Best practice Research - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Best practice Research: social science

SEOW TA WEE,

Ph.DSlide2

Research?

the systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions

.

a ​detailed ​study of a ​subject, ​especially in ​order to ​discover (new) ​information or ​reach a (new) ​

understanding

research

is the systematic process of collecting and analysing information (data) in order to increase our understanding of the phenomenon with which we are concerned or interested. Slide3

Best Practice ?Encyclopaedia of Small Business. (Gale, 2017)

“

The phrase "best practices" or, in the singular, "best practice" is business jargon arising from the management tool known as "

benchmarking

." The assumption underlying this term is that production and management processes are uniform enough so that a "best practice" can be identified and then adopted more or less "as is" by another entity. Slide4

Best Practice ?Bretscheider

et al. (2005)

“

The term ‘best practice; implies that it is best

when compared to any alternative course of action

and that it is a practice designed to achieve some deliberative’Slide5

Encyclopaedia of management (2009)“in a general, sense, the term best practice refers to the most efficient way of doing something. The fastest method that uses the least resource (including labour and parts) to

create the highest quality of output

is the – best practice.

Best Practice ?Slide6

best practice research means?Practitioners require

skill in accessing systematic reviews

and weighing the

empirical evidence

according to the rigor of the research design.

Choosing an effective and appropriate intervention for a specific and appropriate intervention for a specific client or situation, requires a review of the evidence that support one theory-based intervention over another.

Research is the core of

evidence-based practice

. Slide7

What is social science research?

It is research involving social scientific methods, theories and concepts, which can enhance our understanding of the social processes and problems encountered by individuals and groups in society.

It is conducted by sociologists, psychologists, economists, political scientists and anthropologists.

It is

not

just common sense, based on facts without theory, using personal life

experience.Slide8

The limitations of empiricism

Though necessary, empiricism is not sufficient to build knowledge.

No array of statistical techniques can produce cumulative knowledge.

Empirical data become knowledge when refereed to theory for understanding.Slide9

Scientific research

A process of rigorous reasoning based on interaction among theories, methods and findings;

Builds on understanding derived from the objective testing of models or theories?

Accumulation of scientific knowledge is laborious, plodding, circuitous and indirect.

Scientific knowledge is developed and honed through critique contested findings, replication and convergence;

Scientific knowledge is developed through sustained efforts,

Scientific inquiry must be guided by fundamental principles.Slide10

Social science research is a scientific process

It involves the

systematic

collection of methods to produce knowledge.

It is

objective

.

It can tell you things you do not expect.

It consists of

theory

and observation.

Sometimes called

‘soft sciences’

because their subject matter (humans) are fluid and hard to measure precisely.

It is an

empirical research

– i.e. facts are assumed to exist prior to the theories that explain themSlide11

formulation of problem

Review the Environment or Context of the Research

Problem

Explore

the Nature of the

Problem

Define the Variable

Relationships

The Consequences of Alternative Courses of ActionSlide12

The formulation of the problem is often more essential then it’s solution, which may be merely a matter of mathematical or experimental skill. To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old question from a new a angle, requires creative imagination and marks real advance in science’ (Einstein &

Infeld

, 1938)

The research question must be asked in a way that allows for empirical investigation. Slide13

Objectives

A research objective is a

clear

,

concise

,

declarative statement

, which

provides direction

to investigate the variables

Generally research objective focus on the ways to

measure the variables

, such as to identify or describe them.

Sometime objective are directed towards

identifying the relationship

or

difference between two variable

.

Research objective are the

result sought

by the researcher at the end of the research process. (what are the researcher will be able to achieve at the end of the research study.

Objective should be

closely related to the statement of the problem

.Slide14

Research objectives is a concrete statement

describing what the research is trying to achieve. A well-worded objective will be

SMART

–

S

pecific,

M

easureable,

A

ttainable,

R

ealistic &

T

ime-bound

Objective is a purpose that can be

reasonably achieved

within the expected timeframe & with the available resources.Slide15

theoryTheories are

explanations of a natural or social behaviour, event or phenomenon

. More formally, a

scientific theory

is a

system of constructs

(concepts) and

proposition

(relationship between those constructs) that collectively presents a

logical, systematic, and coherent explanation

of a phenomenon of interest within some assumptions and boundary condition (Bacharach 1989)

Scientific research can be guided by a conceptual framework model, or theory that generates question to be asked or answers to the questions posed. Slide16

Three ways of thinking about theoryThat which underpins research design

Theory as

paradigm

That which may inform our understanding of the phenomenon under investigation

Theory as a ‘

lens

’

