Introduction to Research

Rene M. Nob
 Methods of Knowing
• Authority suggests that something is considered true
because of tradition or because some person of
distinction says it is true
• Rationalism uses reasoning alone to arrive at
knowledge; if the premises are sound and the
reasoning is carried out correctly according to the
rules of logic, then the conclusions will yield truth
 Methods of Knowing
• Intuition refers to a sudden insight, the clarifying
idea that springs to consciousness all at once as a
whole, usually after conscious reasoning has failed; it
is not arrived at by reason
• Scientific method uses both reasoning and intuition;
in addition, it relies on objective assessment.
Involves deductive reasoning from existing theories,
or inductive reasoning from existing facts or through
intuition.
 The Scientific Method
• An approach to acquiring knowledge that
involves formulating specific questions and
then systematically finding answers that are as
accurate as possible.
 Research
• A systematic inquiry using disciplined
methods to build knowledge that can
potentially solve problems.
Why?
• To understand a
phenomenon
– Its description
– Clarifying an existing
understanding
– Understanding it
further

• To give answers to
social problems
 Basic vs Applied Research
Basic Research Applied Research
• Attempts to knowledge • Attempts to find immediate
• Not directly involved in the solutions to a current
solution to a practical problem
problem
• Highly theoretical
Basic Research
 Postpositivism

Variable Variable
A B
 Postpositivism
• Ontology: Critical realism
• Reality is assumed to exist but to be only
imperfectly apprehendable because of
basically flawed human intellectual
mechanisms and the fundamentally
intractable nature of phenomena.
 Postpositivism
• Epistemology: Modified dualist/objectivist
• Dualism is largely abandoned, but objectivity
remains a "regulatory ideal"; special emphasis
is placed on external "guardians“ of objectivity
such as critical traditions and the critical
community.
• Replicated findings are probably true (but
always subject to falsification).
 Postpositivism
• Methodology: Modified
experimental/manipulative.
• Emphasis is placed on "critical multiplism“ (a
refurbished version of triangulation) as a way
of falsifying (rather than verifying)
hypotheses.
• Mostly quantitative
 Research Process
1. Review Literature
– Identify research gap
2. Define the objective of the study or research problem.
– Be specific; set proper limitations
3. Propose hypothesis
– Ideally based on a solid theory, or at least some robust
literature review
4. Design your study
5. Gather and analyze data
6. Interpret results based on the objectives of the study
Research Process
 Basic Research Designs
• Experimental Designs (True, Pre-
experimental, and Quasi)
• Nonexperimental Designs
– Descriptive
– Predictive (Correlational)
– Explanatory
 Measurement
• Quantifying something
• Requires tools that can assign a numerical
value
• We quantify variables
– Weight
– Age
– Satisfaction
– Self-efficacy
 The Importance of Measurement
• Measuring instruments need to be valid and
reliable
• Faulty instruments are less likely to genuinely
capture the phenomenon or variable that you
are studying
• Faulty instruments results to questionable
research findings
Variable Variable
A B

Measure Measure
A B
 Perceived
Effort Academic
Attributional Performance
Feedback

Perceived
Teacher
Grades
Attributional
Feedback Scale
 Statistics
• The term statistics refers to a set of
mathematical procedures for organizing,
summarizing, and interpreting information or
data.
 Why?
• Reading and evaluating other people’s studies
• Understanding statistical results
• Conducting a study