Chapter 1: The Selection of a Research Approach

What is "Research Approaches"?

• Plans and the procedures for the research that span the steps

• Procedures for inquiry

• Specific data collection, analysis and interpretation methods

• Issue being addressed

What is "Research Design"?

• Plans and the procedures for research that span the steps

• Procedures for inquiry

• Specific data collection, analysis, and interpretation methods

• Issue being addressed

What is "Research Methods?"

• plans and the procedures for
  research that span the steps

• procedures for inquiry

• specific data collection, analysis,
  and interpretation methods

• issue being addressed

What is "Research Problem"?

• plans and the procedures for
  research that span the steps

• procedures for inquiry

• specific data collection, analysis,
  and interpretation methods

• issue being addressed

Before a study begins, a researcher brings a point of view and a set of beliefs to the research
process that informs their approach to conducting the study. Philosophical assumptions are
these beliefs and values. They emphasize what the researcher holds to be most important in
conducting a study. Philosophical assumptions develop from an individual’s training in a
specific discipline or field of study (e.g., psychology). They also emerge from prior experiences
in research and the cultural environment of an individual.

We will use the term research approach synonymously with research methodology. This term
represents different types of research to have historically emerged. In this chapter, we will
present three broad methodologies: quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods

We use the term research design to mean the ways of conducting research within a broad
methodology. Thus, as seen in this chapter, broad methodologies can be subdivided into
different types of designs. Each design has its own procedures used in conducting a study.

Within a particular design, the researcher gathers data, analyzes it, and makes an
interpretation of its meaning. These are the methods in a study.
Creswell, Research Design 6e
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What are the Three Approaches or
Methodologies in Research?

• Qualitative

• Quantitative

• Mixed-Methods

• Research

Qualitative Research focuses on.....

• Understanding meaning and uses emerging questions

• Collects data in participant’s setting and Uses an inductive approach to analysis

• Has a written report that is flexible in structure
  

• Test objective theories