Lecture 2: Overview of Research

Question 1

why is understanding how knowledge in a field is generated important?

Answer 1

it gives us the skills to critique an existing body of literature

Question 2

why is understanding the process of research important?

Answer 2

provides the background needed to answer questions that no one knowns the answer to yet

Question 3

why do we engage in research?

Answer 3

to advance the state of the art, and/or expanding the knowledge in the field
- advance practice of kinesiology

Question 4

how do facts become known as truths?

Answer 4

• sometimes experiences
• information gathered from outside sources (ex. professors)

Question 5

are new discoveries made all the time?

Answer 5

yes

Question 6

kinesiology refers to the study of?

Answer 6

movement

Question 7

is kinesiology a research intensive discipline?

Answer 7

yes

Question 8

what is “science”?

Answer 8

discovery of knowledge

Question 9

what is “research”?

Answer 9

a specific method used to discover knowledge
- aka scientific method

Question 10

what are the three general approaches to research as stated by Creswell in 2014?

Answer 10

1. quantitative
2. qualitative
3. mixed methods (engage the other two)

Question 11

what are the two meanings of “research”?

Answer 11

1. verb: to follow a logical process that uses concepts, principles, and techniques to produce knowledge
2. noun: a collection of information representing what we know about a particular topic

Question 12

any questions we ask in a research method needs to be ________.

Answer 12

falsifiable: able to be proven false

Question 13

where can research be found?

Answer 13

• academic and scholarly journals
• research monographs
• textbooks
• journals / newspapers / magazines
• corporate research reports
• legislative actions and policy actions
• databases

Question 14

what is peer review?

Answer 14

• submit manuscript to journal interested in, journal would send copies of paper out to 2-4 researchers in the field in other places around the world, they will critique.

Question 15

what is critique?

Answer 15

suggestions or recommendations for improving

Question 16

why do researchers conduct research?

Answer 16

• expand the body of knowledge
• establish professional credentials
• inform legal and policy decisions
• address social problems
• develop new products, services or solutions
• advance social and political agendas
• improve professional practice

Question 17

when is research important?

Answer 17

• to respond to critical social problems
• allocate limited resources wisely
• base policy decisions on evidence rather than ideology

Question 18

what is the foundation upon which we expand the body of knowledge?

Answer 18

research

Question 19

what are the characteristics of research?

Answer 19

1. generated by a specific question, hypothesis or problem
2. follows a specific plan or procedure - the research process
3. it is empirical - it reaches conclusions based on evidence
4. it requires a reasoned argument to support conclusions
5. it is continual- it is based on previous knowledge and may develop further research questions

Question 20

why do research?

Answer 20

• investigate existing situation or problem
• to provide solutions to a problem
• to explore and analyze more general issues
• to construct or create a new procedure or system
• to explain a new phenomenon
• to generate new knowledge

Question 21

what is used for quantitative research?

Answer 21

• researchers attempt to be as objective as possible
• typically use large sample sizes
• focus heavily on measurement of variables
• use statistics for data analysis

Question 22

what is used for qualitative research?

Answer 22

• data are typically generated in the participants natural settings
• themes are generated from the data
• the researcher is an integral part of the research process
• sample sizes tend to be much smaller than in quantitative research

Question 23

Sources of data in qualitative research include what?

Answer 23

Open-ended interviews, direct observations, written documents and art-based methods

Question 24

Which research method is well-suited to understanding peoples meanings of experience?

Answer 24

Qualitative Research

Question 25

Which research method is suited to questions related to the testing of theory, status on variables, differences among groups, and relationships among variables?

Answer 25

Quantitative Research

Question 26

In quantitative research, why is validity fundamental?

Answer 26

So that any conclusions that are made are accurate and can be applied to populations beyond the study sample