1. FOR 500 Research Methods Today’s Pro Tip: As you write your proposal, put it into the university’s final thesis template. It will end up there anyway.

2. Research Is Simply Knowledge Creation TheoryResearchFact

3. Alternatives to Research Overgeneralization Selective observation Premature closure Halo effect

4. KEY TERMS

5. Empirical Empirical (adj.) – data gathered directly by sensory perception By instrumentation extending sensory input More generally, data gathered through research

6. Data “Data” is plural. “I gathered these data.”

7. Methodology vs. Methods Methods Assumptions Context Ethics After Neuman 2006

8. RESEARCH PARADIGMS Positivist, interpretive, critical, feminist

9. Positivist Paradigm Logical empiricism, postpositivism, naturalism, etc. Emphasis on exact measures, dispassionate research, determinism Reductionist: convert phenomena to numbers Truth is spelled with a capital “T”

10. The Positivist View of Religion Religion

11. The Positivist View of Religion ReligionSociology

12. The Positivist View of Religion ReligionSociologyPsychology

13. The Positivist View of Religion ReligionSociologyPsychologyBiology

14. The Positivist View of Religion ReligionSociologyPsychologyBiologyChemistry

15. The Positivist View of Religion ReligionSociologyPsychologyBiologyChemistryPhysics

16. The Positivist View of Religion ReligionSociologyPsychologyBiologyChemistryPhysicsMath!

17. Interpretive Paradigm Study of social phenomena toward empathic understanding Relative values – Free will, volition, morality Meaningful social action: the phenomenon affects others

18. IDIOGRAPHIC VS. NOMOTHETIC

19. Idiographic Research Explanation of a case Complete Detailed

20. Nomothetic Research The Truth Is Out There: logic and reasoning Causal law governs all into patterns Covering Law Model – Few big abstract laws permit deduction of cases Disproof of current factual model

21. The Scientific Method Research questions HypothesesMethodsTrialsData analyses Results & discussion

22. Deductive Reasoning We form opinions on groups via media USA television covers Muslims negatively American teens view Muslims negatively General theory Specific theory Testable application

23. Inductive Reasoning Observed applications Specific theory General theory Observe American teen views of Muslims Teens in contact with Muslims are less afraid Contact Hypothesis

24. TheoryHypothesesObservation Empirical generalization Induction Deductio n

25. Topical Lifecycle Exploratory research – What Descriptive research – When Where Who Explanatory research –Why / How

26. The Story So Far Research paradigms The Scientific Method Inductive vs. deductive reasoning Exploratory, descriptive, and explanatory research

27. Where The Story Goes Formulation of research question(s) Literature search and synthesis

28. Exploratory Research Useful for emergent phenomena Less commonly published “Pilot” “preliminary” studies

29. Getting To Research Question Drafts First, identify: descriptive vs. explanatory work Explore Describe Explain

30. Descriptive Research Details understanding of phenomenon Much social research Early physical sciences research Examines correlation Examples?

31. Descriptive vs. Explanatory Descriptive Central tendency values Range Variables’ distributions Crosstabulation Explanatory Y = f(x,z) Necessary cause Sufficient cause Contributory cause Dose-response Divines process/mechanism

32. Sandbox 1 Campus awareness of sustainability issues Descriptive statistics? Summary statistics? Statistical causality tests? Qualitative or quantitative

33. Explanatory Research Tests mechanisms described in phenomenon Examines causality Novel / test competing / extend existing causality Examples?

34. Sandbox 2 Effects of balsam fir on understory & soil The descriptive phase would deliver what? – Composition changes? – Altered understory vigor? – Altered wildlife utilization? – Altered soil chemistry/structure? The Explanatory phase would deliver what?

35. Testing for Causality Temporal order Association – Exceptional cases – Necessary vs. sufficient Disproof of alternatives/fail to disprove cause – Confounding factors – Spurious factors

36. Causality Examples Males perform better on standardized math and engineering tests than do females The rare Saluki Leopard’s home range is upland pine For undergraduates, more studying results in better grades The Colorado Rockies score more runs at home Sugar maples are sap-productive in Februaries

37. Time in Research Cross sectional Longitudinal – Time series / “trend” study – Panel – Cohort

38. Cross Sectional Studies Simple, cost-effective Usually descriptive

39. Time Series (Longitudinal) Repeatedly measures the group of interest Not necessarily the same individuals Trends through time U.S. Census Animal populations

40. Panel Study (Longitudinal) Tracks same individuals with repeated measures Long-term health studies Forestry and plant research

41. Cohort Studies (Longitudinal) Tracks members of specified group, not individuals Birth cohorts Graduation cohorts

42. Examples Studies ACAD hiker study OZAR river user study OZAR river user studIES Study Types Cross sectional Longitudinal – Time series – Panel – Cohort

43. Large n vs. Small n Studies Large n Cross-section Time series Panel Cohort Small n Case study – Intensive scrutiny of small set – Meso timescale