The Scientific Process

Top Reasons for Research Top Reasons for Research MethodsMethods

Develop a critical thought process Develop research skills Distinguish fact from non-factual

evidence Develop an understanding for

research reports Develop an understanding for the

process of research

Distinguishing Between Fact and Distinguishing Between Fact and

FictionFiction Parity Claims -- The careful

wording of a statement that gives the impression that one item is better than the other. These don’t always mean that one item is statistically better than the other.

Processing Report Processing Report InformationInformation Research methods helps students

understand the data that a report or advertisement is claiming

Three Types of Information• Parity Claims• Testimonials• Statistical Information

Research and KnowledgeResearch and Knowledge

Research gathers the information necessary to answer questions and make decisions

The processes of gaining knowledge• Ask questions• Make initial observations• Conduct systematic investigations• Analyze the information gathered• Interpret the findings• Integrate the findings with previous

knowledge

TheoriesTheories

Theories are statements that explain a set of facts

Theories are strengthened by corroborating evidence collected from research

Review the theories on pages 16 - 22 A theory’s merit can be evaluated by:

• The precision of the theories description• The simplicity of the conditions needed to meet the

theory

• The testability of the theory through empirical research

Hypotheses and Hypotheses and KnowledgeKnowledge

A hypothesis is the prediction statement in research related to a theory

They determine the nature of the research to be conducted

They state the expected outcomes of the research

Types of ResearchTypes of Research Descriptive research

• Research that explains an occurrence without stating cause or prediction

Predictive research• Research that shows relationships between

variables and what will likely happen Control related research

• The natural step after predictive research that shows how outcomes can change by controlling variables

Explanative Research• Research that explains WHY the outcomes occur

The Use of Reason for The Use of Reason for AnswersAnswers

Inductive Reasoning• Observations from specific research that

can be generalized to a larger factors• Progress from the specific to the general

Deductive Reasoning• Observations from a general factors that

can explain specific factors• Progress from the general to the specific

The Types ResearchThe Types Research

Basic Research Applied Research Qualitative Research Quantitative Research Descriptive Research Experimental Research Longitudinal Research Cross-sectional Research

The Nature of the The Nature of the ResearchResearch Introduction Review of Literature Trends in the Literature Determine Weak Areas in the

Literature Special Problems Special Populations

Choosing & Defining the Choosing & Defining the ProblemProblem

Interesting to YOU Enhancement of Previous Research New Technologies Areas of Weakness in Current

Research Current Trends Recent Discoveries

Review of the LiteratureReview of the Literature Introduction Describing Each Area

of the Literature Pertinent to Your Research

Subsections of Each Area• Summary of Each Article Pertinent to

the Area• Final Summary of the Overall Findings

from the Articles Summary that Links All Articles to

the Introduction and Your Research

Research DesignResearch Design

Time Frame Experimental Research Descriptive Research Historical Research Qualitative Research

Writing the ProposalWriting the Proposal

Introduction• Statement of the Problem• Purpose of the Study• Need for the Study• Limitations• Strong Points• Assumptions• Hypothesis• Definitions

Writing the Research Writing the Research ProposalProposal

Choosing & Defining the Problem The Nature of the Research Research Design Defining the Subjects Data Collection Methods Data Analysis

Defining the SubjectsDefining the Subjects

GenderAge RaceSpecial Population

Data Collection MethodsData Collection Methods

Survey Cohort Data Cross Sectional Data Case Study Observational Previously Collected Data

Data AnalysisData Analysis Level of Significance Descriptive (Means & SD) Correlation Analysis ANOVA MANOVA Regression Categorical Modeling

Experimental ProceduresExperimental Procedures General Description of Procedures Subjects Specific Measurement Techniques Instrumentation Data Analysis Procedures

One Example of the Finished One Example of the Finished ProposalProposal

Assum ptions, Hypothesis, Definhitions

Strengths and W eaknesses

Need

Purpose

Problem

Introduction

Sum m ary of the Overall Review

Sum m ary of the Each Subsection of S tudies

Description of the Relevant Studies

Literature Review

Data Analysis M ethods

Description of Instrum ents INCLUDING Validity

Description of T esting Facilities

Subjects

G eneral Description of procedures

Experim ental Procedures

Finished Proposal

Second Example of the Finished Second Example of the Finished ProposalProposal

Assum ptions, Hypothesis, Definhitions

Strengths and W eaknesses

Literature Review and Need

Purpose

Problem

Introduction

Data Analysis M ethods

Description of Instrum ents INCLUDING Validity

Description of T esting Facilities

Subjects

G eneral Description of procedures

Experim ental Procedures

Finished Proposal

Ethical Aspects

Research Relevance

Significance of the Research

Experim ental Problem s

M ethods

Prelim inary Research

Background

Specific Aim s

Project Environm ent

Project Personnel

Project Sum m ary

Finished Proposal

Disseminating KnowledgeDisseminating Knowledge

Once data is collected, the findings must be distributed so that others can benefit from its knowledge

Three ways to disseminate research findings• Presentations• Poster Presentations• Written Reports

PresentationsPresentations Presentation of findings to groups

or organizations in a slide format The research can receive feedback

from peers prior to publishing the results

Current research and recent research can be presented in this manor

Poster PresentationsPoster Presentations

A brief written account of the research in a poster format

Usually presented in a forum with other researchers

Allows for personal feedback and questions from peers

Written ReportsWritten Reports The permanent record of the

research The research and results are

described in detail Publications can be accessed by

the general public

The Format of For Presenting The Format of For Presenting ResearchResearch

Abstract• A brief one page description of the research and the

findings Introduction and Literature review

• The lead in or “hook” that explains the previous research and the current hypothesis and research question

Methods and Procedures• A cookbook description of how the research was

conducted Results

• The data analyses and findings Discussion and Conclusions

• Relating the results to the hypotheses and research

question