Logical thinkingWhy this study?

Dr. Amjad Idries

Research methodology and logical thinking

• The difference between positivism, in which the real world is ‘out there’ and can be described, and constructionism, in which we all construct the real world ourselves mainly through the attribution of meaning.

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Disciplinary, Subject-matter, and Problem-solving Research

(Johnson, 1986)

Subject-matter research• “research on a subject of interest to a set of decision makers “ (p 22)• Tends to follow subject-matter boundaries within a discipline ( eg.

resource economics, production economics, labor economics)• Inherently multidisciplinary, drawing information from many

disciplines– eg. consumer economic draws from psychology, natural resource economics

from biology, economic policy from political science

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Subject-matter research … cont.• Provides policy makers with general knowledge to make decisions

about various problems.• A primary source of policy applications for economics• Subject-matter research is a cornerstone in economics – it involves

direct application of economics to contemporary issues.

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Problem-solving research• Designed to solve a specific problem for a specific

decision maker• Often results in recommendations on decisions or

actions• Problem-solving research is holistic – uses all

information relevant to the specific problem(while disciplinary research tends to be reductionist)• Disciplinary research is generally the most “durable”

(long lasting); problem-solving research the least durable

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Analytic vs Descriptive Research• Descriptive Research – the attempt to determine,

describe, or identify something• The intent is often synthesis, which pulls knowledge or

information together

• Analytic – the attempt to establish why something occurs or how it came to be• All disciplines generally engage in both

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•Hypothesis: A testable prediction which designates the relationship between two or more variables.

•Conceptual definition: Description of a concept by relating it to other concepts.•Operational definition: Details in regards to defining the variables and how they will be measured/assessed in the study.

• In terms of design, studies may be descriptive or experimental. Examples of

quantitative studies may be:

1. Assessments of the frequencies of events.

2. Establishing the proportion of people in a population/sample who hold

particular views or attitudes.

3. Audits of professional practice and use of medicines, requiring assessment

against set criteria.

4. Assessment of rates of adherence among particular populations.

5. The timing, duration and resources associated with activities.

6. A comparison of prescribing patterns and rates between hospitals

7. Examination of associations between variables in a dataset, e.g. number of

medicines prescribed and reports of medication-related problems, or

attitudes and population characteristics or experiences

8. Randomised controlled trials in which differences in outcomes between

groups are measured and compared

9. Studies that involve the application of statistical procedures.

Problem—Obstacle—Idea

Hypothesis or theory development.

Observation—Test—Experiment.