Research Method - Objective of scientific research, characteristics of scientific research, nature and types of variables

1. Reseach Method
Objective and Characteristics
of Scientific research
Nature and types of variables
made by
psychologist
stella

2. Objective of Scientific
Research

3. Objective
 Research objective means “declarative statements
that focus on the identification and the
description of variables or concepts and
sometimes on determination of relationships of
variables”
 In general, research objectives describe what
we expect to achieve by a project.
 Research objectives are usually expressed in lay
terms and are directed as much to the client as to
the researcher. Research objectives may be linked
with a hypothesis or used as a statement of
purpose in a study that does not have a
hypothesis.

4. Objective
 Objectives should be closely related to the
statement of the problem.
 The general objective of a study states what
researchers expect to achieve by the study in general
terms.
 It is possible (and advisable) to break down a general
objective into smaller, logically connected parts.
These are normally referred to as specific
objectives.

5. Why should research
objectives be developed?
 The formulation of objectives will help you to:
 Focus the study (narrowing it down to essentials);
 Avoid the collection of data which are not strictly
necessary for understanding and solving the problem
you have identified; and
 Organise the study in clearly defined parts or phases.
Properly formulated, specific objectives will facilitate the
development of your research methodology and will
help to orient the collection, analysis, interpretation
and utilisation of data.

6. How should you state your
objectives?
 Take care that the objectives of your study:
 Cover the different aspects of the problem and its contributing factors in
a coherent way and in a logical sequence;
 Are clearly phrased in operational terms, specifying exactly what you
are going to do, where, and for what purpose;
 Are realistic considering local conditions; and
 Use action verbs that are specific enough to be evaluated.
Examples of action verbs are: to determine, to compare, to verify, to
calculate, to describe, and to establish. Avoid the use of vague non-
action verbs such as: to appreciate, to understand, or to study.
Keep in mind that when the project is evaluated, the results will be
compared to the objectives. If the objectives have not been spelled out
clearly, the project cannot be evaluated.

7. Characteristics of Scientific
Research

8. Characteristics
 We have argued that science is the preferred way
to obtain reliable and valid knowledge about
the natural world. In order to produce reliable and
justified knowledge, the scientific process relies on
several important characteristics.
1. Controlled: – in exploring causality in relation to two
variables, the study must be set in a way to minimise the
effects of other factors affecting the relationship.
2. Rigorous – be scrupulous in ensuring that the procedures
followed to find answers to questions are relevant,
appropriate and justified.

9. Characteristics
3. Systematic – the procedures adopted to undertake an
investigation follow a certain logical sequence ... Different
steps cannot be taken in a hazardous way.
4. Valid and verifiable – whatever is concluded on the basis of
the findings must be correct and can be verified by the
researcher and others.
5. Empirical – any conclusions drawn are based upon hard
evidence gathered from information collected from real-life
experiences or observations.
6. Critical – critical scrutiny of the procedures used and the
methods employed.

10. Characteristics
1. Solution of a problem : –.
2. Based upon empirical or observable
evidence:-
3. Involves precise observation and accurate
description:-
4. Research gives emphasis to the
development of theories, principles and
generalizations:-
5. Research is characterized by systematic,
objective and logical procedures:-

11. Characteristics
6. Researcher have patience and courage to
think over the problem and find out the
correct solution.
7. Researcher have full expertise of the
problem being studied.
8. Research is replicable.
9. Research requires skill of writing and
reproducing the report.

12. Nature & Types of Variables

13. Variable
 Scientists somewhat loosely call the constructs or
properties the study “Variables.”
 Examples of important variables in sociology,
psychology and education are: gender, income,
education, social class, organizational
productivity, occupational mobility, level of
aspiration, verbal aptitude, anxiety, religious
affiliation, political preference, ego strength,
task orientation, conformity, intelligence,
achievement.
 A variable is anything that can vary, i.e. changed
or be changed, such as memory, attention, time
taken to perform a task, etc.

14. Variable
 It can be said that a variable is a property that takes on
different values. A variable is a symbol to which
numerals or values are assigned.
 Some of the variables used in behavioral research are
true dichotomies- that is they are characterized by the
presence or absence of a property: male-female,
employed-unemployed.
 Some variables are polytomies. Example:________.
 Most variables however, are theoretically capable on
continuous values. It has been common practice in
behavioral research to convert continuous variable,
to dichotomies or polytomies. Example: __________

15. Types of Variables
 Variables can be classified in several ways.
Three kinds of variables are very important.
1. Independent and dependent variables.
2. Active and attribute variables.
3. Continuous and categorical variables.

16. Independent & Dependent
 This categorization is highly useful because of its general
applicability, simplicity, and importance in conceptualizing
and designing research and in communicating the results of
research.
 An independent variable is the presumed cause of the
dependent variable, the presumed effect. The independent
variable is the antecedent; the dependent is the consequent.
 The term “Independent variable” and “dependent variable”
come from mathematics.
 In experiments the independent variables is the
manipulated by the experimenter.
 The dependent variable, of course, is the variable
predicted to, whereas the independent variable is
predicted from.

17. Active& Attribute
 Manipulated variables will be called active
variables; Measured variables will be called
attribute variables.
 Any variable that is manipulated, then, is an
active variable. Any variable that cannot be
manipulated is an attribute variable.

18. Continuous& Categorical
 A continuous variable is capable of taking
on a ordered set of values within a certain
range. The continuous values of a
continuous variable reflect at least a rank
order, a large value of the variable meaning
more of the property in question than a
smaller value.
 Categorical variable, as I will call, belong
to a kind of measurement called nominal.

19. Extraneous variables
 When we conduct experiments there are other
variables that can affect our results, if we do not
control them. The researcher wants to make sure that it
is the manipulation of the independent variable that
has changed the changes in the dependent variable.
 Hence, all the other variables that could affect the
dependent variable to change must be controlled. These
other variables are called extraneous or confounding
variables.
 Extraneous variables – These are all variables, which
are not the independent variable, but could affect the
results (e.g. dependent variable) of the experiment.

20. Extraneous variables
 Extraneous variables should be controlled were possible. They
might be important enough to provide alternative
explanations for the effects.

21. Others variables
 Confounding variable: extra variables that have a hidden effect on
your experimental results.
 Control variable: a factor in an experiment which must be held
constant. For example, in an experiment to determine whether light
makes plants grow faster, you would have to control for soil quality
and water.
 Discrete variable: a variable that can only take on a certain number
of values. For example, “number of cars in a parking lot” is discrete
because a car park can only hold so many cars.
 A measurement variable has a number associated with it. It’s an
“amount” of something, or a”number” of something.
 Nominal variable: another name for categorical variable.
 Ordinal variable: similar to a categorical variable, but there is a
clear order. For example, income levels of low, middle, and high
could be considered ordinal.

22. Others variables
 Qualitative variable: a broad category for any variable that
can’t be counted (i.e. has no numerical value). Nominal and
ordinal variables fall under this umbrella term.
 Quantitative variable: A broad category that includes any
variable that can be counted, or has a numerical value
associated with it. Examples of variables that fall into this
category include discrete variables and ratio variables.
 Random variables are associated with random processes and
give numbers to outcomes of random events.
 A ranked variable is an ordinal variable; a variable where
every data point can be put in order (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.).
 Ratio variables: similar to interval variables, but has a
meaningful zero