AS6230: Introduction to

Research

hello!Fiona Beals (Dr Phi) (Course Leader)

Samantha White (Auckland Tutor)Bruce Robinson (Wellington Tutor

1.Whakawhangatanga

We are in this together

2.Why are we here?

Today has a PurposeThis course has a Purpose

The Course and TodayThis course:

✘A journey into the space of research✘Learning a new language and a new

processToday:

✘Making a start into this new language

✘A focus on the relationship between research and science and the role of the question (part 1 – more to come)

Moodle: Your one stop shop

Reverse Jenga

Building a tower with gaps:✘What are the research words you

know?✘What activities do you know happen

in research (you don’t need to know the words)?

3.What is research

We are not going to go too deep yet✘ Research is the generation of knowledge ✘ We are all born researchers✘ There are two major paradigms of research – empirical and

relativistic✘ We are focusing on the empirical✘ Empirical is more than numbers, it is anything that can be

observed✘ Researchers follow set methods and processes✘ All research has to be guided by a question✘ Research can be applied to practice

Common sense vs. academic knowledge

4.Time for a Break

5.

Science and Research

TPS: What is science?

Who makes a scientist?How do scientists work?

How does a researcher work?

What is science✘ Science is a particular way of studying the world

✘ THE GOALS OF SCIENCE ARE TO: • Measure and Describe• Understand• Predict• Control

E.g. To what extent can we measure, understand, predict & control postnatal depression?

THE ASSUMPTIONS OF SCIENCE AKA Ontology & Epistemology

1) ORDER✘ The world is lawful (ontological belief)

2) DETERMINISM✘ Events are determined by prior events – causality (ontological belief)

3) EMPIRICISM✘ The causes of events are to be found in the material, observable, world

(epistemological approach)

A belief in order, determinism and empiricism motivates people to search for causesEmpirical Research agrees with all of the above

Research and science ✘ Research derived 'facts' are only as good as the methodology that

produces them ✘ Science, and therefore research, is an ongoing process✘ No result can 'prove' a theory is correct✘ As we build up more support for a theory we come to have more

confidence in it✘ Be cautious about the results of a single study (which may be flawed)

Your Turn1) First look at the article’s headings, what do these headings tell you about research and science2) Why would researchers have literature reviews; what is the purpose of it in an article?3) What do the methodology sections share? 4) How are the findings sections similar and different?5) What is the purpose of the analysis section?6) How does research overflow into our professional practice?

The Scientific method/Research Process

Theory Building

Theory Testing

The Scientific method✘Replicability

✘Precision

✘Falsibility

✘Parsimony

✘ Exploratory Research – wide, big picture (what’s happening)

✘ Descriptive Research – deep (what, where, when)

✘ Explanatory Research – deep (how, why)

10 Easy Steps in the Research Process1

• Applied Research starts with a NEED, ISSUE or PROBLEM

2• Research then defines their TOPIC

3• From which a RESEARCH QUESTION is developed

4• Existing LITERATURE is explored

5• Then the most suitable METHODOLOGY & METHODS are defined

6• Decisions are made regarding PARTICIPANTS & SAMPLING

7•Further work is done to develop INSTRUMENTS & TECHNIQUES for Data Collection

8• Researcher outlines the ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS of the proposed project

9• Once DATA is COLLECTED the Researcher conducts their ANALYSIS & INTERPRETATION…

• All of which is presented in a RESEARCH REPORTs

Questions and Reflections

6.Lunch

7.

Research Questions

Applying One Method to Another

✘ Observation methods✘ Qualitative Analysis Coding

Phase One: Scoping✘ Brainstorming every possible question you would like

answered on your topic through reflecting on:Personal experiencesPersonal ambitionsScoping observations in the fieldReviewing current literatureReviewing programme plans and objectives

Phase Two: Refining✘ Grouping scoping questions

Locate central themesPut aside outliners Organise each question along the development linesOpen to closedBroad to detailed

Phase Three: Generating the Question/s✘ Locate the aim of your research through finding an

encompassing theme for your scoping questionsThis may be simply a hypothesis ora specific aim (e.g. to develop …)✘ Turn this aim into one, two, or

three overarching questions

Where to next….✘ Locating your questions within a paradigm of research✘ Outlining the constraints of your research

Time, money, contextual etc✘ Selecting an appropriate methodology✘ Make sure there is fusion between the questions, paradigm

(theory), constraints, and methodology✘ InAS6230, we will return to this slide later in the course

Your Turn

Time for a Game

Bringing it Back to Research

Reverse Jenga

Fill the gaps:✘What are the research words you

know now?✘What new learnings have you had

today about the process of research?

thanks!Any questions?

CreditsSpecial thanks to all the people who made and released these awesome resources for free:✘ Presentation template by SlidesCarnival✘ Photographs by Unsplash