LIS 570

Ways of knowing and the research process

Research is everywhere

The need for research methods literacy to protect yourself from misleading research

conclusions to empower yourself to use valid social science

research to enable the essential function of research

communication the partnership between the researcher and the

consumer of research

Sources of understanding

How do we know what we know? Variations in explanations e.g. deviance Personal experience Tradition

can be a powerful force operating against inquiry

Sources of understanding

Authority how do we select?

Public opinion people can agree on things that are inaccurate

Common errors in understanding we can observe inaccurately we can overgeneralise we can be guilty of selective perception

Research

“Disciplined way of coming to know something about ourselves or our world“(Bouma)

“. .the systematic effort to secure answers to questions” (Reinard)

“. . a process by which we answer questions and try to draw conclusions from information gathered..” (Reinard)

Research in the social sciences

Features of the scientific method empirical verifiable cumulative self-correcting deterministic ethical and ideological neutrality statistical generalizability

Research

Disciplined InquiryProblem basedSystematic: MethodicalEstablished sources of evidenceSound argumentConcern for Error

Anticipation Control (Elimination) Discussion of the Margin of error

PublicOriginal, Novel

Research in LIS570

Purpose Description

What is ….

Search for RelationshipsAssociation Between Ideas (Concepts)

Search for ExplanationsCause and Effect Relationships

The Phases of Research

Phase 1: Essential First Steps

Phase 2: Data Collection

Phase 3: Analysis and Interpretation

Essential First Steps

Phase 1 Select, Narrow and State Problem

Exploratory Qualitative Research Select a Research Design Design and Devise Measures for Variables

Measurement Process Select Tables for Analysis Select a Sample