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Summary Research. This is it! by Ben Baarda
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This summary contains the entire book of Research. This is it! It contains theory covered in the PGT and useful information for every research you conduct.
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Research. This is it!Chapter 1: What does the researcher want to study?
1.1 What are the research objectives and research questions?
1.1.1 Research ethics
Before you do the research you should ask yourself if it is ethical to do the research. When doing
research, bear in mind the ethical code within the field the research is related to. In short it implies
that you can only do the research study if you can answer the following five questions affirmatively:
1. Do the subjects participate voluntarily?
2. Have the subjects been told clearly what the goal and the procedure of the research is?
3. Is the data from the subjects being analysis confidentially and preferably anonymous?
4. Do the results of the research study not have negative consequences for the subjects?
5. Is the research study being done in a fair and objective way?
1.1.2 Research question
The research study is done to answer your research questions. The research question is the thread
which is central to the framework of the research. The question you should ask yourself during each
phase of the research is whether the research question can be answered. The research question is
mentioned as a kind of conclusion at the end of the introduction. Beware that the research question
is a real question.
As the research study should answer the research question it is important to clearly indicate what
the research question is. By clearly stating the research question you avoid disappointments and
misunderstandings. The client knows what he can expect. The client needs to agree with the research
question.
Experience has taught us that most research questions are too broad and that when it concerns
several research questions too many research questions need to be answered whereby the research
study become infeasible. Therefore it is important to think long and hard about the formulation of
the research question. Sometimes it is sensible to do an open preliminary research first.
1.2 Is it an open or closed research question? Is it qualitative or quantitative
research?
In order to make clear what types of research question there are we will discuss the following in the
following paragraphs:
1 Difference between open and closed research questions
2 Difference between qualitative and quantitative research
,1.2.1 Open and closed research questions
Open research question
An open research question is a research question with many possible outcomes to the question.
Closed research question
In case of a closed research question, the answer is generally ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
It is important to differentiate between the two forms of research question because they require
different ways of doing research.
1.2.2 Qualitative and quantitative research
Qualitative research
In case of an open research question, qualitative research is best suited. In most cases the research
question has a broad scope and there is relatively little prior knowledge. This implies that most often
a structured questionnaire or checklist for observation will not be used.
Qualitative research is primarily about gaining new insights and less about numerical proven facts.
Qualitative research will mostly find descriptions and no numerical graphs and tables. The basis for
the analysis in qualitative research is written out versions of interviews and observations. Photos and
videos may also be included.
If you are open to what you encounter when doing research then you will learn from the research
study. In qualitative research you as a researcher are the most important research instrument and as
a human being you are never without prejudice or prior beliefs.
Quantitative research
If your research question has a narrow scope and you know what to expect when you interview or
observe someone, then you can do quantitative research. When doing quantitative research you
always pose the same questions to your subjects or observe the same behaviour according to
guidelines set beforehand. This implies that you know prior to data collection what answers he
subjects will give.
Differences between qualitative and quantitative research
The choice between qualitative and quantitative research is mostly determined by the research
questions. It does not matter whether it concerns qualitative or quantitative research. In both cases,
it needs to be possible to check the basis for the conclusions drawn by the researcher.
Quantitative research needs to be replicable. The research report needs to be written in such a way
so as to enable someone else to reproduce your research.
In the case of qualitative research this is more difficult. Especially in case you are using open
observations and interviews which are never the same. The qualitative research still has to indicate
what data his conclusions are based on. These conclusions need to be plausible and your method
needs to be transparent. This is called the verifiability criterion.
,1.3 What are units of analysis and constructs?
In case of a research study it is important to make clear to which group the conclusions of the
research study are applicable. When doing research you want to know something about people,
situations, companies, school etcetera. The units to which the conclusions are applicable are called
the units of analysis. All units as a whole are called the population.
1.3.1 Units of analysis
It is important to think about to whom the claims you want to state are applicable. The choice of
units of analysis determines the generation pretension in regard to your research study. In most
cases researchers report in a sloppy way what the units of analysis are. It can be difficult to clearly
define the units of analysis and therefore your population. Sometimes the units of analysis are
hidden within the research question.
1.3.2 Constructs
It is important to indicate to whom the conclusions of the research study are applicable but also what
the outcomes of the research study will be in regard to the units of analysis. You might have to
distinguish the constructs you are going to measure.
1.3.3 How are the constructs and the units of analysis related to each other?
Based on the research question, the units of analysis and the constructs are related to each other.
By first designing a data matrix it becomes clear what the units of analysis are and what the
constructs are. A data matrix is a table in which the data is presented in a well-organized manner. In
the horizontal rows, the units of analysis are shown. In the vertical columns, the constructs are
shown.
Sometimes the problem occurs that the characteristics do not apply to the same unit of analysis. This
will often become clear when you make a data matrix. Therefore it is smart to make a data matrix at
the beginning of your research.
1.4 What is known about the research topic from prior research?
, A long thought process preceded formulating a good research question. At the beginning there is a
vague global idea which becomes more specific and more detailed over time. This idea then becomes
more concrete and therefor easier to execute. When you are approached to design a research study
with a particular research question you mostly start with an orientation. You confer with your
colleagues and your client as well as checking on the internet and in the literature what is known
about the specific topic before you formulate your final version of the research question. Most often
several versions of the research question will be formulated before coming to a final version.
To prepare yourself for doing research there are two possibilities:
1 Doing preliminary research
2 Doing literature search
1.4.1 Preliminary research
Sometimes it is sensible to start with qualitative preliminary research. You might be researching a
certain topic and it might be advisable to look around on the location beforehand.
1.4.2 Literature search
Aside from the preliminary research it is also advisable to do a literature search before you start with
your final research proposal. It might be that the research project you are about to do has been done
by others.
Why should you do a literature search?
a The definition and measurements of constructs
b Developing a research design
c Developing a theory
Definition and measurements of constructs
From a literature search it becomes apparent how others have operationalized the characteristics
you want to research and especially how they are measured.
Developing a research design
It is useful to read about how other people have gone about designing and doing their research study
as well as what their experiences are. Do not just look at the operationalization and measurement
instruments in the relevant publications which you have found, but also look at the research design
they have used. In this section you should especially read the discussion section at the end of the
article. In this section the research methods are often evaluated and suggestions are made in regard
to future research.
Developing a theory
When trying to find a theory that explain the phenomena that you will be researching it is important
to research literature sources.
How to do a literature search?
a Finding good keywords using a thesaurus
b Searching for relevant articles in search engines
c Searching for dissertations and books
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