RESEARCH METHODS

This is what you need to start working on your portfolio.

Before we start: Research vs. Investigation

How would you translate the Spanish word "investigar" into English? A) Research

B) Investigate

C) Both (A) and (B) The correct answer is (C).

However, research and investigate have slightly different meanings and uses. Research means: to study

something in detail in order to discover new facts. Research is usually academic or scientific. Investigate

means: to try to find facts about an incident or a situation in order to know the truth. Investigate is often

related to police investigations.

Example 1 When I was in graduate school, I did my research about Second Language Acquisition Theory.

Example 2 The Spanish police are still investigating the March 11th terrorist attack in Madrid; they expect to arrest more people in the next

few days.

As you can see, these verbs have very similar meanings, but they are not usually interchangeable. With

that in mind, which of the following sentences is INCORRECT? (i) Thanks to medical research, many illnesses from the 20th century have been eliminated.

(ii) In order to know exactly who is behind the March 11th terrorist attack, more research must be done.

-------------------------

(ii) is incorrect because the type of information needed to solve a crime is discovered through an investigation, not academic

research.

Basic Concepts: Method

A procedure, technique, or way of doing something, esp. in accordance with a definite plan:

There are three possible methods of repairing this motor.

A manner or mode of procedure, esp. an orderly, logical, or systematic way of instruction, inquiry, investigation, experiment, presentation, etc.:

The empirical method of inquiry.

Order or system in doing anything:

To work with method.

Orderly or systematic arrangement, sequence, or the like.

There’s no method to your work.

Basic Concepts: Methodology

The study of the general approach to inquiry in a given field.

A set or system of methods or principles used in a discipline, as in the sciences.

A set of methods, rules, or ideas that are important in a science or art.

A particular procedure or set of procedures:

He blamed the failure of their research on poor methodology.

Basic Concepts: Research

Research is the systematic approach to obtaining and confirming new and reliable knowledge.

Systematic and orderly (following a series of steps)

Purpose is new knowledge, which must be reliable.

The systematic, rigorous investigation of a situation or problem in order to generate new knowledge or validate existing knowledge.

Careful or diligent search.

Studious inquiry or examination; especially : investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories or laws.

A process:

Planned and managed – to make the information generated credible

The process is creative

It is circular – always leads to more questions

Basic Concepts: Scientific Method

Involves a series of steps that are used to investigate a natural occurrence.

Principles and procedures for the systematic pursuit of knowledge involving the recognition and formulation of a problem, the collection of data through observation and experiment, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses.

The goal of the scientific method is to explain, predict, and/or control phenomena

This involves the acquisition of knowledge and the development and testing of theory

The use of the scientific method is more efficient and reliable than any other source of knowledge

Types of investigation

Basic

Applied

Disciplinary

Subject – matter

Problem – solving

Analytical

Descriptive

Different authors use different criteria to classify the types of investigation.

For the purposes of this subject, and your portfolio, we are going to focus on these ones.

It is important that you remember that, depending on the topic and methodology of your research, you may be using characteristics from more than one type of research.

This is expected, because this is an artificial/arbitrary classification.

This classification only exists to help you understand the different paths or uses that a research project may have.

Types of investigation: Basic

It is used to determine or establish fundamental facts and relationships within a discipline or field of study. Develop theories.

Basic (aka fundamental or pure) research is driven by a scientist's curiosity or interest in a scientific question. The main motivation is to expand man´s knowledge, not to create or invent something. There is no obvious commercial value to the discoveries that result from basic research.

For example, basic science investigations probe for answers to questions such as:

How did the universe begin?

What are protons, neutrons, and electrons composed of?

How do slime molds reproduce)

What is the specific genetic code of the fruit fly?

Types of investigation: Applied

It is used to determine or establish fundamental facts and relationships within a discipline or field of study. Develop theories.

Applied research refers to scientific study and research that seeks to solve practical problems. Applied research is used to find solutions to everyday problems, cure illness, and develop innovative technologies, rather than to acquire knowledge for knowledge’s sake.

For example, applied researchers may investigate ways to:

Improve agricultural crop production

Treat or cure a specific disease

Improve the energy efficiency of homes, offices, or modes of transportation

Types of investigation: Disciplinary

Designed to improve a discipline.

Dwells on theories, fundamental relationships and analytical procedures and techniques.

In economics, the intended users are other economists.

Provides the conceptual and analytical base for other economic research.

It is synergistic and complementary with subject matter and problem-solving research.

Provides the foundations for applied research.

Circular as applied research reveals the shortcomings of disciplinary research.

Types of investigation: Subject – matter

Research on a subject of interest to a group of decision makers.

Tends to follow subject-matter boundaries within a discipline (eg. resource economics, production economics, labor economics).

Inherently multidisciplinary, drawing information from many disciplines.

eg. consumer economic draws from psychology, natural resource economics from biology, economic policy from political science

Provides policy makers with general knowledge to make decisions about various problems.

Types of investigation: Problem – solving

Problem solving consists of using generic or ad hoc methods, in an orderly manner, for finding solutions to problems.

Designed to solve a specific problem for a specific decision maker.

Often results in recommendations on decisions or actions.

Problem-solving research is holistic – uses all information relevant to the specific problem (while disciplinary research tends to be reductionist).

Disciplinary research is generally the most “durable” (long lasting); whereas problem-solving research the least durable.

Types of investigation: Analytical

The attempt to establish why something occurs or how it came to be.

Analytical research is a specific type of research that involves critical thinking skills and the evaluation of facts and information relative to the research being conducted. A variety of people including students, doctors and psychologists use analytical research during studies to find the most relevant information. From analytical research, a person finds out critical details to add new ideas to the material being produced.

Types of investigation: Descriptive

The attempt to determine, describe, or identify something.

Used to obtain information concerning the current status of a phenomena.

Descriptive research refers to research that provides an accurate portrayal of characteristics of a particular individual, situation, or group.

These studies are a means of discovering new meaning, describing what exists, determining the frequency with which something occurs, and categorizing information.

In short, descriptive research deals with everything that can be counted and studied, which has an impact on the lives of the people it deals with.

For example,

Finding the most frequent disease that affects the children of a town. The reader of the research will know what to do to prevent that disease thus, more people will live a healthy life.

Types of Research: Qualitative and Quantitative

Qualitative research is research dealing with phenomena that are difficult or impossible to quantify mathematically, such as beliefs, meanings, attributes, and symbols.

Qualitative researchers aim to gather an in-depth understanding of human behavior and the reasons that govern such behavior. The qualitative method investigates the why and how of decision making, not just what, where, when.

About Qualitative Research

Types of Research: Qualitative and Quantitative

Quantitative research refers to the systematic empirical investigation of any phenomena via statistical, mathematical or computational techniques. The objective of quantitative research is to develop and employ mathematical models, theories and/or hypothesis pertaining to phenomena.

Quantitative research is generally made using scientific methods, which can include:

The generation of models, theories and hypothesis.

The development of instruments and methods for measurement.

Experimental control and manipulation of variables.

Collection of empirical data.

Modelling and analysis of data.

Evaluation of results.

About Quantitative Research

What are the Basic Types of Research?

1. Quantitative Research (QUANT)–descriptive and inferential statistics. This type of research design is best for “What?” questions.

2. Qualitative Research (QUAL)– descriptive and thematic analysis. This type of research design is best for “How?” and “Why?” questions.

3. Mixed Methods (MIXED)–integrated, synthesis, and multi-method approaches. This type of research design is good for any questions you can think of, particularly those that can’t be answer easily with numbers alone. Consider the “best” way to evaluate student achievement, for example.

Types of Research

Types of research