CSD 5100CSD 5100Introduction to Research Introduction to Research

Methods in CSDMethods in CSD

Where To Begin??Where To Begin??Selecting the Research ProblemSelecting the Research Problem

Identification of a topicFraming a research problemResearch questions in experimental-type designsResearch questions in naturalistic designsThe literature search

The Research ChallengeThe Research Challenge

Selecting a problem that is Selecting a problem that is meaningfulmeaningful and and appropriateappropriate for inquiry for inquiryMeaningfulMeaningful means that the problem should means that the problem should

generate knowledge that’s useful to the generate knowledge that’s useful to the professionprofession

Answers the “so what?” questionAnswers the “so what?” question

AppropriateAppropriate means that the research question means that the research question can be answered using a systematic research can be answered using a systematic research process and will yield knowledge to help solve process and will yield knowledge to help solve the research problemthe research problem

Identifying a Research TopicIdentifying a Research Topic

A research topic refers to a A research topic refers to a broadbroad issue or issue or area that’s important to youarea that’s important to you

One topic can yield many different problems One topic can yield many different problems and strategies for investigationand strategies for investigation

Where to find topicsWhere to find topicsProfessional experienceProfessional experienceSocietal and professional trendsSocietal and professional trendsPublished researchPublished researchExisting theoryExisting theory

Professional ExperienceProfessional Experience

Clinical professional challengesClinical professional challengesPersistent issues that emerge in case Persistent issues that emerge in case

review, supervision, or staff conferencesreview, supervision, or staff conferences

Clinical themes that cut across different Clinical themes that cut across different casescases

Professional discussions with peers about Professional discussions with peers about similar observationssimilar observations

Societal and Professional Societal and Professional TrendsTrendsSocietal trendsSocietal trends

Trends reflected in legislation and funding Trends reflected in legislation and funding priorities of federal, state, and local agencies, priorities of federal, state, and local agencies, foundations, and corporationsfoundations, and corporations

Specific requests generated by federal, state, and Specific requests generated by federal, state, and local governmentlocal government

The Federal RegisterThe Federal RegisterThe NIH Guide for Grants and ContractsThe NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts

Professional trendsProfessional trendsProfessional publications (ASHA Leader, ASHA Professional publications (ASHA Leader, ASHA

journals)journals)ASHA short-and long-term research goals and ASHA short-and long-term research goals and

prioritiespriorities

Existing ResearchExisting Research

Professional journals and professional Professional journals and professional meetingsmeetings

Existing TheoryExisting Theory

Theories predict a number of propositions Theories predict a number of propositions and relationships between conceptsand relationships between conceptsEach specified relationship within the theory Each specified relationship within the theory

must be submitted to systematic must be submitted to systematic investigation for verification or falsificationinvestigation for verification or falsification

Inquiry is intended to substantiate the theory Inquiry is intended to substantiate the theory and advance its development, or modify it by and advance its development, or modify it by refuting some or all of its principlesrefuting some or all of its principles

Framing the Research Framing the Research ProblemProblemYour job is to identify Your job is to identify one one particular area of concern particular area of concern

within a broad topic areawithin a broad topic areaA specific research problem (question) is a statement that A specific research problem (question) is a statement that

identifies identifies the phenomenon to be explored and the phenomenon to be explored and whywhy it it needs to be examinedneeds to be examined

Questions to ask yourselfQuestions to ask yourselfWhat about this topic is interesting to me?What about this topic is interesting to me?What about this topic is of professional relevance to my What about this topic is of professional relevance to my

practice as an SLP?practice as an SLP?What about this topic is unresolved in the literature?What about this topic is unresolved in the literature?What about this topic is of societal or professional What about this topic is of societal or professional

concern?concern?

Research Questions in Research Questions in Experimental-Type DesignsExperimental-Type Designs

These questions are concise and establish These questions are concise and establish clear limits as to what will be studiedclear limits as to what will be studiedA priori questionsA priori questionsDeveloped deductivelyDeveloped deductively

Types of questions these designs answerTypes of questions these designs answerDescriptiveDescriptiveExplanatoryExplanatoryPredictive Predictive

Descriptive Questions in Descriptive Questions in Experimental-Type DesignsExperimental-Type Designs

Level 1Level 1These questions are designed to elicit These questions are designed to elicit

descriptions of a single topic or descriptions of a single topic or population about which little or nothing is population about which little or nothing is knownknown

These questions focus on measuring the These questions focus on measuring the nature of a particular variable in the nature of a particular variable in the population of interestpopulation of interest

““what are?”what are?”““what is?”what is?”

