STA630 Handouts Lectures 1-45

Research Methods (STA630)

Contents

Lesson 1: INTRODUCTION, DEFINITION & VALUE OF RESEARCH ........................ 14

What is Research? ................................................................................................................... 14 What is the value of Research? ............................................................................................... 14 Research helps in developing methodologies ......................................................................... 15 We are surrounded by research ............................................................................................... 16

Lesson 2: SCIENTIFIC METHOD OF RESEARCH & ITS SPECIAL FEATURES ...... 17

Important Characteristics of Scientific Method ...................................................................... 17

1. Empirical ......................................................................................................................... 17
2. Verifiable ........................................................................................................................ 18
3. Cumulative ..................................................................................................................... 18
4. Deterministic .................................................................................................................. 18
5. Ethical and Ideological Neutrality ................................................................................. 18
6. Statistical Generalization ............................................................................................... 19
7. Rationalism .................................................................................................................... 19

Lesson 3: CLASSIFICATION OF RESEARCH ................................................................... 21

1. Purpose of Doing Research ............................................................................................... 21
2. The Uses of Research ........................................................................................................ 23
3. The Time Dimension in Research ..................................................................................... 25
4. Research (data collection) Techniques Used ..................................................................... 26

Lesson 4: THEORY AND RESEARCH ................................................................................. 27 Theory ..................................................................................................................................... 27 Concepts ................................................................................................................................. 28 Propositions ............................................................................................................................ 29 Theory and Research .............................................................................................................. 30 Role of Theory ........................................................................................................................ 30 Role of Facts (Research) ......................................................................................................... 31 Theory and Research: the Dynamic Duo ................................................................................ 32 Lesson 5: CONCEPTS ............................................................................................................. 33 Concepts are an Abstraction of Reality .................................................................................. 33 Degree of Abstraction ............................................................................................................. 33 Sources of Concepts ............................................................................................................... 33 Importance of Concepts .......................................................................................................... 34 Definitions .............................................................................................................................. 34 Dictionary Definitions ........................................................................................................ 34 Operational Definition ........................................................................................................ 35 Lesson 06: VARIABLES AND TYPES OF VARIABLES ................................................... 36 Types of Variable ................................................................................................................... 36

1. Continuous and Discontinuous variables ....................................................................... 36
2. Dependent and Independent Variables .......................................................................... 36
3. Moderating Variables .................................................................................................... 37
4. Intervening Variables ...................................................................................................... 37
5. Extraneous Variables ..................................................................................................... 38 Relationship among Variables ................................................................................................ 38

Lesson 7: HYPOTHESIS TESTING & CHARACTERISTICS .......................................... 39 Types of Hypotheses ............................................................................................................... 39 i. Descriptive Hypothesis ........................................................................................................ 39 ii. Relational Hypothesis ......................................................................................................... 39 Co-relational hypotheses .................................................................................................... 40 Explanatory (causal) hypotheses ........................................................................................ 40 iii. Null Hypothesis ................................................................................................................. 40 iv. Alternative Hypothesis ...................................................................................................... 41 v. Research Hypothesis ........................................................................................................... 41 The Role of the Hypothesis .................................................................................................... 41 The Characteristics of a Testable Hypothesis ......................................................................... 42 Lesson 8: REVIEW OF LITERATURE................................................................................. 43 Goals of a Literature Review .................................................................................................. 43 Types of Reviews ................................................................................................................... 43 Where to find the Research Literature .................................................................................... 44

Lesson 9: CONDUCTING A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW ........................... 45

Define and refine a topic ......................................................................................................... 45 Design a search ....................................................................................................................... 45 Locate research reports ........................................................................................................... 45 What to Record ....................................................................................................................... 46 Write the Review .................................................................................................................... 46 What does a good review look like? ....................................................................................... 46 The writing process ................................................................................................................. 46 Lesson 10: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ....................................................................... 48 The Components of the Theoretical Framework .................................................................... 49 Make an inventory of variables: ......................................................................................... 49 Specify the direction of relationship: .................................................................................. 49 Give a clear explanation of why we should expect the proposed relationships to exist; .... 49 Make an inventory of propositions: .................................................................................... 49 Arrange these propositions in a sequential order: ............................................................... 49 Schematic diagram of the theoretical model be given: ....................................................... 50

Lesson 11: PROBLEM DEFINITION AND RESEARCH PROPOSAL ............................ 51

Techniques for Narrowing a Topic into a Research Question ................................................ 51 Examine the literature. ....................................................................................................... 51 Talk over ideas with others. ................................................................................................ 51 Apply to a specific context. ................................................................................................. 51 Define the aim or desired outcome of the study. ................................................................ 51 From the Research Question to Hypotheses ........................................................................... 51 Problem Definition ................................................................................................................. 52 Sponsored Researches ............................................................................................................ 52 The Research Proposal ........................................................................................................... 52 Research Proposal Sections .................................................................................................... 53 Lesson 12: THE RESEARCH PROCESS .............................................................................. 54

1. Broad Problem Area .......................................................................................................... 54
2. Preliminary Data Collection .............................................................................................. 54
3. Problem Definition ............................................................................................................ 54