Lecture 1 Introduction to Research & Scientific Methods

Question 1

What is the definition of research?

Answer 1

a systematic investigation, incl research, development, testing, and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalisable knowledge

Question 2

What is the object of research?

Answer 2

to extend knowledge of the physical, biological or social world beyond what is already known

Question 3

What type of scientific method are we using?

Answer 3

• quantitative
• hypothetico-deductive method
• formulating hypotheses –> tesitng hypotheses

Question 4

What is the process of a scientific method?

Answer 4

• make observations
• think of interesting qns
• formulate hypotheses
• develop testable predictions
• gather data to test predictions
• develop general theories
• refine, alter, expand or reject hypotheses

Question 5

What is the first step of research process?

Answer 5

1. deciding what to research: formulating a research qn
   - decide what to find out about
   - 1st step in the research process
   - everything that follows in the research process is greatly influenced by the ay the research qn is formulated

Question 6

What is the second step of research process?

Answer 6

Planning how to conduct the study: conceptualising a research design
- to decide, describe, justify, and explain how to go about finding ans to the research qns

specific details: study design, logistical arrangements, measurement procedure, sampling strategy, data analysis approach, time-frame

• the strength of what is found largely rests on how it was found
  faulty design results in misleading findings; developing appropriate research design is crucial in enabling investigator to arrive at valid findings

Question 7

What is validity of study?

Answer 7

degree to which the observed findings lead to the correct inferences about phenomena taking place in the study sample (internal validity) and in the universe (external validity)

Question 8

What is external validity?

Answer 8

Generalisability
- degree to which the conclusions drawn from the study can be appropriately applied to people and events outside the study

Question 9

What is internal validity?

Answer 9

degree to which the investigator draws the correct conclusions about what actually happened in the study

Question 10

What are the 2 main kinds of error that threaten the study validity?

Answer 10

• random error (wrong result due to chance variability); affects precision
• systematic error (wrong result due to bias); affects accuracy

Question 11

What is the third step of research process?

Answer 11

Planning how to conduct the study: constructing an instrument for data collection

• a tool designed to collect info for the study (analytical assay, questionnaire)

if there is pre-existing research instruments, use appropriate one; if dont have, need to develop one for the study (validation/pre-testing of newly developed instrument)

Question 12

What is the 4th step of research process?

Answer 12

Planning how to conduct the study: selecting a sample

• use of sample to represent a population
• population of interest
• considerations: can be studied at an acceptable cost in time and money; large enough to control random error; Representative enough to allow generalising study findings to populations of interest

Question 13

What is the 5th step of research process?

Answer 13

Planning how to conduct the study: writing a research proposal

to detail the operational plan for obtaining answers to the research qns

what the investigator is proposing to do; How the investigator plans to proceed; Why the investigator selected the proposed strategy

Question 14

What is the 6th step of research process?

Answer 14

Conducting the study: collecting data

to gather required info to draw inferences and conclusions for the study

Question 15

What is primary data?

Answer 15

data collected by an investigator specifically for the purpose of answering his/her research qn

Question 16

What is secondary data?

Answer 16

existing data collected for other purposes (by someone else other than the user), which an investigator (user) employs to answer his/her research qn

Question 17

What is the 7th step of research process?

Answer 17

Conducting the study: processing and displaying data

Data analysis approach and data presentation format depend on the type of info collected

Question 18

What is quantitative data?

Answer 18

• statistical analysis

- graphical and tabular presentation

Question 19

What is qualitative data?

Answer 19

• Thematic content analysis

- Presentation of representative verbatim quotes

Question 20

What is the 8th step of research process?

Answer 20

Conducting the study: writing a research report

Title, Abstract
Intro, Methods, Results, Discussion (IMRAD)
Conclusion
Acknowledgement
References
Appendices (optional)

Structure of an abstract: intro –> methods –> results –> conclusion