Research Terms

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Research Terms Examples

• HON101
• September 4, 2007

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Paradigm / Worldview

• A set of interconnected or related beliefs
• The net that contains the researchers
  epistemological, ontological, and methodological
  premises
• Worldview or a basic set of beliefs or
  assumptions that guide their inquiries
• A way of breaking down the complexity of the world

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Example of paradigm / worldview

• Quantitative paradigm / worldview
• Reality is a physical and observable event
• Aim of research is to predict, explain, and
  generalize
• Researcher can and should be objective

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Epistemology

• Related assumptions about the acquisition or
  origins of knowledge
• The relationship of the researcher to that being
  researched
• Closely related with Ontology

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Example of an epistemology

• Subjectivism
• No one can interpret data for others
• Meaning is imported or brought into the study
• Used as a lens to promote understanding and
  liberation
• Other epistemologies include positivism and
  constructivism

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Ontology

• A set of related assumptions associated with
  explanations or questions about the nature or
  structure of reality or existence
• Explains the kind of being a human being is
  answers the question What is the nature of
  reality?
• Closely related with Epistemology

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Example of an ontology

• Positivism
• Optimistic notion that science leads to progress
• Facts as ultimate truths determined through
  measurement
• Another ontology would be Postpositivism

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Literature review / Theoretical framework

• Concepts and previous research that informs the
  phenomenon being studied
• Helps link the question(s) of the study to
  larger theoretical constructs

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Example of a literature review / theoretical
framework

• Topic Filipina women PhD students
• Literature review and theoretical framework
• Critical race theory
• Feminist theory
• Other possibilities
• Higher education theories

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Methodology

• The specific ways questions are examined
• The strategy, plan of action, process, or design
  behind the choice of particular methods
• How one conceptualizes the entire research
  process
• The guide or the rudder

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Example of a methodology

• Paradigm qualititative
• Topic Maori parenting skills
• Methodology
• Ethnography
• Access and gaining access
• Immersion and participant observation
• Thick description
• Cultural interpretation and representation

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Methods

• The techniques or procedures used to gather and
  analyze data
• The most concrete, specific part including
  specific steps

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Example of a method

• Paradigm quantitative
• Topic Gender differences in asking questions in
  classroom settings
• Method
• Observation notes / Tally sheet

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Other research-related terms

• Sample / Sampling
• Variables
• Hypotheses
• Reliability and Validity
• Ethics
• Interviews and Focus groups
• Data coding
• Statistics

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References

• Creswell, J. W. (2007). Qualitative inquiry
  research design Choosing among five approaches
  (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA Sage.
• Fraenkel, J. R. Wallen, N. E. (2006). How to
  design and evaluate research in education (6th
  ed.). Boston, MA McGraw-Hill.
• Jones, S. R., Torres, V., Arminio, J. (2006).
  Negotiating the complexities of qualitative
  research in higher education. New York
  Routledge.
• Kranzler, J. H. (2007). Statistics for the
  terrified (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ
  Pearson Prentice Hall.