Introduction to Research Concepts

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What is the purpose of research?

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Identifying problems, addressing uncertainties, finding solutions, identifying relationships between variables, developing theories, planning, improving lives, challenging stereotypes, and contributing to knowledge.

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What are the three categories of research topics?

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1. Exploratory - limited study before in-depth study. 2. Explanatory - finding an explanation for a specific phenomenon. 3. Descriptive - describing a phenomenon identified through existing research.

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What is a literature review?

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A literature review involves examining published sources related to your topic to provide background and context for your research.

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What is a research question?

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A research question is a thought-provoking inquiry that guides the research process and must be feasible to answer.

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What is a hypothesis?

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A hypothesis is a statement that can be accepted or rejected based on the outcome of the research.

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What are the main research approaches?

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Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods.

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What is the significance of pilot testing in research?

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Pilot testing is the pre-testing of data collection methods to identify and eliminate problems before the main study.

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What is the difference between deductive and inductive theorizing?

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Deductive theorizing starts with general assumptions and moves to specific conclusions, while inductive theorizing gathers data to form broader theories.

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What are the dominant research traditions?

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1. Positivism - reality is measurable and objective. 2. Interpretivism - reality is subjective and interpreted through human experiences. 3. Critical Realism - combines elements of both positivism and interpretivism.

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What is the role of theory in research?

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Theory helps organize experiences, predict outcomes, challenge the status quo, and explain relationships between concepts.