RESEARCH TERMS DEFINED
Below is a catalog of research
BY E LV I RA HE RM O SI LLO
pre research
preliminary
Preliminary research explores the
area within which a research
question may exist. a
topic question
f ig 1
exploratory
Exploratory research focuses on and
explores the research question. a
ways of knowing
epistemology
Versus
methodology
epistemology is the study of
knowledge; the “theory of the
underlying methods or grounds of
knowledge.” Epistemology is dealing
more with how we know what we
know, a philosophical approach.
What does our discipline-specific
knowledge actually mean? g
epistemology
KNOWING
methodolgy
fig 3
methodology is the comparative
study of methods. It’s a more
organized approach to the tangible
pieces of our discipline-specific
knowledge. It’s the collection of
processes or methods that comprise
our discipline. a
ethical crossing
nuremberg
Using captives as human subjects in
e e
gruesome experiments without consent. j
Helped us understand physical limits of man
p p
and used during first space mission. j
a Research Writing Workshop, Ken Friedman, supplied
b Course Notes and “Phenomenological Research,” last
S
c
OU R C E
S d
e “A Carefully Crafted Nuts & Bolts Series of Questions
f http://www2.uiah.fi/projekti/metodi/178.htm
terms. We’ve provided definitions
comparisons, case studies and
contextualization of the terms.
WITH C HRIS RYAN AND DE V GUPTA This is exercise three
clas sification
basic applied clinical
Basic research involves a search Applied research adapts the Clinical research involves
for general principles. Abstract findings of basic research to specific cases, applying the
and general principles cover a classes of problems. Applied findings of basic research and
variety of situations and cases. a research may involve ba ic
s applied research to specific
ap
developing and testing theories plied situations. 1
cli
ca s e for classes of problems. a nical
st udy 9.8
case
fig 2 stu dy
case
stu dy
types of research validity
phenomenological validity
1 This type of research focuses on looking at Validity questions are cumulative and build
ca s e
the lived experiences and how the research upon one another . h 4 LEVELS of VALIDITY
st udy
POPULATION
participants interpret their experiences. b
internal validity measures a specific
case whereas external validity generalizes EXTERNAL
Apply to similar situations
practice led beyond the sample studied. h
external and construct validity both
This type of research operates under the generalize BUT construct validity
CONSTRUCT
2 nature of practice (as in discipline-based generalizes to other CONCEPTS whereas Generalize
ca s e
st udy practice) and how that can lead to new external validity generalizes to other
vividways
knowledge. The focus of this is to advance CONTEXTS. h
knowledge about a practice.c
It is possible to have internal validity INTERNAL
Causal + Correlation
without construct validity, i.e. the concept
hermeneutic you use for your study is not what causes
the outcome but there is still a causal
This type of research is similar to relationship. h CONCLUSION
Cause + Effect
phenomenological research in that it
SAMPLE
3 internal and conclusion validity
focuses on interpretations and phrasing,
ca s e
st udy both pertain to causal relationships. h
specifically looking at what the underlying
fig 4
meaning of a particular strand of research
findings may represent. d
philosophy of research
positive
This type of research deals with questions
positivism SC I E N C E post positivism
4
and seeking what it is and why it is, rather
h a r d & q u a n t i tat i v e s o f t & q u a l i tat i v e
ca s e
st udy
than what it ought to be (unlike Normative
research). It isn’t necessarily concerned We can only study what
with the implications of the findings from a we can directly observe Observation is fallible. i
judgement sense. e and measure. i
There is no single truth, multiple
normative Only science can get at measures and observations must be
the truth. i correlated in order to better
Normative research moves beyond other understand reality. i
5 more common types of research by
ca s e
st udy seeking more than just knowledge, but Objectivity is a social phenomenon –
making recommendations on ways the Objectivity resides in the
no single individual can see the world
object of study can be improved.f individual scientist. i
as it really is. i
stanford prisons little albert
progress
Subjects allowed them to physically and Dr. Watson conditioned am infant to fear
e
emotional y abuse other participants. k anything white and fluffy. k
ethics
Help to better understanding of prisons and Led to major advancement in behavioral
p
led to prison reform. k psychology. k
g Various Authors, Visual Research, supplied class reading 1 “A Privacy Paradox: Social Networking in the United
class reading States,” last modified August 2006, http://bit.ly/5lyitj
h Trochim, William M.K. “Introduction to Validity , 2
excerpted from The Research Methods Knowledge “Logo Design Process and Walkthrough for Vivid Ways,”
modified April 1999, http://bit.ly/bOnfiB Base.” 2006. last modified March 2009, http://bit.ly/2nl6N
“Differences Between Practice-Based and Practice-Led i “Positivism & Post-Positivism,” last modified October 3 “Handbook on Ethical Issues in Anthropology – Case 9:
Research,” last modified 2010, http://bit.ly/d8x8lQ 2006, http://bit.ly/cD0J31 “Hot” Gifts,” last modified 2006, http://bit.ly/b6PymR
“Qualitative Research in Information Systems,” last
modified September 2010, http://bit.ly/zPUEC
j Trochim, William M.K. “ Ethics in Research, excerpted
from The Research Methods Knowledge Base.” 2006.
4 “iTunes Case Study: Managing the Digital Enterprise,”
last modified October 2007, http://bit.ly/b8l90z
k “Top 10 Unethical Psychological Experiments,” last 5 Bill Moggridge, Designing Interactions (Massachusetts
Designed to Introduce You to Some Fundamental modified September 2008, http://bit.ly/alqpRF Institute of Technology, 2007), 115 — 122
Research Issues & Concepts,” supplied class reading