Research 101: What is (Scientific) Research

1. Research 101: What is Research?
Harold Gamero

2. Study vs Research
Knowledge
Time
Study
Uptake of available
(preexistence) knowledge
Research
Production
of new knowledge
Individual
Collective Fields that are unknown are
objects of study. Fields that
are already known, offer
research topics.
(Maletta, 2009, p. 109)

3. What is research?
Answers for this question varies:
• Journalist: Polls and interviews
• Undergraduate students: Searches in Internet
• Consultants: Market research, benchmarking
• Graduated people: Collect info about a topic
But… none of this are scientific unless:
• They contribute to the body of scientific knowledge
• They fit into the cycle of science (+/- scientific method)

4. Process of science creation
•Methodic and
systematic process of
producing knowledge
based in the
scientific method.
Scientific
research
•Body of laws and
theories that explain
phenomena or
behaviors of interest.
Scientific
knowledge
•Organized and
systematic body of
scientific knowledge.
Science

5. Expand current knowledge
Basic
Research
Applied
Research
Wider scope & impact
Predict future phenomena
Curiosity-driven
Without commercial objectives
Appear in academic publications
Solve particular problems
Specific scope & impact
Solve or prevent future problems
Client-driven
Direct commercial objectives
Rarely published in journals
Answer fundamental questions Create products, services, processes
Leads to new products,
technologies and processes
Leads to new fundamental
questions

6. Cycle of science
Deductive
Inductive
Theoretical level
Empirical level
Theories and laws
Evidence and
observations

7. Cycle of science
Theories and laws
Evidence and
observations
Theoretical level
Empirical level
Develop theories
based on phenomena
and behaviors
Test theories with
empiric data (through
hypothesis)
Deductive
Inductive

8. Cycle of science
Theories and laws
Evidence and
observations
Theoretical level
Empirical level
1. Test theoretical
concepts and their
relationships.
2. Necessary when there
are many theories.
3. Requires
methodological skills.
4. They operate entirely
within the scientific
method dynamics.
1. Develop abstract
concepts and their
relationships.
2. Necessary when there
are not enough
theories.
3. Requires theoretical
skills.
4. Without much support
from the scientific
method.
Deductive
Inductive

9. Cycle of science
Theories and laws
Evidence and
observations
Theoretical level
Empirical level
Deductive = Quantitative?
Qualitative = Inductive?

10. Scientific method
Problem
identification
Hypothesis
formulation
Data collection
Data analysis
Conclusion
(hypothesis)
Based on current and
relevant scientific literature
With a proper
theorical foundation
Must follow accepted
methodological
procedures
With the support of
statistical programs
Within the
correspondent
statistical criteria

11. Thank you.
Harold Gamero