Relationship Questions in Relationship Questions in Experimental-Type DesignsExperimental-Type Designs

Level 2Level 2These questions are designed to build These questions are designed to build

upon the results of Level 1 questionsupon the results of Level 1 questions

These questions focus on exploring the These questions focus on exploring the relationship among variables already relationship among variables already describeddescribed

““what is the relationship?”what is the relationship?”

Testing Knowledge Questions Testing Knowledge Questions in Experimental-Type Designsin Experimental-Type Designs

Level 3Level 3These questions are designed to predict These questions are designed to predict

what will happen between two variables what will happen between two variables and provide a theory to explain whyand provide a theory to explain why

At this level, specific predictive At this level, specific predictive hypotheses are formedhypotheses are formedStatements predicting the outcome of one Statements predicting the outcome of one

variable based on the othervariable based on the other

““why?”why?”

Research Questions in Research Questions in Naturalistic DesignsNaturalistic Designs

A procedure for answering questions using A procedure for answering questions using primarily inductive reasoningprimarily inductive reasoningThe natural field forms the basis for discovery of The natural field forms the basis for discovery of

more smaller and concise research questionsmore smaller and concise research questions

Common methodologies of naturalistic Common methodologies of naturalistic designsdesignsEthnographyEthnography

PhenomenologyPhenomenology

Grounded theoryGrounded theory

EthnographyEthnography

Primary research approach in fields Primary research approach in fields like anthropologylike anthropologyConcerned with the description and Concerned with the description and

interpretation of cultural patterns of interpretation of cultural patterns of groups and the understanding of the groups and the understanding of the cultural meanings people use to cultural meanings people use to organize and interpret their experiencesorganize and interpret their experiences

PhenomenologyPhenomenology

The purpose of this method of The purpose of this method of research is to uncover the meaning research is to uncover the meaning of how humans experience of how humans experience “phenomena” through the “phenomena” through the description of those experiences as description of those experiences as they are lived by individualsthey are lived by individuals

Grounded TheoryGrounded Theory

A method in naturalistic research used A method in naturalistic research used primarily to generate theory using an primarily to generate theory using an inductive processinductive process

The Literature ReviewThe Literature Review

The literature review The literature review Is a process where you will critically review Is a process where you will critically review

what others have published about your what others have published about your problemproblem

Will help you refine your thinking and move it Will help you refine your thinking and move it along to your ultimate research questionalong to your ultimate research question

Handout of the questions you should ask Handout of the questions you should ask yourself when analyzing previous researchyourself when analyzing previous research

Why Do a Literature Why Do a Literature Review?Review?The purpose of the literature review is to The purpose of the literature review is to

critically determinecritically determineWhat previous research on your topic has been What previous research on your topic has been

donedone

The level of theory and knowledge development The level of theory and knowledge development relevant to your problem arearelevant to your problem area

The relevance of the current knowledge base to The relevance of the current knowledge base to your problem areayour problem area

A rationale for the selection of your research A rationale for the selection of your research strategystrategy

How to Conduct the SearchHow to Conduct the Search

When to do the search?When to do the search?A literature review always comes first and A literature review always comes first and

precedes the final formulation of a research precedes the final formulation of a research question and the implementation of the question and the implementation of the studystudy

Limiting the searchLimiting the searchSetting appropriate boundaries as to what is Setting appropriate boundaries as to what is

relevant to searchrelevant to search

Mechanics of the searchMechanics of the search

Mechanics of the SearchMechanics of the Search

Literature can be accessed throughLiterature can be accessed throughOn-line (computerized) data basesOn-line (computerized) data basesLibrary’s catalog searchLibrary’s catalog searchOther print indexes and abstractsOther print indexes and abstracts

Make friends with one of the library’sMake friends with one of the library’s reference reference librarianslibrarians; they are always happy to help you with ; they are always happy to help you with your searchyour search

Familiarize yourself with the library’s webpage; many Familiarize yourself with the library’s webpage; many journals and on-line indexes are available to UMD journals and on-line indexes are available to UMD studentsstudents

Don’t forget the ASHA website (Don’t forget the ASHA website (www.asha.org) and ) and Google Scholar (I find this helpful) and Judith Kuster’s Google Scholar (I find this helpful) and Judith Kuster’s net connections for CSD net connections for CSD (www.mnsu.edu/comdis/kuster2/welcome.html)(www.mnsu.edu/comdis/kuster2/welcome.html)

Be thankful you didn’t have to do this back in the Be thankful you didn’t have to do this back in the 1980’s!!!1980’s!!!