Research Design and - Empirical: knowledge acquired through
observation (synthetic)
Research Methods - Non-empirical: knowledge based on logic
or definition (analytic)
Lecture 1
Scientific research is:
- Quantitative research:
- Objective o Measuring the world by
o Unbiased assigning numbers to a limited
o Non-normative set of variables
- Systematic o Identifying general patterns
o Reliable (instrument measures that apply to many objects
consistently) o E.g. asking questions with
o Valid(instrument measures answers on a scale from 1 to
what it supposes to measure) 10
- Theoretical - Qualitative research:
o Undertaken within a o Describe the world in terms of
framework of existing theories words
o Cumulate theory o Identifying unique patterns in
only a few objects (holistic
Distinctions in scientific research:
approach)
- Descriptive: describes something in the o E.g. asking what someone’s
world opinion is about something
o E.g. how large is the stork
population in the Netherlands
- Correlational: investigates the relation - Beta
between two phenomena o Natural and technical sciences
o Is the number of storks - Gamma
related to the number of o Social sciences
babies? - Alpha
- Explanatory: Investigates why certain o Humanities
phenomena do exist
o Is the number of babies Applied research or practice-oriented
caused by the number of research:
storks?
- Gain knowledge to help solve a practical
problem
- E.g. Fuel-wood use and deforestation in
- Primary data: self-collected data Africa
- Secondary data: other researchers’
primary data
, Fundamental research or theory-oriented E.g. Senior clinicians
research: and cancer research
workers did not trust
- Gain knowledge to improve or expand the dataset, and were
existing knowledge about a specific therefore not
phenomenon (e.g. identification of convinced of a causal
dimensions constituting disaster relationship.
experiences)
The empirical cycle:
Lecture 2
- Theory building Regulative cycle:
o Observation
- Problem identification
E.g. Lung cancer has
o What is the problem?
become more
Sometimes unknown, just
common after WWI,
after explorative research
it’s more common in
- Diagnosis
large towns and cities
o What are causes of problem?
grew.
Research aiming at finding
o Induction
causes of problem (empirical
E.g. Lung cancer could
cycle can be used)
be caused by tar
- Design plan
produced by the
o What can we do to solve the
combustion of coal.
problem? Research
- Theory testing
investigates possible
o Deduction
interventions
Hypothesis I: Lung
- Implementation
cancer more common
o Intervention is implemented
for people that are
and progress is monitored.
exposed to exhaust of
Research in order to measure
cars.
progress and temporary
Hypothesis II:
outcomes
Lung cancer
- Evaluation
occurs more
o Has the problem been solved?
among
Research effectiveness of
smokers
intervention
o Testing of Hypotheses
E.g. History of long- Practice-oriented research
cancer patients
compared to history - Starts from a practical problem that needs
of patients with to be solved (e.g. teenage smoking
stomach or large behavior)
bowel cancer. Data
collected at 20
hospitals in London.
o Evaluation
observation (synthetic)
Research Methods - Non-empirical: knowledge based on logic
or definition (analytic)
Lecture 1
Scientific research is:
- Quantitative research:
- Objective o Measuring the world by
o Unbiased assigning numbers to a limited
o Non-normative set of variables
- Systematic o Identifying general patterns
o Reliable (instrument measures that apply to many objects
consistently) o E.g. asking questions with
o Valid(instrument measures answers on a scale from 1 to
what it supposes to measure) 10
- Theoretical - Qualitative research:
o Undertaken within a o Describe the world in terms of
framework of existing theories words
o Cumulate theory o Identifying unique patterns in
only a few objects (holistic
Distinctions in scientific research:
approach)
- Descriptive: describes something in the o E.g. asking what someone’s
world opinion is about something
o E.g. how large is the stork
population in the Netherlands
- Correlational: investigates the relation - Beta
between two phenomena o Natural and technical sciences
o Is the number of storks - Gamma
related to the number of o Social sciences
babies? - Alpha
- Explanatory: Investigates why certain o Humanities
phenomena do exist
o Is the number of babies Applied research or practice-oriented
caused by the number of research:
storks?
- Gain knowledge to help solve a practical
problem
- E.g. Fuel-wood use and deforestation in
- Primary data: self-collected data Africa
- Secondary data: other researchers’
primary data
, Fundamental research or theory-oriented E.g. Senior clinicians
research: and cancer research
workers did not trust
- Gain knowledge to improve or expand the dataset, and were
existing knowledge about a specific therefore not
phenomenon (e.g. identification of convinced of a causal
dimensions constituting disaster relationship.
experiences)
The empirical cycle:
Lecture 2
- Theory building Regulative cycle:
o Observation
- Problem identification
E.g. Lung cancer has
o What is the problem?
become more
Sometimes unknown, just
common after WWI,
after explorative research
it’s more common in
- Diagnosis
large towns and cities
o What are causes of problem?
grew.
Research aiming at finding
o Induction
causes of problem (empirical
E.g. Lung cancer could
cycle can be used)
be caused by tar
- Design plan
produced by the
o What can we do to solve the
combustion of coal.
problem? Research
- Theory testing
investigates possible
o Deduction
interventions
Hypothesis I: Lung
- Implementation
cancer more common
o Intervention is implemented
for people that are
and progress is monitored.
exposed to exhaust of
Research in order to measure
cars.
progress and temporary
Hypothesis II:
outcomes
Lung cancer
- Evaluation
occurs more
o Has the problem been solved?
among
Research effectiveness of
smokers
intervention
o Testing of Hypotheses
E.g. History of long- Practice-oriented research
cancer patients
compared to history - Starts from a practical problem that needs
of patients with to be solved (e.g. teenage smoking
stomach or large behavior)
bowel cancer. Data
collected at 20
hospitals in London.
o Evaluation
