HAN 251 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Deductive Reasoning, Inductive Reasoning, Data Analysis
23 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
1
Midterm
Lecture 1
• Methodology: quan, qual, or mixed method
• Design: roadmap of how the study will be conducted; numerous designs within the
methodologies
• Methods: sampling, data collection, data analysis
• Sampling: the way a researcher recruits or selects individuals to be in the study
• Data collection: the type of data that will be collected and the procedures/ processes a
researcher uses to collect data
• Data analysis: how the researcher performs the analysis on the data that has been
collected
• Research: a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and
ealuatio, desiged to deelop or otriute to geeralizale koledge. Must
produce new knowledge, build on previous knowledge, add to the body of knowledge
for the scientific community
• Systematic investigation: researcher must utilize approved and predefined sets of
procedures, also referred to as design and methods, to conduct a research study
• Scientific merit: proposed research study meets the definition of research, conducted by
a qualified researcher, and study has been constructed in such a way (systematic
investigation) that once the study has ended, new knowledge will be generated
• Five Phases
o Conceptual (thinking): having an idea, reviewing the literature, verifying a
problem, determining the research purpose, creating research question(s)-
leads to paradigms
o Design (planning): Selecting the best research design and research methods
(sampling, data collection, data analysis)
o Empirical (doing): Recruiting/ selecting the sample, obtaining informed consent
from individuals in the sample, collecting data
o Analytic (analyzing): Utilizing the best analysis strategy to yield meaningful
results from data. The analysis should answer some questions and raise new
ones to explore (cyclical)
o Dissemination (sharing): Writing a journal article to share results/ finding with
the scientific community which will contribute to knowledge and spark ideas in
other researchers.
• Basic research: seeks to enhance overall knowledge
• Applied/ Clinical researh: seeks to stud issues that hae iediate releae to
urret praties, proedures, ad poliies. Applied ad liial researh are the sae,
only distinction is the setting. Clinical research is applied research conducted in the
healthcare arena with the primary focus of finding practical solutions to improve patient
care/ clinical outcomes.
• Four research purposes- can do these in either basic or applied
o Exploratory: explore or investigate to determine scope of issue or to understand
a problem that has not been clearly defined
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o Descriptive: describe the problem the who, what, where, and when, how many?
o Evaluative: how well is this working?
o Explanatory: determine a cause and effect relationship (experimental design)
• Assumptions/ paradigms: how a researcher sees the world and informs the type of
research ideas, methodology, and resulting research questions a researcher will have
• Epistemology: how we acquire knowledge. What are legitimate ways of acquiring and
validating knowledge? What the researcher believes about the meaning of truth
• Ontology: reality and construction of meaning. How is world governed by laws of
nature? Is reality governed by logic/ objectivity or subjectivity?
• Paradigs: researhers assuptios aout nature of truth and the acquisition of
knowledge leads the researcher to a Research Methodology.
Paradigm
Ontological assumptions
(reality and construction of
meaning)
Epistemological
assumptions
Methodological assumptions
Research
methodology
Positivism
• Cause and effect
relationship can be
proven
• Black or white
• World is governed by
natural laws
Objective: must
remain objective so
the results of the
research are free from
value and bias.
Removes bias
completely
Deductive reasoning:
empirical study (conducted in
a lab) that control variables
and use rigorous scientific
methods to test hypothesis.
Bench researchers- have
control.
Quantitative
Yes/no
Deductive
reasoning
Scientific
method
Very quan
Post-
Positivism
Truth exists, it is the result
of natural laws but perhaps
not all the laws are
completely understood,
should not say there is
absolute truth- gray
Objective: control for
bias and remaining
objective is the
benchmark but
absolute control of
bias is not achievable
Deductive reasoning: controls
variables and uses scientific
methods to test hypothesis
but research can be
conducted outside of the lab-
doest eed asolute otrol
Quantitative
Constructivism
Multiple truths exist. They
are rooted in individual and
social constructs, meaning
what is true for one can be
untrue for another. Based
on experience
Subjective: role of the
researcher to work
directly with
individuals to uncover
meaning
Inductive reasoning: goal is to
generate understanding
about the phenomenon.
About person
Qualitative
Pragmatism
Truth is both governed by
natural laws and subjective
reality
Objective and
subjective: rejects
either or choices,
rather the researcher
should focus on what
works
Deductive and inductive
reasoning: assumptions are
compatible; one can
seamlessly go between
multiple types of evidence
and analysis to answer a
research question
Mixed
methods
Paradigm → methodology; shapes research question
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• Hypothesis: a logical supposition, a reasonable guess, an educated conjecture; provides
tentative theories to explain the phenomenon under investigation. Each theory is tested
and either accepted or rejected, hypothesis testing continues until an explanation has
been found. Often referred to as the scientific method. quan researchers use deductive
reasoning to test hypothesis; quan do not use scientific method so no hypothesis and no
variables.
• Inductive reasoning: used by qual researchers. Apply the findings from a few
observations to build a general/ global understanding of an issue; common practice
when there is a lack of preexisting theory, or in an area that has very little previous
research; the findings are not tested, rather they are offered as an explanation of what
is occurring or why something is occurring
• Quantitative research: involves the collection, analysis, and interpretation of numerical
data to explain, predict and/or control phenomenon of interest. (positivism and post
positivism)
• Qualitative research: involves the collection, analysis, and interpretation of narrative
and visual data in order to gain insights into a particular phenomenon of interest.
(constructivism)
• Mixed methods research: Uses both quantitative and qualitative methodologies
(pragmatism)
Methodology
Method:
Sampling
Data collection
Data analysis
Quan
Larger
population
• Collects data on
predetermined variables.
• Uses tools/ instruments
to collect data
• Data is turned into
numerical values
• Tools/ instruments must
be tested for validity and
reliability
Descriptive and inferential
statistical procedures:
• analysis is conducted at
conclusion of study
• if the correct test is
selected analysis is quick
and straight forward
Results of analysis can be
presented in tables and charts
Qual
Smaller
population
Data includes verbal,
narrative, visual data.
• data collection evolves
as the study progresses
Iterative process of breaking
data into small constructs to
find patterns that reveal
meaning.
• analysis begins while data
is being collected, the
process is lengthy
Presentation of findings
includes rich textual
descriptions, direct quotes,
and/or images.
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Document Summary
What the researcher believes about the meaning of truth: ontology: reality and construction of meaning. Is reality governed by logic/ objectivity or subjectivity: paradig(cid:373)s: resear(cid:272)her(cid:859)s assu(cid:373)ptio(cid:374)s a(cid:271)out nature of truth and the acquisition of knowledge leads the researcher to a research methodology. Ontological assumptions (reality and construction of meaning: cause and effect relationship can be proven, black or white, world is governed by natural laws. Truth exists, it is the result of natural laws but perhaps not all the laws are completely understood, should not say there is absolute truth- gray. They are rooted in individual and social constructs, meaning what is true for one can be untrue for another. Truth is both governed by natural laws and subjective reality. Objective: must remain objective so the results of the research are free from value and bias. Deductive reasoning: empirical study (conducted in a lab) that control variables and use rigorous scientific methods to test hypothesis.
