Chapter 4
Research Design
Chapter Outline
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Three Purposes of Research
The Logic of Nomothetic Explanation
Necessary and Sufficient Causes
Units of Analysis
The Time Dimension
How to Design a Research Project
The Research Proposal
Three Purposes of Research
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Exploration
Description
Explanation
Purpose of Exploratory Studies
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Satisfy the researcher’s curiosity and desire for
better understanding.
Test the feasibility of undertaking a more
extensive study.
Develop the methods to be employed in any
subsequent study.
Criteria for Nomothetic Causality
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A statistical correlation between the two
variables.
The cause takes place before the effect.
There is no third variable that can explain away
the observed correlation as spurious.
False Criteria for Nomothetic
Causality
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While research can determine some causes, it
cannot determine complete causation.
Exceptions do not disprove a causal
relationship.
Causal relationships can be true even if they
don’t apply in a majority of cases.
Necessary and Sufficient Causes
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Necessary cause represents a condition that
must be present for the effect to follow.
Sufficient cause represents a condition that if
present, guarantees the effect in question.
Causes that are necessary and sufficient are
the most satisfying outcome in research.
Units of Analysis
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What or whom to study:
Individuals
Groups
Organizations
Social artifacts
Units of Analysis and Faulty
Reasoning
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Ecological fallacy – assuming something
learned about an ecological unit says
something about the individuals in the unit.
Reductionism – reducing something to a
simple explanation when in reality it is
complex.
How to Design a Research Project
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Define the purpose of your project.
Specify exact meanings for the concepts you
want to study (conceptualize).
Choose a research method.
Decide how to measure the results.
How to Design a Research Project
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Decide whom or what to study.
Collect empirical data.
Process the data.
Analyze the data.
Report your findings.
Elements of a Research Proposal
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Problem or objective
Literature review
Subjects for study
Measurement
Elements of a Research Proposal
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Data-collection methods
Analysis
Schedule
Budget