Research Methods

Question 1: Compare and constrast the inductive and deductive approaches to research. Give an example of each.

Deductive and inductive are the two methods that we often use to do research.

INDUCTIVE DEDUCTIVE

- Working from specific observations to broader generalizations and theories.

- Called "bottom up" approach.

- Conclusion is likely based on premises. Involves a degree of uncertainty.

- Arguments based on observations.

THEORY

TENTATIVE

PATTERN

OBSERVATION

Example: 95% of women who are asked like shopping. Mary is a woman. Therefore, it is probably that Mary likes shopping. - Working from the more general to the more specific.

- Called "top-down" approach.

- Conclusion follows logically from premises. Involves a degree of available facts.

- Arguments based on laws, rules and accepted priciples.

THEORY

HYPOTHESIS

OBSERVATION

CONFIRMATION

Example: The models of Venus company are Wendy, Victoria, Bella.

Wendy is tall

Victoria is tall

Bella is tall

Therefore, all models of Venus company are tall.

Question 2: What is quantitative research? How does it differ from qualitative research? What are the four goals of research?

a. Quantitative research is the systematic empirical investigation of phenomena via statistical techniques, measurement, analysis and insights relationships between variables in the quantitative relation. The interpretation and explanation of the phenomenon is based on data collection and analysis of previous data. The process of measurement is central to quantitative research because it provides the fundamental connection between empirical observation and mathematical expression of quantitative relationships.

Example:

- Survey that concludes that the amount of money spent on medical services in population.

- Survey about spending time on game online in teenager.

b. The differences between Quantitative research and Qualitative research.

Qualitative Quantitative

- The aim is a complete, detailed description.

- Researcher may only know roughly in advance what respondent is looking for.

- Recommended during earlier phases of research projects.

- Unstructured or semi-structured response options.

- The design emeges as the study unfolds.

- Researcher is the data gethering instrument.

- Data is in the form of words, pictures or objects.

- Subjective individuals interpretation of events is important. Example: participant observation, interview...

- The data is more rich, time consuming, and less able to be generalized.

- Subjectivism: describes a problem or condition from the point of view of those experiencing it. - The aim is to classify features, count them, and construct statistical models in an attempt to explain what is observed.

- Research knows clearly in advance what respondent is looking for.

- Recommended during latter phases of research projects.

- Fixed response options.

- All aspects of the study are carefully designed before data is collected.

- Researcher use tools: questionnaires or equipment to collect numerical data.

- Data is in the form of numbers and statistics.

- Objective seeks precise measurement and analysis of target concepts. Example: surveys, questionnaires...

- The data is more efficient, able to test hypotheses, more generalizable, but may miss contextual detail.

- Objectivism: provides observed effects (interpreted by researchers) of a program on a problem or condition.

c. There are four important goals of research that we should mention in doing research. However, there is not necessary to carry out all these goals: description, prediction, explanation and application.

Description is the first goal which always comes in any research. It is to let the researcher describe, catalogue, categorized and clssify the main focus in the research. There are two approaches in reaching this goal which are nomothetic and idiographic approach.

The second goal of research is prediction. This goal requires the ability of the researcher to foresee any event from the subject matter of research. In no circumstances, the goal of prediction is to find cause of event because it only involves the relationship of correlation between two variables. The hypothesis of this goal must involve "the more... the more". For example: the more fast-food children eat everyday, the more likely they get obesity.

The third goal of research is explanation. It is not merely expalning like describing because to explain event or phenomena the researcher must identify the independent and dependent variables because an experiment must be done. This goal is to find the cause. Beside that, experiment to reach this goal can not be proceed unless the researchers has three inportant elements after the two variables which are: time-order relationship, covariation and elimination of plausible alternative cause.

Last but not least, application is a goal which the researcher needs to apply any theory or principles included in the study of social sciences.