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Conducting Research: An Instructional Module. Copyright 2013 American Public University System. May not be used without permission.

Conducting Research: An Instructional Module Part 1: What is Research? ________________________________________________________________ TRANSCRIPT [Slide 1] Hello, and welcome to Conducting Research: An Instructional Module. [Slide 2] This learning module is part of the New Graduate Student Orientation course provided by the APUS Center for Graduate Studies. [Slide 3] If you Google the phrase what is research? youll get a wide range of answers, but youll find that most of them tend to focus on the process and its purpose. [Slide 4] Heres one definition of research that is pretty straightforward: the methodical investigation into a subject in order to discover facts, to establish or revise a theory, or to develop a plan of action based on the facts discovered. [Slide 5] John Cresswell, Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, teaches courses on mixed methods research, qualitative inquiry, and general research design. He defines research as a process of steps used to collect and analyze information to increase our understanding of a topic or issue."

[Slide 6] Research is more than just finding information about a topic. It is a systematic course of action that needs to be carefully planned and executed. Whether you are an undergraduate looking for resources to support an argument paper or developing an original research investigation as part of your graduate program of study, the major steps of research are essentially the same.

[Slide 7] One: You express a research question. The research question must be correctly stated and clearly defined. Deciding the research question is the central element of research. It allows you to work out the conceptual framework and theoretical assumptions of your study and write a clear thesis statement or hypothesis statement. The research question tells your readers what it is you most want to know.

[Slide 8] Two: You collect information and data to support or answer your thesis statement or research question. You will read the professional and scholarly literature. Once youve established your research question and articulated your thesis statement or hypothesis, you re-explore that literature and supplement it with additional resources. An important component in this process of information review is deciding on a theoretical perspective.

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Conducting Research: An Instructional Module. Copyright 2013 American Public University System. May not be used without permission.

After this literature review, you explain what your research approach will be (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods) and the specific investigation methods you will use and why. Then you collect the data and analyze it using the specific techniques youve outlined in your research methods section. [Slide 9] Three: You present an answer. You show your findings and explain how they answer the question your study was designed to investigate. Then you state your conclusions. [Slide 10] To review then: Research is a planned sequence of steps.

1. You need to know what your research question is. 2. You need to know what a thesis statement is and how to write an effective one. 3. In looking at the research literature that addresses your question, you need to know

how to read those scholarly articles and understand how they do or dont apply to your study.

4. You need to be able to use theory (also described as using a theoretical model) to frame your research work.

5. To design your study, you will need to know what kind of approach best suits the question you are asking: quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods.

6. You will need to be able to collect and analyze data. 7. And when you write up the report of your research study, you will need to know how to

write clearly and accurately as well as how to present your writing using the correct editorial style guide of your academic field.

The rest of the videos in this module will provide you with a general overview of the research process. [Slide 11-12] References and Image Credits. [Slide 13] End slide with APUS Online Library image and hours.