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Summary Introduction to Research Methodology Lecture Notes - 410126-B-5 Tilburg University

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Course
Research Methodology (410126B5)

Institution
Tilburg University (UVT)

Book
Social Research

Introduction to Research Methodology for International Students 410126-B-5 Tilburg University Summary of all course lectures (1-12)

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Uploaded on January 17, 2024
Number of pages 62
Written in 2023/2024
Type Summary

research methodology
gmsi
410126 b 5
lecture summary

Book Title:Social Research

Author(s):Bruce C. Straits, Royce A. Singleton, Jr.

Edition:Unknown
ISBN:9780190635107
Edition:Unknown

Institution
Tilburg University (UVT)
Education
Global Management of Social Issues
Course
Research Methodology (410126B5)

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Research Methodology Lecture Notes
Lecture 1

Product: Knowledge

As description

- Not ambiguous
- Makes use of concepts an constructs to describe phenomena
- Describe a phenomenon

As explanation and prediction

- The goal is to create theories
- Give an explanation why something occurs (often in terms of causes-and-effects)

Exploratory = something unknown, new or deviant

Knowledge does not refer to the truth!  is better understood as a state in which we are as close to
the truth as we have come so far.  science is a continuous process

Scientific Research as a product

Producing as a scientific researcher: doing research at the university, doing research in an institute

Approaches to social research – typical characteristics

Experiment

 Manipulation of the “cause” (= test condition, independent variable or treatment)
 The researcher is in control of the treatment (cause)
 Outcome variable (consequence or result) is measured after the manipulation
 Use comparable groups ( composition groups to compare should be similar, only differing in
test condition)

Survey research

o Use of questionnaires (oral or self-administered)
o Large and representative samples

, o Efficient method of data collection

Research design (set-up)

1. Create up a questionnaire (which behaviours and personal characteristics should be asked?)
2. Submit the questionnaire (when and how?)
3. Analyse collected data

Field research

 Direct observation of behaviour
 Naturalistic setting
 Non-reactive measurement is possible ‘sampling-in-the-field’ (you define a situation while
doing the research)
 Determining the approach: interviews, observations?
 Determine the role of the researcher: participant/researchers, whether or not to make
themselves known, personal relationship with participants?

Available data

 Data that are present, without the need of interference with the researcher
 Non-reactive measurement
 Multiple sources: documents, physical evidence, artefacts…
 Warning: ‘present’ does not imply that the researcher does not need to look for the data

Altruism: helping behaviour that is motivated purely by the desire to help others, without
anticipating personal rewards and often at the expense of the person helping.

Science as a process

Theories  hypotheses (deduction)  observations  empirical generalizations (induction) 
theories…..

Qualitative- signalizing, often observation leads to theory development (induction)

 Do findings match expectations arising from quantitative research? (deduction)
Data  theory (induction)
 Possibly adjust or even refute theory (induction)

Quantitative- testing theory/ hypothesis (deduction). Possibly adjust or even refute theory
(induction).

 By means of available data describe the state of affairs (induction)

,Concepts, variables and hypotheses = essential elements

Concepts (constructs) = general or abstract description of a social phenomenon e.g. intelligence

If a concept has been developed for scientific purposes, we also call it a construct (e.g. extraversion,
social cohesion, altruism)

Variable = empirical manifestations of a concept e.g. a scale that measures intelligence

Characteristics of units that can vary, taking on different values or categories for different
observations, are called variables

Hypothesis = an expected relationship between variables that can be researched or tested e.g.
woman are on average more intelligent than men.

Scientific research questions are those that allow to be answered by means of empirical research

Scientific: asking about how and why certain phenomena occur

Not scientific: asking about what would be ‘good’ or ‘desirable’

To formulate a scientific research question, we need to know:

1. What is interesting
2. What a ‘concept’ is
3. What scientific knowledge

, Hypothesis

Definition:

Hypothesis = a supposition or conjecture put forth to account for known facts

In science, a hypothesis is a tentative answer to a research question  the expected results of the
research

= ‘an expected but unconfirmed relationship between variables’

Hypothesis can come from various sources, for example theory and previous research, direct
observations, guesses and intuition

- Provides a prediction/expectation of the results of the research.
- Written as a statement  concise and should be testable and therefore falsifiable (can be
proven wrong)

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