Scientific ProcessScientific Process

►1) Developing a research idea and 1) Developing a research idea and hypothesishypothesis

►2) Choosing a research design 2) Choosing a research design (correlational vs. experimental)(correlational vs. experimental)

►3) Choosing subjects (how will you 3) Choosing subjects (how will you obtain your subjects)obtain your subjects)

►4) Deciding on what to observe and 4) Deciding on what to observe and appropriateappropriate

measures (once you have determinedmeasures (once you have determinedwhat behavior(s) you will observe.what behavior(s) you will observe.

►5) Conducting your study5) Conducting your study►6) Analyzing your results (summary of 6) Analyzing your results (summary of

your results and interpretation)your results and interpretation)►7) Reporting your results (prepare a 7) Reporting your results (prepare a

manuscript of your research).manuscript of your research).

Quantitative vs. Quantitative vs. Qualitative ResearchQualitative Research

Qualitative Qualitative QuantitativeQuantitative

The aim of qualitative analysis is a The aim of qualitative analysis is a complete detailed description.complete detailed description.

In quantitative research we classify In quantitative research we classify features, count them, and construct features, count them, and construct statistical models in an attempt to statistical models in an attempt to explain what is observed.explain what is observed.

The design emerges as the study The design emerges as the study unfoldsunfolds

All aspects of the study are carefully All aspects of the study are carefully designed before data is collected.designed before data is collected.

Researcher is the data gathering Researcher is the data gathering instrument.instrument.

Researcher uses tools (questionnaires Researcher uses tools (questionnaires or equipment) to collect data.or equipment) to collect data.

Data is in the form of words Data is in the form of words (interviews), pictures (video), or (interviews), pictures (video), or objects (artifacts).objects (artifacts).

Data is in the form of numbers and Data is in the form of numbers and statistics.statistics.

Qualitative data is more rich, time Qualitative data is more rich, time consuming, and less able to be consuming, and less able to be generalized.generalized.

Quantitative data is more efficient, Quantitative data is more efficient, able to test hypotheses, but may miss able to test hypotheses, but may miss contextual data.contextual data.