RESEARCH METHODS (STA630) - genrica.com

1 RESEARCH METHODS STA630 VU. RESEARCH METHODS (STA630). Contents Lesson 1: INTRODUCTION, DEFINITION & VALUE OF RESEARCH .. 14. What is RESEARCH ?.. 14. What is the value of RESEARCH ? .. 14. RESEARCH helps in developing methodologies .. 15. We are surrounded by 16. Lesson 2: SCIENTIFIC METHOD OF RESEARCH & ITS SPECIAL FEATURES .. 17. Important Characteristics of Scientific Method .. 17. 1. 17. 2. Verifiable .. 18. 3. Cumulative .. 18. 4. 18. 5. Ethical and Ideological Neutrality .. 18. 6. Statistical Generalization .. 19. 7. Rationalism .. 19. Lesson 3: CLASSIFICATION OF RESEARCH .

2 21. 1. Purpose of Doing RESEARCH .. 21. 2. The Uses of RESEARCH .. 23. 3. The Time Dimension in RESEARCH .. 25. 4. RESEARCH (data collection) Techniques Used .. 26. Lesson 4: THEORY AND RESEARCH .. 27. Theory .. 27. Concepts .. 28. Propositions .. 29. Theory and RESEARCH .. 30. Role of Theory .. 30. Role of Facts ( RESEARCH ) .. 31. Theory and RESEARCH : the Dynamic Duo .. 32. Lesson 5: CONCEPTS .. 33. 1 Copyright Virtual University of Pakistan RESEARCH METHODS STA630 VU. Concepts are an Abstraction of Reality .. 33. Degree of Abstraction .. 33. Sources of Concepts.

3 33. Importance of Concepts .. 34. Definitions .. 34. Dictionary Definitions .. 34. Operational Definition .. 35. Lesson 06: VARIABLES AND TYPES OF VARIABLES .. 36. Types of Variable .. 36. 1. Continuous and Discontinuous 36. 2. Dependent and Independent Variables .. 36. 3. Moderating Variables .. 37. 4. Intervening 37. 5. Extraneous Variables .. 38. Relationship among Variables .. 38. Lesson 7: HYPOTHESIS TESTING & CHARACTERISTICS .. 39. Types of 39. i. Descriptive Hypothesis .. 39. ii. Relational Hypothesis .. 39. Co-relational hypotheses .. 40. Explanatory (causal) hypotheses.

4 40. iii. Null Hypothesis .. 40. iv. Alternative Hypothesis .. 41. v. RESEARCH Hypothesis .. 41. The Role of the Hypothesis .. 41. The Characteristics of a Testable Hypothesis .. 42. Lesson 8: REVIEW OF 43. Goals of a Literature Review .. 43. Types of Reviews .. 43. Where to find the RESEARCH Literature .. 44. 2 Copyright Virtual University of Pakistan RESEARCH METHODS STA630 VU. Lesson 9: CONDUCTING A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW .. 45. Define and refine a 45. Design a search .. 45. Locate RESEARCH reports .. 45. What to Record .. 46. Write the Review.

5 46. What does a good review look like? .. 46. The writing 46. Lesson 10: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK .. 48. The Components of the Theoretical Framework .. 49. Make an inventory of variables: .. 49. Specify the direction of relationship: .. 49. Give a clear explanation of why we should expect the proposed relationships to exist;.. 49. Make an inventory of propositions: .. 49. Arrange these propositions in a sequential order:.. 49. Schematic diagram of the theoretical model be given: .. 50. Lesson 11: PROBLEM DEFINITION AND RESEARCH PROPOSAL .. 51. Techniques for Narrowing a Topic into a RESEARCH Question.

6 51. Examine the literature.. 51. Talk over ideas with others.. 51. Apply to a specific context.. 51. Define the aim or desired outcome of the study.. 51. From the RESEARCH Question to Hypotheses .. 51. Problem Definition .. 52. Sponsored Researches .. 52. The RESEARCH Proposal .. 52. RESEARCH Proposal Sections .. 53. Lesson 12: THE RESEARCH PROCESS .. 54. 1. Broad Problem Area .. 54. 2. Preliminary Data Collection .. 54. 3. Problem Definition .. 54. 3 Copyright Virtual University of Pakistan RESEARCH METHODS STA630 VU. 4. Theoretical Framework .. 55. 5.

7 Generation of 55. 6. RESEARCH Design .. 55. 7. Data Collection, Data Processing, and Analysis .. 57. 8. Testing the Hypotheses; Answering the RESEARCH Questions .. 57. 9. Report Writing .. 57. Lesson 13: ETHICAL ISSUES IN RESEARCH .. 59. Codes of ethic applicable at each stage of the RESEARCH .. 59. 59. Unethical activities .. 59. Ethical Issues .. 59. Anticipate ethical dilemmas .. 59. Parties in RESEARCH .. 60. General Rights and Obligations of Parties Concerned .. 60. Ethical Treatment of Participants .. 60. Lesson 14: ETHICAL ISSUES IN RESEARCH (Cont.)

8 62. Deception: .. 62. Informed Consent: .. 62. Debriefing: .. 62. Rights to 63. Ethics and the 63. Confidentiality of Sponsor .. 64. Right to Quality RESEARCH .. 64. Sponsor's Ethics .. 64. Researchers and Team Members .. 64. Lesson 15: MEASUREMENT OF CONCEPTS .. 66. Measurement in Quantitative and Qualitative RESEARCH .. 66. What is measured? .. 67. Parts of the Measurement Process .. 68. 4 Copyright Virtual University of Pakistan RESEARCH METHODS STA630 VU. a. Conceptualization .. 68. b. 69. Lesson 16: MEASUREMENT OF CONCEPTS (CONTINUED) .. 71. b.

9 71. Operational definition: Dimensions and Elements an example .. 71. Dimensions of job satisfaction: .. 71. Elements of job satisfaction: .. 72. Lesson 17: MEASUREMENT OF CONCEPTS (CONTINUED) .. 73. Scales and Indexes .. 74. Types of Scales .. 74. Nominal Scale .. 74. Ordinal Scale .. 75. Interval Scale .. 75. Ratio Scale .. 75. Lesson 18: CRITERIA FOR GOOD 76. Validity .. 76. (1) Content Validity .. 76. (2) Criterion-Related 77. (3) Construct Validity .. 77. Reliability .. 78. (1) Test-retest Reliability .. 78. (2) Parallel-Form Reliability: .. 79. Internal Consistency of Measures.

10 79. (1) Inter-item Consistency reliability: .. 79. (2) Split-Half reliability: .. 79. Sensitivity .. 80. Practicality: .. 80. Lesson 19: RESEARCH DESIGN .. 81. 1. Purpose of the Study .. 81. 2. Unit of Analysis .. 81. 3. Time Dimension .. 82. 4. Researcher Control of Variables .. 83. 5 Copyright Virtual University of Pakistan RESEARCH METHODS STA630 VU. 5. Choice of RESEARCH Design: Mode of Observation .. 83. 6. Sampling Design .. 83. 7. Observation Tools .. 84. 8. Field Data Collection .. 84. 9. Data Processing and Data Analysis .. 84. Steps in Conducting a Survey.