A type of research that uses focus groups or small studies to get a “feel” for the problem. E. EXPLORATORY
It means in name only, data that consist of observations that can only be classified and counted by category and have no inherent order. For example: The colors chosen by car buyers at a dealership. J. NOMINAL
Using basic research methods, the outcome of the research is applied to a business problem. I. APPLIED RESEARCH
A measurement scale that has no meaningful absolute zero point. For example: The scheduled arrival times (2:00pm, 2:30pm, and 3:00pm) of delivery trucks at a loading dock. A. INTERVAL
Often used in marketing and sales, this type of research always asks “who, what, when, where, and how” in research questions. K. DESCRIPTIVE
A measurement that uses absolute values. Height, weight, distance, and money are all examples. H. RATIO
Numbers assigned to objects representative of the rank order when the distance between each of the measures cannot be determined scientifically. For example, a measure that indicates how a person “feels” on an issue. C. ORDINAL
Research conducted where one unit is held steady, while the experiment is conducted on the other unit. This is to test whether the experiment itself is the reason for change in the experimental unit. L. CAUSAL
The clinical or scientific method of research. This type of research is often done in laboratories or in controlled circumstances. D. BASIC RESEARCH
The Term Paper on Research and the Sciences
There has long been an ongoing argument: Is social science scientific? Which approach is better in conducting natural sciences and social sciences? It is believed that ‘hypothetico-deductive’ approach may be applicable to the natural sciences while it does not relate well to the social sciences. By analyzing research from different levels, this essay presents a judgment that social ...
A research question stated in terms of specific testing or measurement criteria. These terms must have empirical referents (this means that we must be able to count or measure them in some way).
The object to be defined can be a physical one (a machine tool), or it can be an abstract one (achievement motivation).
G. OPERATIONAL DEFINITION
A research study which uses data collected at a single point in time. This gives a snapshot of what is occurring somewhere at a given time. B. CROSS-SECTIONAL
