In at least 300 words, reply to the original poster. You must use at least two scholarly journals to support your response. You must also use at least one reference from the New International Version Bible. All citations must be in APA 7th Edition format with both in-text citations and a References page. Journals must be from within the past 5 years. You must also use the attached text as a reference.
Original Poster (James Adams)
Describe the primary goal of scientific research.
Scientific research is designed to help us make sense of the world and the behavior of individuals or groups around us. “Scientific research is designed to make descriptive or explanatory inferences on the basis of empirical information about the world.” (King, Keohane, & Verba, 1994, p. 7) Scientific research is just that, “scientific” following a systematic process for study and rigorous testing to ensure our study contributes to knowledge of mankind. Dr. Munson adds that our goal should be “to produce high quality research” (Munson, 2024, :57) that will contribute to knowledge base.
Explain the crucial differences between the experimental, statistical, and comparative method (according to Lijphart)
In the experimental model, we find very scientific methods that have controlled environments with experiment groups and control groups. The experiment tests and compares each group to test theories based on variables. The statistical method “entails the conceptual (mathematical) manipulation of empirically observed data, which cannot be manipulated situationally as in experimental design, in order to discover controlled relationships among variables.” (Lijphart, 1971, p. 684) The comparative model uses the same logic as the experimental method … resembles the statistical method in all respects except one. The crucial difference is that the number of cases it deals with is too small to permit systematic control by means of partial correlations.” (Lijphart, 1971, p. 684) Lijphart refers to the comparative model as the weaker model. “The comparative method is not the equivalent of the experimental method but only a very imperfect substitute. A clear awareness of the limitations of the comparative method is necessary but need not be disabling, because, as we shall see, these weaknesses can be minimized.” (Lijphart, 1971, p. 685)
What is the “logic of inference”? Why do King, Keohane, and Verba spend time discussing this logic?
The logic of inference is a methodological approach to understanding data, either quantitative or qualitative to form conclusion that allowing for causal and descriptive inferences that we may gain knowledge of an external world. (King, Keohane, & Verba, 1994)
King, Keohane, and Verba devote much of Chapter 1 rationalizing the logic of inference is applicable to qualitative research just as well as quantitative research. While quantitative research uses measurements and statistics that are represented by numerical values, qualitative research uses narrative data gathered through interviews, historical documents, or case studies. It tends to be more in textual form that focuses on understanding the construction, interpretation, and impact of particular written texts. (McIlwain, Dietrich, & Benson, 2006, 8:37).
King, Keohane, and Verba acknowledge the rift among the social scientists regarding quantitative and qualitative methods and their rationalization argument is that both are scientific and have an equal place in research design. They also content that “the same logic of inference underlies the best qualitative research, and all qualitative and quantitative researchers would benefit by more explicit attention to this logic in the course of designing research.” (King, Keohane, & Verba, 1994, p. 3)
Explain the major components of research design
King, Keohane, and Verba layout the components of research as:
Research Question. The research question is a critical part of research design and provides a foundation for what will guide the researcher. King, Keohane, and Verba stated that “a research project should pose a question that is ‘important’ in the real world.” (King, Keohane, & Verba, 1994, p. 15). To make the research meaningful, it must have some impact on people’s social or political lives at the individual, local, or national level. Additionally, the research question must “make a specific contribution to an identifiable scholarly literature by increasing our collective ability to construct verified scientific explanations of some aspect of the world.” (King, Keohane, & Verba, 1994, p. 15). The question should be constructed in such a way that it allows for empirical research guided by scientific studies and not insight.
Theory. “A social science theory is a reasoned and precise speculation about the answer to a research question, including a statement about why the proposed answer is correct.” (King, Keohane, & Verba, 1994, p. 19). The authors emphasize that it is a systematic approach and tie the discussion of research design back to the logic of inference argument above. Part of theory is the discovery of the research topic. “we cannot develop a theory without knowledge of prior work on the subject and the collection of some data, since even the research question would be unknown.” (King, Keohane, & Verba, 1994, p. 19) We must structure our study in such a way using empirical research that will allow us to confirm or reject the theory. Dr. Munson’s video encourages us to “use powerful counter arguments” (Munson, 2024, 10:19)
Data. “Data are systematically collected elements of information about the world. They can be qualitative or quantitative in style.” (King, Keohane, & Verba, 1994, p. 23) Dr. Munson states that data “could consist of historical documents, numeric datasets, survey results, interview data, etc.” (Munson, 2024, 10:19) King, Keohane, & Verba provide several guidelines for improving the data quality such as collecting as much data as possible to best evaluate a theory. “All research should attempt to achieve as much replicability as possible: scholars should always record the exact methods, rules, and procedures used to gather information and draw inferences.” (King, Keohane, & Verba, 1994, p. 27)
Use of Data. King, Keohane, & Verba state “we should use data to generate inferences that are “unbiased,” that is, correct on average.” (King, Keohane, & Verba, 1994, p. 27) and should be consistent across multiple datasets. This component is consistent without regard to quantitative and qualitative designs, it remains consistent that data should be replicable as possible leading to likely causations of the theory.
What plays the “leading role” in determining which research design is appropriate for your project?
Deciding which research design to use depends on the nature of the research question and availability of data. The leading role would be the question the study seeks to answer and create an inference. “Scientific research is designed to make descriptive or explanatory inferences on the basis of empirical information about the world.” (King, Keohane, & Verba, 1994, p. 7) Certain studies may only have certain forms of data available forcing you into one method over another. “Certain types of social research problems call for specific approaches.” (Creswell and Creswell, 2023, p. 21) Creswell and Creswell also state there are multiple inputs to just deciding among the methods and that we must “add to worldview, design, and methods the research problem, the personal experiences of the researcher, and the audience(s) for the report.” (Creswell and Creswell, 2023, p. 20) Voigt’s study found that “tradition” was a main method of selecting methods, “this is how researchers in my field have always approached this kind of problem.” (Voigt, 2008, p. 9)
How do research design decisions determine the potential impact of research projects?
Consciously selecting research methods is also crucial for researchers who would conduct innovative research. (Voigt, 2008, p. 1) These early decisions can influence validity, reliability, generalizability, depth of understanding, relevance to policy and practice, ethical integrity, and potential for innovation. Does the method really answer the research question in such a way that compels the audience to accept the theory? “Selecting among design options and then crafting the details of a research design requires great deliberation.” (Voigt, 2008, p. 3) These early decisions will impact the coding and measurements as well as the analysis plan.
References
Creswell, John W, and J. David Creswell. Research Design Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approach. Sage Publications, 2023. https://www.vlebooks.com/vleweb/product/openreader?id=none&isbn=9781071817964.
King, Gary, Robert O Keohane, and Sidney Verba. Designing Social Inquiry. Princeton University Press, 1994. http://portal.igpublish.com/iglibrary/search/PUPB0000722.html.
Lijphart, Arend. “Comparative Politics and the Comparative Method” 65, no. 3. The American Political Science Review 65 (1971): 682–693. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1955513.
McIlwain, Charlton, Erich Dietrich, and Rodney Benson. Qualitative Research: Methods in the Social Sciences. Sage Research Methods, n.d.
Munson, Becky. Scientific Research & Research Design. Lynchburg, Virginia: Liberty University, 2024.
Paul Vogt, W. “The Dictatorship of the Problem: Choosing Research Methods” 3, no. 1. Methodological Innovations Online 3 (n.d.): 1–17. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.4256/mio.2008.0006.
