HOOI CHEE MEI

GS40156
 BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCH

 Basic research
- Obtain empirical data used to formulate and expand the theory.

 Applied research
- Solve an immediate practical problem.

 The classification of research is not always distinct because

there are varying degrees on the basic-applied continuum.
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 Constructs
- Abstractions that cannot be observed directly, but are useful in
interpreting empirical data and in theory building.

 Specification of meaning
- Constructs may be defined in a way that gives their general
meaning (constitutive definition) or they may be defined in
terms of operations by which they will be measured or
manipulated in a particular study (operational definition).
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 Constitutive definition
- Formal definition, in which a term is defined by using
other terms.
- Dictionary type of definition.

 Operational definition
- Ascribes meaning to a construct by specifying operations
that researchers must perform to measure or manipulate
the construct.
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 Operational definition
1. Measured
- Details the operations by which investigators measure a
construct.

2. Experimental
- Details the steps a researcher takes to produce certain
experimental conditions.
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 Variables
- Constructs or characteristics that can take on different
values or scores.
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 Types of variables
1. Categorical variables
- When researchers classify subjects by sorting them into
groups, the attribute on which they base the classification

2. Dichotomous variables
- The simplest type of categorical variable has only two
mutually exclusive classes

3. Continuous variables
- When an attribute has an infinite number of values within
a range
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 Types of variables
4. Independent variables
- Active independent variables
• Researcher can manipulate directly
- Attribute independent variables
• Researcher cannot actively manipulate

5. Dependent variables
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 Constants
- The opposite of variable is constant.
- A constant is a fixed value within a study.
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