon happens
Scientific Theory
Seven Steps of the Scientific Method
- Problem: Do mice grow larger if given vitamin C?
- Research: Learn about mice, their diet and vitamin C.
- Hypothesis: If mice are given vitamin C, then they will grow larger.
- Experiment: Two groups of mice – one gets vitamin C, one does not.
- Observation: Weigh mice after two weeks – both groups are the same size.
- Conclusion: Hypothesis is not correct (rejected).
- Communicate: Present your results.
Form of Scientific Inquiry/Reasoning:
Inductive Reasoning (theory building Deductive Reasoning (theory testing)
Form of Scientific Inquiry/Reasoning:
infers theoretical concepts and patterns from
observed data.
e.g. It is dangerous to drive on icy streets. The streets are icy now so it is dangerous to
drive now.
Inductive Reasoning (theory building
Form of Scientific Inquiry/Reasoning:
tests concepts and patterns known from theory
using new empirical data.
e.g. John is an excellent swimmer. John’s family has a swimming pool. John’s sister,
Mary, must also be an excellent swimmer.
Deductive Reasoning (theory testing)
A representation of persons or objects that can be manipulated, controlled, or merely
measured for the sake of investigation/research. Any factor in the experiment.
VARIABLES
one that is changed by the researcher; limit to only one in an experiment
Independent
where the researcher focuses his observations to see how it responds to the change
made to the independent variable.
Dependent
not being tested but only used for comparison; everything you want to remain constant
and unchanging.
Control
information expressed by means of a natural language description; involved
qualities
e.g. height, shoe size, age
Qualitative Data
information that can be measured or computed; involved quantities
e.g. gender, religious preference, socio-economic status
Quantitative Data
