2015
AP® Research Student Workbook
Activity Slides
2015
2015
Big Idea 1: Question and Explore —
Aligning Inquiry Approach and
Method
Approach: Exploratory, Explanatory,
or Create
2015
►
Explore a phenomenon/event/thing and look for themes,
variables, and trends
►
Explain connections between and patterns within
phenomena, events, variables
►
Create or design a solution to a problem
3
Design: Experimental or
Non-experimental
2015
►
Both designs must be explicit and clear so as to be
reproducible.
►
Experimental design usually involves pre-test, post-test,
identifying correlations between variables, random
assignment, control groups etc.
►
Non experimental design does not include a large
measure of control
4
Research Method: Qualitative,
Quantitative, or Mixed
►
Purposes of qualitative vs. quantitative
►
What data/information to collect
► Primary or secondary
► Qualitative, quantitative, or mixed
►
How to collect the data
►
How to interpret/analyze the data
5
2015
When in Doubt, Check the Course
and Exam Description
► Based
on the research question or project goal,
methods of data collection may be qualitative,
may be quantitative, or could include a
combinative of both.
► Students MUST know how to choose which
method to govern their research and provide
effective rationale for why that method is
appropriate/aligned as opposed to others.
7
2015
Comparing Qualitative and
Quantitative Purposes
Quantitative
Qualitative
Focus is on objectivity
Explanatory
Focus is on interpretation
Descriptive/Exploratory
Data is counted/measured (i.e. uses
numbers). It tends to come from lots of
people.
Data is descriptive often textual.
It tends to focus on a specific case or
cases.
Pre-organised data categories
Open and flexible – data categories
emerge through the process.
Focus on “facts” and the relationship
between one set of facts and another
Focus on meanings
Aims to find generalizable conclusions
8
Aims to find insights into particular
contexts
2015
Comparing Data Collection Methods
2015
Quantitative research methods include:
► Surveys that can be analysed numerically
► Laboratory experiments
► Questionnaires
Qualitative research methods include:
► Case study research - a case study is an empirical enquiry that
investigates a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context
► Ethnography- the ethnographer immerses her/himself in the life of
people s/he studies and seeks to place the phenomena studied in its
social and cultural context
► Observations, Interviews, and / or Focus Groups
► Surveys – which do not aim at establishing frequencies, means or other
parameters but at determining the diversity of some topic of interest
9
Differences in Qualitative and
Quantitative Analysis and Reporting
Methods
2015
Components
Qualitative Reporting/Analyses
Data Type Emphasized
Categorization of data
narrative, text
Coded themes
Quantitative
Reporting/Analyses
numbers
Variables, statistical coefficients
Condensed presentation
of data
Rationale
Narrative examples
Graphs, charts, data tables
Claims supported with
contextual and narrative data
Inductive
Claims supported with statistical
data
Deductive
Emphasis on bias, perspective,
triangulation
Build a picture with rich
triangulated data sources
(Neuman, 2011).
Emphasis on correlation and
measurement validity
Identify the strength of an
assumed pattern within the big
picture with statistical data
Logical pathway to
conclusion
Acknowledges Limits
General approach
10
Primary and Secondary Research
►
Primary
research
involves
collecting
data through
fieldwork,
trials or
experiments
► Secondary
research
synthesizes
existing
research.
11
Primary Research
2015
Secondary Research
Advantages
Disadvantages
Advantages
Disadvantages
Researcher can
focus on both
qualitative and
quantitative
issues
Can be very
expensive in
preparing and
carrying out the
research
Somebody has
done all the
legwork for you
Establishing
credibility may be
an issue
Addresses specific
research issues
Requires the
development and
execution of a
research plan
Others may have
more resources at
their disposal
than you
Is it up to date?
Researcher
controls the
design to fit their
needs
It takes longer to
undertake
primary research
than to acquire
secondary data
There is usually
greater variety to
choose from
Is it a fair
representation?
Greater control of
issues such as size
of project, time
frame, and goal
Low response rate It is usually
has to be
quicker to find
expected
It might not be an
exact fit for your
purpose