KNR 497
Foundations
Slide 1
1
2: Foundations continued

KNR 497
Foundations
Slide 2
Foundations of research
1
2


Types of relationships
 Their nature
 Correlation and Causality
 Mediation/Moderation 3
Patterns of relationships
 None/positive/negative/curvilinear
4

KNR 497
Foundations
Slide 3
Figure 1-1
Four Types of Possible Relationships
1
...and no relationship, of course

KNR 497
Foundations
Slide 4
Foundations of research
2
3
1
4
 Hypotheses
 A specific statement of prediction
 Inductive vs. deductive research
 Deductive has ‘em, inductive often doesn’t
 Types
 Alternative vs. null
 One-tailed vs. two-tailed
 Hypothetical-deductive model
 2 mutually exclusive statements (null, alternative)
 Tests designed to specify which can be rejected and which cannot

KNR 497
Foundations
Slide 5
Foundations of research
1
2


Types of data
 Qualitative vs. quantitative
 More a case of philosophical difference than numerical difference (in the better debates, at least)
The unit of analysis
 Group vs. Individual vs. Artifact vs. Geographical unit vs.
Social interaction
 Hierarchical modeling

KNR 497
Foundations
Slide 6
Foundations of research
1
 Rationale of research
 Structure of research
 See figure 1.4 (next slide)

KNR 497
Foundations
Slide 7
Figure 1-4
The Hourglass Metaphor for the Research Process
1

KNR 497
Foundations
Slide 8
Foundations of research
1
 Structure of research
 Components of a study
 Research Problem
 Research Question
 The treatment (or program/event – the purported cause)
 The sample (the unit)
 The outcome (purported effect of treatment)
 The design

KNR 497
Foundations
Slide 9
Foundations of research
 Deduction vs. induction (see next 2 slides)

KNR 497
Foundations
Slide 10
1

KNR 497
Foundations
Slide 11
1

KNR 497
Foundations
Slide 12
Foundations of research
1
 Fallacies
 A variety of errors of either logic or premise strength that can result in weak arguments being formed.
 Beyond the remit of this course, but very important nonetheless for good research papers
 Examples:
 Ecological fallacy: Mistaken conclusions about an individual based on analysis of group data
 Exception fallacy: Reaching a group conclusion on the basis of exceptional cases (e.g., racism)