Script for Research Clarification

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Earl R. Babbie is a well-known sociologist and author who has contributed

significantly to research methodology. There are

1. Purpose of the Study

 What it is: The purpose of the study refers to the reason you are
conducting the research. It’s the “why” behind the research—whether
to explore a new idea, explain something, or solve a problem.
 Why it matters: Knowing the purpose helps guide the entire research
process and ensures that the research stays focused and relevant.

2. Conceptualization

 What it is: Conceptualization is the process of defining the key ideas

or concepts that will be studied. For example, if you're studying
"student success," you need to define what "success" means in this
context (e.g., good grades, graduation rate, etc.).
 Why it matters: Clear definitions help ensure that everyone involved
in the study understands the concepts the same way, avoiding
confusion or misinterpretation.
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3. Choice of Research Method

 What it is: This refers to deciding how you’ll collect and analyze your
data. The two main methods are qualitative (e.g., interviews,
observations) and quantitative (e.g., surveys, experiments).
 Why it matters: The choice of method depends on the research
questions and the type of data needed. For example, qualitative
methods are great for exploring complex social phenomena, while
quantitative methods are better for measuring things or testing
hypotheses.

4. Operationalization

 What it is: Operationalization is the process of turning abstract

concepts into measurable variables. For example, if you're studying
"happiness," you might operationalize it as "the number of times a
person smiles in a week."
 Why it matters: By making abstract concepts measurable,
researchers can study them in a systematic way.
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5. Population and Sampling

 What it is: The population is the entire group you're interested in

studying (e.g., all high school students). Sampling refers to selecting a
smaller group (sample) from that population to represent it.
 Why it matters: You can’t study everyone, so you select a sample
that accurately represents the larger population, ensuring the findings
can be generalized.

6. Observation and data processing

 What it is: Observation is the act of watching and recording behaviors

or phenomena as they occur in real life, either directly or through some
form of data collection like surveys or interviews. Data processing in
research is the process of taking raw data and converting it into a
usable format for analysis and decision-making
 Why it matters: Observation allows researchers to gather real-world
data and understand how people behave in their natural environment.
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8. Analysis and Application

Once data is collected, it needs to be organized and analyzed to find

patterns or draw conclusions.

 What it is: This refers to how the findings of the study are used. The
results might inform policies, guide future research, or provide insights
into a particular social issue.
 Why it matters: The application of research ensures that the study
has a real-world impact, whether through practical use or furthering
knowledge in the field.

In summary, Babbie’s approach to research emphasizes a systematic and

clear process, starting with a well-defined purpose and leading to the
practical application of research findings. Each of these steps helps ensure
that the research is rigorous, meaningful, and useful.
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(a) Decide When and How Often to Collect Data

 What it means: This is about figuring out the best times to gather
your data and how often you should collect it. For example, if you're
studying how students’ moods change throughout the school year, you
might decide to collect data every month.
 Why it matters: Timing affects the reliability of your data. You want
to ensure that the data you collect represents the entire situation
you’re studying, not just a snapshot from one point in time.

(b) Develop or Select Measures for Each Variable for

Which Data is Collected

 What it means: For each thing you're studying (called a "variable"),

you need to decide how you're going to measure it. For instance, if
you're studying "stress," you might measure it by asking people to rate
their stress level on a scale from 1 to 10.
 Why it matters: Clear and appropriate measures help ensure that
your data is consistent and meaningful. You need to be sure that the
way you measure each variable accurately captures what you're trying
to study.

(c) Identify a Sample or Test Population

 What it means: A sample is a smaller group of people chosen from a

larger population. For example, if you want to study how teens use
social media, you might choose a sample of 100 teens to represent the
broader population of all teens.
 Why it matters: You can’t study everyone, so choosing a sample that
accurately reflects the population is key to making sure your results
can apply to the larger group.

(d) Choose a Strategy for Contacting Subjects

 What it means: This is about deciding how you will reach the people
you're studying, whether it's through interviews, phone calls, emails, or
surveys.
  Why it matters: The method you choose affects how easily you can
collect data and how reliable the responses will be. For example,
surveys sent by email might reach more people, but in-person
interviews might give you deeper insights.

(e) Plan the Data Analysis

 What it means: This is deciding ahead of time how you’ll look at the
data to answer your research question. For example, if you collected
survey responses, you might plan to use statistical software to see if
there’s a pattern in how people answer certain questions.
 Why it matters: Planning ahead for data analysis ensures that you’ll
be able to draw meaningful conclusions from the data and answer your
research questions effectively.

(f) Present the Findings

 What it means: After analyzing the data, you need to share what you
found. This might be in the form of a written report, a presentation, or
a research paper.
 Why it matters: Presenting the findings clearly helps others
understand the results and how they relate to the research question.
It’s also how you can share your insights with the broader community
or stakeholders.

In summary, these steps guide you through planning, collecting, and

analyzing data in a structured way, ensuring that the research process is
organized and that the findings are meaningful and useful.

