Transcript Chapter 2 The Research Process: Getting Started

Chapter 2
The Research Process: Getting Started
Researcher as a detective
 Seeking answers to questions
1. Answer exists, but is unknown to you
2. If the answer is not known or available, conduct
research to find the answer
Research process depends on your
abilities to search for and track down
information
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The Research Process Model
Rules and traditions to be followed
Multiple paths exist
Proceeds logically and steadily, yet is
circular and cyclical
Be aware of obstacles and pitfalls
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The Deductive Research Model
Theory guides the
investigation
Gather data to
assess whether
theory is correct
Move from known
position to data
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The Inductive Research Model
Gather and analyze
data framed around
research question
Formulate hypotheses
and theories based on
data
Move from specific
data to more general
explanation
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Identifying the Research Problem
Ideas from your experiences
Ideas from the media
Turn broad topics into preliminary questions
What do your questions assume?
Rephrase for clarity
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Evaluating Your Questions
1. Clearly stated?
2. Do others agree
about its clarity?
3. Asked only one
question?
4. Communication
orientation?
5. Biased?
6. Can it be observed or
measured?
7. Time and resources
8. Who would be
interested?
9. How could the
information be used?
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Library Resources
Scholarly articles in academic journals
Communication journals
Multidisciplinary journals
Scholarly books
Single-authored
Edited collections
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Basic Library Search
1. Identify key terms
2. Keyword search for
each term in
university catalog
3. Keyword search to
combine terms
4. Examine resources
for alternative
keywords
5. Communication
databases
6. Expanded Academic
Index
7. Read articles and
books
8. Can you answer your
question?
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Detailed Library Search
Communication Yearbook
Handbooks of communication
Social Science Citation Index
Other databases and resources
Read articles and books
Can you answer your question?
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Web Resources
Search engines
Meta-search engines
Determine validity and utility of posted
information
Date
Author or sponsor
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Adjusting the Question
Adjust your question as you learn more
Incorporate information you find into your
question
Did you uncover any relevant theories?
Do theories provide competing
explanations?
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Reading Scholarly Books & Articles
Evaluate the quality of the information
Get a historical overview
Start with a literature review
Identify primary ideas and conclusions
Track down others’ references
Summarize what you’ve found
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The Role of Theory in Research
Generally, quantitative research starts with
theory
Generally, qualitative research answers
questions to develop theory
Theories are . . .
Developed and tested incrementally over time
Never complete
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Theory-Research Link
Theory
provides patterns for interpreting data
links one study to another
provides a framework for understanding how
communication concepts and issues are
important
helps us interpret the meaning of research
findings
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Theory-Research Link
Scientific inquiry is a process of developing
and testing theory
Process is not always linear
Meaningful inquiry drives theory or is
theory-driven
Multiple studies used to develop or
challenge theory
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Continuing with
the Research Process
Repeat work of others if it is flawed or
dated
Disagreement among scholars may suggest
a study
Develop research studies to fill in the gaps
Develop research studies to answer the
questions previous research results raise
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