Week 6

Question 1

Define research design?

Answer 1

general plan of how you will go about answering your research questions. Will contain clear objectives derived from your research questions, the sources from which you intend to collect data, how to collect and analyse these, ethical constraints.

Question 2

Define research philosophy

Answer 2

a system of beliefs and assumptions about the development of knowledge:

Question 3

What does philosophy make assumptions about?

Answer 3

• Human knowledge (epistemology)
• Realities you encounter (ontology)
• Extent and way your own values influence your research (axiology)

Question 4

Expand upon epistemology

Answer 4

assumptions about knowledge, what constitutes valid knowledge and how we communicate knowledge to others. People choose to believe certain information over others.
Different epistemological assumptions have different implications on choice of methods and strengths and limitations of subsequent findings. E.g., assumption that objective facts are preferred  leads to quantitative research methodsobjective and generalized findings

Question 5

Expand upon ontology

Answer 5

assumptions about the nature of reality, shapes the way you see and study research objects
Different people have different realities, and this means that different outcomes of research can occur

Question 6

Expand upon axiology

Answer 6

Key axiological choice – what extent you wish to view your own values as a positive influence on your research
You believe that certain approaches are better, need to articulate your values as basis for making judgements

Question 7

What is a deductive approach to theory development?

Answer 7

Research is theory driven
Research designed to test a theory
Adopt a theoretical position that you will test through the collection of data

Question 8

What is an inductive approach to theory development?

Answer 8

Research is data driven
Research designed to develop a theory
Explore a topic and develop a theoretical explanation through the collection and analysis of data

Question 9

What is an abductive approach to theory development?

Answer 9

combination of deductive and inductive. Gather initial data to come up with a theory and gather further data to test and see if it holds