Characteristics of Research.ppt

Invitation to ResearchRESEARCH CONCEPTS TERMINOLOGYRoger Clarke, Xamax Consultancy, CanberraVisiting Professor, CSIS, Uni of Hong Kong Visiting Fellow, Australian National University  .au/people/Roger.Clarke/......Res /40-CTerm.pptebs, 16-20 January 2003 Research Terminology Research Methodology The study of research methods A singular that does not admit of a plural Research Technique A specific means, approach or tool-and-its-use, whereby data is gathered and analysed, and inferences are drawn Research Method The manner in which a particular project is undertaken It comprises one or more research techniques Alternative Motivations for Research ‘Pure Research’ “because it’s there” contribute to abstract, theoretical understanding ‘Applied Research’ “I have a hammer, so go and find me a nail” ‘Instrumentalist Research’ “I have a problem, so go and find me a solution” The Nature of Research Outcomes Exploratory The first depiction of something new Descriptive The depiction of a behaviour or a domain Explanatory Systemic explanation of how past behaviours arose Ascription of causes to prior occurrences ‘Predictive’ Statement of what occurrences will arise Systemic explanation of how behaviours will arise Statement and explanation of the effect particular interventions will have Normative Statement of interventions necessary to achieve desired outcomes Statement of desired outcomes The Nature of Data(Measurement Scales) Quantitative Ratio a natural zero Cardinal / Interval no natural zero Ranked Ordinal sequence (numbers) Qualitative Category Ordinal sequence (text) Nominal differentiation Dichotomous it is or it isn’t Likert Scales A contrived Ranked Ordinal Scalemuch-used in attitudinal research Usually 5, 7 or 9 choices Usually anchored by end-points such as Strongly Disagree ... Strongly Agreeand with a neutral-sounding mid-point Usually very long lists of questions The data is generally processedas though it were on an Interv