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Chapter 4 Research Design
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Chapter Outline Three Purposes of Research The Logic of Nomothetic Explanation Necessary and Sufficient Causes Units of Analysis The Time Dimension How to Design a Research Project The Research Proposal
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Three Purposes of Research Exploration Description Explanation
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Purpose of Exploratory Studies Satisfy the researcher’s curiosity and desire for better understanding. Test the feasibility of undertaking a more extensive study. Develop the methods to be employed in any subsequent study.
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Criteria for Nomothetic Causality A statistical correlation between the two variables. The cause takes place before the effect. There is no third variable that can explain away the observed correlation as spurious.
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False Criteria for Nomothetic Causality While research can determine some causes, it cannot determine complete causation. Exceptions do not disprove a causal relationship. Causal relationships can be true even if they don’t apply in a majority of cases.
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Necessary and Sufficient Causes Necessary cause represents a condition that must be present for the effect to follow. Sufficient cause represents a condition that if present, guarantees the effect in question. Causes that are necessary and sufficient are the most satisfying outcome in research.
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Units of Analysis What or whom to study: Individuals Groups Organizations Social artifacts
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Units of Analysis and Faulty Reasoning Ecological fallacy – assuming something learned about an ecological unit says something about the individuals in the unit. Reductionism – reducing something to a simple explanation when in reality it is complex.
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How to Design a Research Project Define the purpose of your project. Specify exact meanings for the concepts you want to study (conceptualize). Choose a research method. Decide how to measure the results.
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How to Design a Research Project Decide whom or what to study. Collect empirical data. Process the data. Analyze the data. Report your findings.
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Elements of a Research Proposal Problem or objective Literature review Subjects for study Measurement
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Elements of a Research Proposal Data-collection methods Analysis Schedule Budget
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