OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH

Lesson 1

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 Why study research?

We are all consumers of research evidence.

We all gather and produce research

evidence in some form.
Why Study Research?
•To meet course requirements
•To understand research reports
•and journal articles
•To recognize false use of research
•As a guide in decision making
•Knowledge recreation

Source: http://www.uic.edu/classes/socw/socw560/INTROSWK/sld010.htm
 Why conduct research?
Research develops new
knowledge,

…which can then be used to improve

education and training practices
 Four types of research knowledge:

o Descriptive: to increase our knowledge of what

happens in schools and training (nation's report cards)

oPrediction: to identify how variables effect future

responses (at risk students)
 Four types of research knowledge:
o Improvement: to identify interventions that
improve performance (reinforcement, CAI)

o Explanation: which identifies theories that

describes, predicts, and controls phenomena to
improve learning (how to improve learning)
 Sources of Knowledge
•Tradition
•Common Sense
•Authority
•Experiential
•Intuition
•Logic/Rationalism
•Science

Source; http://www.uic.edu/classes/socw/socw560/INTROSWK/
Traditional Knowledge
•Knowledge based on custom, habit
and repetition, founded on a belief in
the sanctity of ancient wisdom and the
ways of our forebears (Monette et.al.
1994).
Common Sense

•Practical judgments based on the

experiences, wisdoms and prejudices of
a people
•Example: birds of the same feather
flock together, “opposite attract”.
Authority

Information from a person of distinction

or an authoritative source
Authority

Information from a person of distinction

or an authoritative source
Science

•This is the method of obtaining objective

knowledge about the world through
systematic observation
Characteristics of The Scientific
Method
•Empirical
•Systematic
•Replication
•Search for Causes
•Provisional
•Objective
•Intersubjective Testability

Source; http://www.uic.edu/classes/socw/socw560/INTROSWK/
Empirical

Information or facts about the world based

on sensory experiences. That is direct
observation of the world, to see whether
scientific theories or speculations agree with
the facts.
Systematic

All aspects of research process are carefully

planned in advance, and nothing is done in a
casual or haphazard fashion
Replication

Repeating studies numerous times to

determine if the same results will be obtained
Search for Causes

Scientists assume that there is order in the

universe, that there are ascertainable
reasons for the occurrence of all events, and
that science can discover the orderly nature
of the world.
Provisional

Scientific conclusions are always accepted as

tentative and subject to question and possible
refutation
Objective
Scientists attempt to remove their bias, belief,
preferences, wishes and values from their
scientific research

It means the ability to see and

accept the facts as they are, not as
one might wish them to be