One of the most crucial foundational steps in any research project surrounds understanding and choosing an appropriate theory to frame the research question. Theoretical frameworks don’t just impact design, they impact how the entire study is interpreted, contextualized, and discussed. There are lots of resources about epistemologies and ontologies, but most focus on the philosophical and historical dimensions that can quickly overwhelm students. They need something quick that helps them understand the practical connection between theory and the purpose/nature of the study and, more importantly, decide which theory is best suited to their particular study. This Little Quick Fix covers questions like: What is theory? How does theory relate to research design? What is a theoretical framework? What is a theoretical contribution? How do I choose which theory (or theories) fits my research? What practical steps should I take to integrate theory into my research?
Little Quick Fix titles provide quick but authoritative answers to the problems, hurdles, and assessment points students face in
the research course, project proposal, or design—whatever their methods learning is.
- Lively, ultra-modern design; full-colour, each page a tailored design.
- An hour′s read. Easy to dip in and out of with clear navigation enables the reader to find what she needs—quick.
- Direct written style gets to the point with clear language. Nothing needs to be read twice. No fluff.
- Learning is reinforced through a 2-minute overview summary; 3-second summaries with super-quick Q&A
- DIY tasks create a work plan to accomplish a task, do a self-check quiz, solve a problem, get students to what they need to show their supervisor.
- Checkpoints in each section make sure students are nailing it as they go and support self-directed learning.
- How do I know I’m done? Each Little Quick Fix wraps up with a final checklist that allows the reader to self-assess they’ve got what they need to progress, submit, or ace the test or task.
Jadual kandungan
What do researchers mean when they talk about epistemology, ontology and methodology?
What does theory mean to scholars?
How do researchers in my field talk about theory in academic literature?
Why is it important to think about theories when I am designing a study?
How does research make a theoretical contribution?
How can I integrate theory into my research design?
DIY: How do I find and use important theories in my field of study?
Mengenai Pengarang
Dr. Janet Salmons is a qualitative scholar and methodologist. She is a Fellow at the Center for Advanced Internet Studies and edits the newsletter, “When the Field is Online”. Recent books include: Doing Qualitative Research Online 2nd edition (2022), What Kind of Researcher Are You? (2021), Reframing and Rethinking Collaboration in Higher Education and Beyond: A Practical Guide for Doctoral Students and Early Career Researchers with Narelle Lemon (2021), Publishing from your Doctoral Research: Create and Use a Publication Strategy with Helen Kara (2020), Learning to Collaborate, Collaborating to Learn (2019), Find the Theory in Your Research (2019), and Getting Data Online (2019). She previously managed the Sage Research Methods Community (formerly known as Methodspace). Dr. Salmons received a B.S. in Adult and Community Education from Cornell University, an M.A. in Social Policy Studies from the SUNY Empire State College, and a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies and Educational Leadership at the Union Institute & University. She lives and works in Boulder, Colorado.Website link: www.salmons.blog