HOW TO DESIGN A RESEARCH PROJECT

HOW TO DESIGN A RESEARCH PROJECT

INTEREST ? Y

Y ?

CONCEPTUALIZATION Specify the meaning of the concepts and variables to be studied

IDEA X A

? ?

THEORY Y B

CHOICE OF RESEARCH METHOD Experiments Survey research Field research

OPERATIONALIZATION How will we actually measure the variables under study?

Content analysis

A

B C

E D

F X

Y

POPULATION AND SAMPLING Whom do we want to be able to draw conclusions about? Who will be observed for that purpose?

Existing data research Comparative research Evaluation research

OBSERVATIONS Collecting data for analysis and interpretation

DATA PROCESSING Transforming the data collected into a form appropriate to manipulation and analysis

ANALYSIS Analyzing data and drawing conclusions

APPLICATION Reporting results and assessing their implications

FIGURE 4-6 The Research Process. Here are some of the key elements that we’ll be examining throughout this book: the pieces that make up the whole of social research.

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