Introduction: Research Methods Helping students grasp idea and process of Methods Source: College Board, 2015 AP Research Workshop Handbook and Resources, Pages 74-75

What are Research Methods? Discussion

Research Methods: Defined The process by which various forms of data are collected to further investigate a hypothesis or research question. Explain.

What alters the way researchers approach collecting data? Discussion

Research Methods: Selecting a Method Methods are typically aligned to the discipline of the study Sometimes researchers use unconventional methods in a discipline to arrive at new conclusions or to study a portion of a topic yet to be discussed

Determine Method Selection: Four Components Research Question Approach Design Method of Data Collection Inquiry Process

Research Question Question you have composed to organize your focus for your research

Approach Way in which you plan to answer your question Question dictates which approach you will take

Design Way in which you plan to conduct your research Determined by your approach and method

Method Specific type of data you collect (Qual/Quant) Culmination of approach and design

Inquiry Process Specific lens/type of research used to collect and organize your data

Making the jump from AP Seminar to AP Research Primary/Secondary Research Making the jump from AP Seminar to AP Research

Differences in Primary and Secondary Research Primary Research Secondary Research You are actively, in the field, collecting research that is brand new data. You are the first person/primary individual to get your hands on this data. You are using the information of other researchers to build your research. You are at least the second individual to interact with this data. Differences in Primary and Secondary Research

Differences in Primary and Secondary Research Primary Research Secondary Research Clearly you are adding to the Body of Knowledge, as long as your work is not identical to another individual's research. CAUTION. Could become a gigantic literature review if you do not use the information you collect to build NEW insight or information in the Body of Knowledge. Differences in Primary and Secondary Research

Today’s Objective: Discuss to understand the two basic approaches to research