Rickly MacNealy Ch 1 & 3 notes

Chapter 1
1-2
WW II impact on writing
manuals needed for proper operation of gear
influx of GIs into higher ed

4
Rsrch improves communication, builds image of a discipline

6
library based research:
efforts in personal/institutional libraries

empirical:
describes/measures observable pheonomena in a systematic way
planned in advance

8
Empirical often reports method; library doesn't
empirical conducts own research; library compares other people's research

Lore: knowledge that works

11
theory: a belief that is basis for actions
foundational
provides connections/explanations
links mental constructs & observable phenomena
stimulates research
an effective foundation for solving problems

12
research stimluated by 4 kinds of dissonance
clash between beliefs
expectations violated
gap in knowledge
unnotice connections between 2 phenomena


Chapter 3
35
empirical research: "recorded observations of events"

36
ER's biggest advantage: power to persuade


Biggest Disadvantages to ER
36-37
Distrust of numbers/ "numbers can lie"
counter: reduce amount of numbers used
counter: reproducible studies

37
Distrust of researchers/ "find what they're looking for"
38 counter: describe methodology
counter: display awareness of potential bias

38-9
Distrust of Empirical Methods/ "not real world"
counter: use caveats & hedges

39
High costs: time & money
counter: plan carefully
counter: if results counter-intuitive, reexamine them


40-41
Essential characteristics of Empirical Research
planned in advance
data are collected systematically
collected data produces a boddy of evidence that others can examine


41
Purposes & Design principles
Empirical Research oft focuses on these questions:
what details best describe some thing, person, group
qualitative usually used
to what degree are 2 phenomena related
quantitative usually used & qual may be useful
is there a causal relationship

41-42
when collecting/measuring data, remember 2 things
all instruments of measurement are imprecise
control confounding variables

Empirical Research's common categories
42
qualitative: interviews, ethnographeis
43
quantitative
Classification by Data source:
44 Historical studies: work with archives
44 Descriptive studies: preserve natural setting
45-46 Experimental studies: control variables; compare control w/tested group
46-47 meta analysis: integrate data from multiple researchers

Classification by Research Purpose
47-48 Basic research: curiosity; long range goals
48 Applied research: question of immediate concern in a specific area
48 Evaluative: evaluate a procedure or product
49 developmental/instrumental research: build/develop new product
49 action research: find answers while influencing subjects @ same time