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1. Designs for Description

 What it means: These designs focus on describing a situation or

phenomenon as it is. The goal is to gather information and provide a
detailed picture of what is happening without trying to explain why it
happens or how it works.
 Example: If you want to know how many students at a school use
smartphones, you would collect data about the number of students
with smartphones and their ages, types of phones, etc., but you
wouldn’t try to explain why they use them or how it affects their
behavior.
 Why it matters: Descriptive designs help researchers get a clear
snapshot of the "what"—what is happening, what people think, or what
trends exist in a particular group or area.

2. Designs for Explanation

 What it means: These designs aim to explain why or how something

happens. The goal is to understand the cause-and-effect
relationships between different variables or events.
 Example: If you want to know why students use smartphones, you
might look into factors like social influence, convenience, or academic
needs, and analyze how these factors influence smartphone usage.
 Why it matters: Explanatory designs help researchers understand
the reasons or causes behind what they observe, providing deeper
insights into the relationships between variables.

Both types of designs are important in research, but while descriptive

designs help gather information, explanatory designs help uncover deeper
insights and causes.
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John Cresswell is a well-known scholar in the field of research methodology,

particularly in the social sciences. He has developed frameworks to guide
researchers in designing studies, particularly in understanding how
philosophical beliefs influence research decisions.

1. Philosophical Worldviews

 What it means: Philosophical worldviews refer to the basic beliefs or

assumptions that guide a researcher’s approach to research. These
beliefs influence how a researcher sees the world, what they believe is
true, and how they approach knowledge.
 Why it matters: These worldviews shape how researchers think
about the world and what kind of research they will do, influencing
their choices in research methods and strategies.

 2. Strategies of Inquiry

 What it means: The strategy of inquiry refers to the general approach

a researcher takes to investigate a problem or phenomenon. These
strategies are broader approaches to conducting research that align
with a particular worldview.
 Why it matters: The strategy of inquiry helps researchers decide the
approach that will best help them answer their research questions
based on their worldview and the nature of the problem.

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3. Research Methods

 What it means: Research methods are the specific techniques used

to collect and analyze data. These methods are the "tools" that
researchers use within their chosen strategy of inquiry.
 Why it matters: The choice of research method determines how data
is collected and analyzed, and helps researchers address the research
question in the most effective way.

In Summary:

 Philosophical worldviews influence the researcher’s beliefs about

reality and knowledge, shaping their approach to research.
 Strategies of inquiry describe the broad approach to conducting
research (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods).
 Research methods are the specific techniques used to gather and
analyze data.

Cresswell’s approach helps researchers choose the best tools for their
research, depending on their worldview, the type of data they need, and the
questions they want to answer.

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These three definitions of research design all emphasize different aspects

of planning and organizing a research study.
1. Babbie (2004): "Research design is a plan that involves
a set of decisions regarding what topic is to be studied
among which population with which research methods for
what purpose"

 What it means: Babbie’s definition focuses on the essential choices

you make when planning a research study. The "plan" involves:
o Topic: What you're going to study (e.g., the effects of social
media on youth).
o Population: The group of people or things you’ll focus on (e.g.,
teenagers, college students, people in a particular city).
o Research methods: The techniques you'll use to collect and
analyze data (e.g., surveys, experiments, interviews).
o Purpose: Why you're studying it—what you hope to achieve with
the research (e.g., understanding, explanation, prediction).
 Why it matters: This approach highlights that research design is a
deliberate and thoughtful process where all these elements work
together to guide the study and ensure you gather useful data to
answer your research question.

2. O’Sullivan, Rassel, and Berner (2007): "Research

designs are described as blueprints for the final research
product"

 What it means: This definition compares research design to a

blueprint—like an architect’s plan for a building. It provides a detailed
plan for how the research will be carried out, guiding the steps and
methods used to gather data and draw conclusions.
o Just like a blueprint outlines the structure of a building, a
research design outlines the steps and structure of the research
project.
o A good blueprint ensures that the final product (the research
study) will be well-organized, reliable, and effective.
 Why it matters: This metaphor emphasizes that research design is a
comprehensive plan that shapes every aspect of the research,
ensuring that the study is structured and focused, leading to valid and
useful findings.
3. Creswell (2008): "Research design is a plan to conduct
research"

 What it means: Creswell’s definition is simpler and more direct. It

defines research design as a plan for conducting the research study,
from beginning to end. This plan will guide How data is collected, How
data is analyzed and How findings will be interpreted and presented.
 Why it matters: Creswell’s approach focuses on actionable steps—
research design is not just theoretical, but a practical plan that
researchers follow in order to carry out their work effectively.

In Summary:

 Babbie emphasizes that research design is a set of decisions that

guide the study, from the topic to the methods and purpose.
 O’Sullivan, Rassel, and Berner describe research design as a
blueprint, guiding all steps of the research to ensure it’s well-
structured and effective.
 Creswell highlights that research design is a plan that outlines how
the research will be conducted.

Together, these definitions show that research design is the foundation of a

study, shaping how the research is carried out, ensuring that it’s organized,
systematic, and aligned with the research objectives.
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