Researching TopicsGraduate Research Methods-Gary Layton

IP 1 – Dawn M GibsonColorado Technical University

Selecting a Research TopicWhat topic interest you?

What questions need to be answered?

What can be improved and how?

Know something about the topic, company or what is to be researched?

Importance of a Purpose StatementMost important statement of the whole study.

Explain what is expected to be accomplished by the study.

Clear

Precise

Informative

Three research methodsQualitative QuantitativeInterviewsWritingsJournalsQuestionnaires. SurveysUnstructuredOpen-endedIndividual/ singleHard to proveNon-numerical form

NumericalRankMeasurementsGraphsTablesChartsJournals

(McLeod, S.A., 2008)

Mixed ResearchQualitativeQuantitativeIndependentDependant NullAlternative 1. Directional 2. Non-directional

Null Variable

Alternative VariableDirectional1- Prior studies

2- Journals

3-literature Non- directional1- Diaries

2-Interviews

3-Surverys

Research QuestionsWhat do you know?What would you like to answer?How will this help?Who would this help?Where would this be beneficial?

Hypothesis Statements

ReferencesCreswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed

Methods Approaches, 4th Edition. [VitalSource Bookshelf Online]. Retrieved from

http://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/CSM19781452226101/

Creswell, J. (2007) Designing Research. Sage Pub.com. Retrieved

from

http://www.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upmbinaries/27397_Pag

es138_141.pdf

McLeod, S. A. (2008). Qualitative Quantitative. Simply Psychology.

Org. Retrieved from

http://www.simplypsychology.org/qualitative-quantitative.html