That which may emerge from our study

Theory as

new knowledge Slide17

Conceptual frameworkA written or visual presentation that:

“explains either graphically, or in narrative form, the main things to be studied – the key factors, concepts or variables - and the presumed relationship among them”

(Miles and

Huberman

, 1994, P18)Slide18

Conceptual frameworkQuantitative research

Typically developed after literature review

Provides the structure/content for the whole study based on literature and personal experience

Revisited at the conclusion of the study

Qualitative research

Initial framework after literature review

Further

developed as participants’ views and issues are gathered and analysed.Slide19

Models of social research1. Qualitative study

An inquiry which seeks to

understand social phenomena through the exploration and interpretation of

the meanings people attach to, and make sense of, their experiences of the social world “

Associated with the

Interpretive paradigm

Key principle:

Subjectivity/interpretation

Theory developed:

during

and/or

after

(‘a posteriori’) the study (theory

generation

)

Process:

InductiveSlide20

Models of social research2. Quantitative study

An inquiry based on testing a theory composed of variables, measured with numbers and analysed with statistical procedures, in order to determine whether the predictive generalisations of the theory hold

true.

Associated with:

Post/positivist paradigm

Key principle:

Objectivity

Theory stated:

before

(

‘a priori’

) the study (theory

verification

)

Process:

DeductiveSlide21

Models of social research3. Mixed-method study

Qualitative and quantitative strategies used in a single study

Concurrent:

Quantitative and qualitative strategies employed

in parallel

Sequential:

Qualitative

informs

quantitative (or

vice versa

)Slide22

What is Research Design?A research design provides the framework for the collection and analysis of data.

A choice of research design reflects decisions about the priority being given to a range of dimensions of the research process.

Involves research method.

Research method is simply a technique for collecting data. It can involve a specific instrument such as a self-completion questionnaire or a structured interview etc.Slide23

Tools of Research

The library and its resources

The computer and its software

Techniques of measurement

Statistics

Facility with

language

Tools

help your research methods.

How

familiar are you with

these tools

?Slide24

What do you need to think about when Designing Research?

What is the purpose of the research?

What are your units of analysis?

What are your points of focus?

What is the time dimension?

Designing

a research project:

conceptualisation

operationalisation

.

Reliability, replication and

validity?Slide25

Different Purposes of Research (1)

Exploratory

Goal is to generate many ideas.

Develop tentative theories and conjectures.

Become familiar with the basic facts, people and concerns involved.

Formulate questions and refine issues for future research.

Used when little is written on an issue.

It is the initial research.

Usually qualitative research.Slide26

Different Purposes of Research (2)

Descriptive research

Presents a profile of a group or describes a process, mechanism or relationship or presents basic background information or a context.

Used very often in applied research.

E.g.: General Household survey – describes demographic characteristics, economic factors and social trends.

Can be used to monitor changes in family structure and household composition.

Can also be used to gain an insight into the changing social and economic circumstances of population groups.

Often survey research.Slide27

Different Purposes of Research (3)

Analytical (or explanatory)

goes beyond simple description to model empirically the social phenomena under investigation.

It involves theory testing or elaboration of a theory.

Used mostly in basic researchSlide28

Different Purposes of Research (4)

Evaluation

characterised by the focus on collecting data to ascertain the effects of some form of planned change.

Used in applied research to evaluate a policy initiative or social programme to determine if it is working.

Can be small or large scale, e.g.: effectiveness of a crime prevention programme in a local housing estate. Slide29

Qualitative analysis

Content analysis

- analysis of the content of text.

Hermeneutic Analysis

- special type of content analysis where the researcher tries to ‘interpret’ the subjective meaning of a given text within its socio-historic context. Slide30

Quantitative Analysis

Descriptive Statistics

Inferential Statistics Slide31

My way in best practice research

Problem Statement

Objectives

Theoretical Framework

Methodology

ResultsSlide32

Other things to Note

Time dimension – cross-sectional or longitudinal

Conceptualisation – i.e. you must specify the meanings of the concepts and variables to be studied.

Operationalisation

– how will we actually measure the variables under study?

Reliability – are the results repeatable? – relevant to quantitative social research.

Replication - can others replicate the results?

Validity – will examine later but are the results a true reflection of the world? Internal (are they measuring the underlying

phenomena/external

(generalise to the population)Slide33

Ethical Issues

Informed Consent.

Respect for privacy.

Confidentiality and anonymity of data.

What is permissible to ask?

No harm to researchers or subjects.

No deceit or lying in the course of research.Slide34

Thank you …with love