Introduction to research methods

1. 1 Introduction to research methods 3: Validity types

2. Foundations of research • Validity • the best available approximation to the truth* of a given proposition, inference, or conclusion (*allows for criticism –this is where we come in) • What you wish to say within a study (& therefore the kinds of validity you are going to claim) depends on the type of study you are conducting 1

3. Foundations of research 3 2 1

4. Foundations of research • Validity 1 3 Operationalization 2 4

5. Foundations of research • Validity • For each validity type there are typical threats, and ways to reduce them (we deal with these in later weeks) • This gives us a framework within which to critique the overall validity of our (or any other) study 1

6. Foundations of research • Ethics • Protect participants vs. Deprive others of knowledge • A tricky balance • One problem is that we are notoriously untrustworthy as a species (see Milgram, Tuskagee, Stanford prison experiments on web), suggesting the need for strong ethical procedures • Another is that strong ethical procedures can deprive individuals of free will 1

7. Foundations of research • Ethics • Institutional Review Boards • Informed Consent • these are the ways we currently constrain our practices to keep them “ethical” 1

8. Foundations of research • Conceptualizing research • How do you get started/develop and idea/formulate a research plan/conceptualize and area of research? • All this is really for those who wish to conduct research • For now, I’d rather focus on a framework for understanding and critiquing the research that already exists – we’ll get to the doing stage if time allows (for now, assume that the tried and tested method of asking a faculty member for a question is the best method)