class: middle background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,#LTU_logo.jpg) background-position: top left background-size: 30% # STM1001 [Topic 1B](https://bookdown.org/a_shaker/STM1001_Topic_1B_Sci/1-1-smoking-study.html) Readings ## Research: An introduction ### La Trobe University This presentation complements the [Topic 1B readings](https://bookdown.org/a_shaker/STM1001_Topic_1B_Sci/1-1-smoking-study.html) --- # Topic 1B: Research: An introduction ## In this week's readings: * identify quantitative and qualitative research, * identify the steps in the quantitative research process. --- # The purpose of research Everyone in science-based disciplines must know the language, tools, concepts and ideas of research: research is the foundation of science. $$$$ -- .content-box-blue[ ***Research seeks to confirm, refute or extend previous findings, and potentially reveal new findings*** ] $$$$ -- Scientific research formally answers questions that arise by observing the world using data; that is, science requires evidence-based answers. While analysis of the data is often viewed as the hardest part of research, sometimes the hardest part is knowing what data to collect, and how to collect it (that is, the study design). We study both the study design and the analysis of data in this subject. --- # Evidence-based research 'Evidence-based research' refers to research conclusions based on *evidence*, rather than researchers' hunches, feelings, intuition, hopes, or traditional practice. Research conclusions are based on **evidence**, which comes from analysing the collected **data**. $$$$ -- .content-box-blue[ ***Definition 1.1 (Data)*** Data refers to information (observations or measurements) obtained from a study, as numbers, labels, or text. ] $$$$ -- .content-box-blue[ ***Definition 1.2 (Data set)*** A *data set* refers to a structured collection of data from a study. ] --- # Using software in research Many people use spreadsheets (such as Microsoft Excel) for analysis of data in research. Using spreadsheets requires extreme care; many extremely expensive and dangerous errors have been made due to using spreadsheets, including problems when reporting the [2020 COVID-19 pandemic](https://www.zdnet.com/article/excel-errors-microsofts-spreadsheet-may-be-hazardous-to-your-health/). -- * Spreadsheets can *automatically change the entered data*, -- * Spreadsheets may include *formulas with errors*, -- * Spreadsheets *do not leave a record* of how the data have been analysed or prepared, -- * Excel has *bugs* [Keeling and Pavur 2004](https://bookdown.org/a_shaker/STM1001_Topic_1B_Sci/1-4-Software-In-Research.html#ref-keeling2004numerical). -- Statistical software packages such as **R**, **jamovi**, and **SPSS** can help us to avoid such problems: -- * They are designed for large data sets, -- * They allow for [ reproducible research](https://bookdown.org/pkaldunn/Book/academic-integrity.html#ReproducibleResearch), -- * They allow for a high level of precision in formatting and data visualisation, -- * With a little bit of programming, these software packages can be extremely powerful. --- # The components of research The research process typically follows the process <img src="data:image/png;base64,#images/capture.jpg" width="35%" height="35%" style="display: block; margin: auto;" /> We will be learning more about each of these steps throughout this subject. Go to [Week 1](https://bookdown.org/a_shaker/STM1001_Topic_1B_Sci/1-6-the-components-of-research.html) to learn more about the above steps. --- # Types of research Research is a formal, evidence-based approach to learning or creating new information. Broadly speaking, the two main types of research are **qualitative** and **quantitative** research. -- <img src="data:image/png;base64,#images/capture1.jpg" width="80%" height="80%" style="display: block; margin: auto;" /> --- # Types of research **Qualitative research** leads to a deeper understanding of what is being studied, usually about a very narrowly-defined group. Meanings, motivations, opinions or themes often emerge from qualitative research. -- **Quantitative research** summarises and analyses data using *numerical methods*, such as *averages* and *percentages*. Typically, information from a subset of the population (a sample) is used to infer information about a larger group (a population) in quantitative research. -- .content-box-blue[ ***Definition 1.3 (Quantitative research)*** Quantitative research summarises and analyses data using numerical methods, such as producing averages and percentages. ] --- # Example (Types of research) Suppose we wish to learn about why people do or do not buy electric cars (for example, see [Egbue and Long (2012)](https://bookdown.org/a_shaker/STM1001_Topic_1B_Sci/1-7-TypesOfResearch.html#ref-egbue2012barriers)). A **qualitative research** study might: * Interview a small group of people who have bought electric cars, * Interview another small group of people who have bought non-electric cars. -- A **quantitative research** study might survey a large number of buyers of electric and non-electric cars, and ask the buyers' age, sex, and type of car purchased. The survey responses could be analysed by numerically summarising the ages and sex of car buyers, looking for relationships between age and whether an electric car was purchased, and reporting the percentage of respondents who select each of the five options of concerns about buying electric cars. --- name: menti class: middle background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,#menti.jpg) background-size: 115% # Have questions? ## Ask your computer lab demonstrator ## or discuss with your peers --- class: middle <font color = "grey"> These notes have been prepared by Illia Donhauzer. They are based on material written by Peter K. Dunn. Unless otherwise stated, material within this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-Share Alike License <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/">CC BY-NC-SA </a> </font>