STA630 Haalim Highlights

STA630 (RESEARCH METHODS)

Table of Contents

Lesson 1 .................................................................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION, DEFINITION & VALUE OF RESEARCH ........................................................ 1 What is the value of Research?........................................................................................................ 1 Research helps in developing methodologies ...................................................................................... 2 Lesson 2 .................................................................................................................................................. 4 SCIENTIFIC METHOD OF RESEARCH & ITS SPECIAL FEATURES ......................................... 4 Important Characteristics of Scientific Method ................................................................................... 4 Lesson 3 .................................................................................................................................................. 7 CLASSIFICATION OF RESEARCH ................................................................................................. 7

Q1. Purpose of Doing Research ............................................................................................................ 7

1. Exploratory/Formulative Research .............................................................................................. 7
2. Descriptive Research: .................................................................................................................. 8
3. Explanatory Research: ................................................................................................................. 8

Q2. The Uses of Research ..................................................................................................................... 9

1. Basic Research ............................................................................................................................. 9
2. Applied Research ........................................................................................................................ 9
3. Basic and Applied Research Compared ..................................................................................... 10
4. Types of Applied Research ........................................................................................................... 10
5. The Time Dimension in Research ................................................................................................ 11
6. Research (data collection) Techniques Used: ............................................................................... 11 Lesson 4 ................................................................................................................................................ 13 THEORY AND RESEARCH ........................................................................................................... 13 Role of Theory .................................................................................................................................. 15 Role of Facts (Research) ................................................................................................................... 17

Theory and Research: the Dynamic Duo ........................................................................................... 17 Lesson 5 ................................................................................................................................................ 18 CONCEPTS ...................................................................................................................................... 18 Concepts are an Abstraction of Reality ......................................................................................... 18 Degree of Abstraction.................................................................................................................... 18 Definitions: ........................................................................................................................................ 19 Dictionary Definitions: .................................................................................................................. 19 Operational Definition ................................................................................................................... 20 Lesson 06 .............................................................................................................................................. 21 VARIABLES AND TYPES OF VARIABLES ................................................................................ 21 Types of Variable .............................................................................................................................. 21

1. Continuous and Discontinuous variables .................................................................................. 21
2. Dependent and Independent Variables ..................................................................................... 21
3. Moderating Variables ............................................................................................................... 22
4. Intervening Variables ................................................................................................................ 22
5. Extraneous Variables ................................................................................................................ 23 Lesson 7 ................................................................................................................................................ 24 HYPOTHESIS TESTING & CHARACTERISTICS ........................................................................ 24 Types of Hypotheses ......................................................................................................................... 24 The Characteristics of a Testable Hypothesis: ................................................................................... 26 Lesson 8 ................................................................................................................................................ 28 REVIEW OF LITERATURE ............................................................................................................ 28 Goals of a Literature Review ............................................................................................................. 28 Types of Reviews .............................................................................................................................. 28 Lesson 9 ................................................................................................................................................ 30 CONDUCTING A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW ......................................................... 30 Define and refine a topic: .............................................................................................................. 30 Design a search .............................................................................................................................. 30

Locate research reports: ................................................................................................................. 30 Write the Review: .............................................................................................................................. 31 Lesson 10 .............................................................................................................................................. 32 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ..................................................................................................... 32 The Components of the Theoretical Framework ............................................................................... 33 Lesson 11 .............................................................................................................................................. 35 PROBLEM DEFINITION AND RESEARCH PROPOSAL ............................................................ 35 Lesson 12 .............................................................................................................................................. 38 THE RESEARCH PROCESS ........................................................................................................... 38

1. Broad Problem Area ................................................................................................................. 38
2. Preliminary Data Collection ..................................................................................................... 38
3. Problem Definition ................................................................................................................... 38
4. Theoretical Framework ............................................................................................................ 39
5. Generation of Hypotheses ........................................................................................................ 39
6. Research Design ....................................................................................................................... 39
7. Data Collection, Data Processing, and Analysis ....................................................................... 40
8. Testing the Hypotheses; Answering the Research Questions ................................................... 41
9. Report Writing .......................................................................................................................... 41 Lesson 13 .............................................................................................................................................. 43 ETHICAL ISSUES IN RESEARCH ................................................................................................. 43 Codes of ethic applicable at each stage of the research ................................................................. 43 General Rights and Obligations of Parties Concerned................................................................... 44 Ethical Treatment of Participants .................................................................................................. 44 Lesson 14 .............................................................................................................................................. 45 ETHICAL ISSUES IN RESEARCH (Cont.) .................................................................................... 45 Deception ...................................................................................................................................... 45 Informed Consent .......................................................................................................................... 45 Debriefing ...................................................................................................................................... 45