Rethinking ResearchRethinking Research

Deane NeubauerProfessor Emeritus, University

of Hawaii, ManoaPresented to the School of Social Science and

LanguagesKing Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi

August 27, 2006

Deane NeubauerProfessor Emeritus, University

of Hawaii, ManoaPresented to the School of Social Science and

LanguagesKing Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi

August 27, 2006

Why Should We Rethink Research?

Why Should We Rethink Research?

Lack of meaning in research Tendency to do what we know, rather

than to do what may be needed New problems require new research

questions Good research is cumulative--as

knowledge accumulates, we need to ask new questions

Keeping up: novelty and innovation in research care constant

Lack of meaning in research Tendency to do what we know, rather

than to do what may be needed New problems require new research

questions Good research is cumulative--as

knowledge accumulates, we need to ask new questions

Keeping up: novelty and innovation in research care constant

Why Do Research?Why Do Research?

Obviously--to gain knowledge. But…what kind of knowledge?

The centrality of the research question to the research endeavor.

What do you what to know? Why do you want to know it? How might you go about it?

Obviously--to gain knowledge. But…what kind of knowledge?

The centrality of the research question to the research endeavor.

What do you what to know? Why do you want to know it? How might you go about it?

What Do You Want to Know?

What Do You Want to Know?

Whatever the subject, it is critical to know whether others have done it before you. Research is done on the efforts of our predecessors.

The first step always is researching the research question--then one can ask: how is my question similar or different? How can I build on what has been done?

Whatever the subject, it is critical to know whether others have done it before you. Research is done on the efforts of our predecessors.

The first step always is researching the research question--then one can ask: how is my question similar or different? How can I build on what has been done?

Yin’s Approach (1984)Yin’s Approach (1984)

Is it exploratory? Seek to describe the incidence or distribution of some phenomenon? What is happening? What are the salient themes, patterns, categories

in participants’ meaning structures? How are these patterns linked to one another

Or, does it try to explain some phenomenon? What events, beliefs, attitudes, policies etc. are

shaping the environment How do these forces interact to result in the

phenomenon?

Is it exploratory? Seek to describe the incidence or distribution of some phenomenon? What is happening? What are the salient themes, patterns, categories

in participants’ meaning structures? How are these patterns linked to one another

Or, does it try to explain some phenomenon? What events, beliefs, attitudes, policies etc. are

shaping the environment How do these forces interact to result in the

phenomenon?

Description and PredictionDescription and Prediction

Is it descriptive? What do you seek describe? Documenting the phenomenon. What are the salient behaviors, events,

beliefs, attitudes, structures, processes occurring in this phenomenon?

Is it predictive? Predicting outcomes or forecasting events. What will occur as a result of the

phenomenon? Who will be affected? In what ways?

Is it descriptive? What do you seek describe? Documenting the phenomenon. What are the salient behaviors, events,

beliefs, attitudes, structures, processes occurring in this phenomenon?

Is it predictive? Predicting outcomes or forecasting events. What will occur as a result of the

phenomenon? Who will be affected? In what ways?

Research Strategy Examples of Data

Exploratory Case studyField Study

Participant observation, in-depth interviewing, elite interviewing, focus groups

Explanatory Multi-site case studyHistoryField studyEthnography

Participant observationIn-depth interviewingSurvey questionnaireDocument analysis

Descriptive Field StudyCase StudyEthnography

Participant ObservationIn-depth interviewingDocument analysisUnobtrusive measuresSurvey questionnaire

Predictive ExperimentQuasi-experiment

Survey questionnaire(large sample)Kinesics/proxemicsContent analysis

Developing Research Proposals: Introducing the Study

Developing Research Proposals: Introducing the Study

1. Describe the substantive focus of research

2. Frame as larger theoretical, policy or practice problem--develop its significance

3. Pose initial research questions4. Forecast literature to be discussed in

literature review5. Discuss limitations of Study

1. Describe the substantive focus of research

2. Frame as larger theoretical, policy or practice problem--develop its significance

3. Pose initial research questions4. Forecast literature to be discussed in

literature review5. Discuss limitations of Study

Developing Research Proposals: Review of Related Literature

Developing Research Proposals: Review of Related Literature

Four functions of literature review:1. Demonstrate underlying assumptions

behind general research questions2. Demonstrate knowledge of researcher

in related research and its traditions3. Demonstrate that researcher has

identified gaps and that proposal will fill needs

4. Refines and redefines the research question and any related hypotheses

Four functions of literature review:1. Demonstrate underlying assumptions

behind general research questions2. Demonstrate knowledge of researcher

in related research and its traditions3. Demonstrate that researcher has

identified gaps and that proposal will fill needs

4. Refines and redefines the research question and any related hypotheses

Developing Research Proposals: Research Design and Research

Methods

Developing Research Proposals: Research Design and Research

Methods What is your research intended to

do? What is it not intended to do? (Bounding the study.)

Which methods will you employ? Why these? Why not others?

What is your research intended to do? What is it not intended to do? (Bounding the study.)

Which methods will you employ? Why these? Why not others?

The tension and complementary nature of quantitative and qualitative research

approaches

The tension and complementary nature of quantitative and qualitative research

approaches

Quantitative research of one variety very good for doing macro research in politics, sociology, economics, environment, etc.

Quantitative survey research is very useful in identifying characteristics of populations, but requires care in control of sample size and representative nature of the sample. Power of significance dictated by the rigor of sample selection.

Critiques of survey biases.

Quantitative research of one variety very good for doing macro research in politics, sociology, economics, environment, etc.

Quantitative survey research is very useful in identifying characteristics of populations, but requires care in control of sample size and representative nature of the sample. Power of significance dictated by the rigor of sample selection.

Critiques of survey biases.

Complementary Nature of Qualitative Research

Complementary Nature of Qualitative Research

More detailed examination of survey characteristics

Deeper exploration of meanings Ability to do micro level research--the

focus in much qualitative research on “lived-life” issues and activities

In general survey research tells us “what” and qualitative research can tell us “how” and “why”.

More detailed examination of survey characteristics

Deeper exploration of meanings Ability to do micro level research--the

focus in much qualitative research on “lived-life” issues and activities

In general survey research tells us “what” and qualitative research can tell us “how” and “why”.