World Views
01-Creswell (RD)-45593:01-Creswell (RD)-45593.qxd
6/20/2008
4:36 PM
Page 5
The Selection of a Research Design
5
THREE COMPONENTS INVOLVED IN A DESIGN
Two important components in each definition are that the approach to research involves philosophical assumptions as well as distinct methods or procedures. Research design, which I refer to as the plan or proposal to conduct research, involves the intersection of philosophy, strategies of inquiry, and specific methods. A framework that I use to explain the interaction of these three components is seen in Figure 1.1. To reiterate, in planning a study, researchers need to think through the philosophical worldview assumptions that they bring to the study, the strategy of inquiry that is related to this worldview, and the specific methods or procedures of research that translate the approach into practice.
Philosophical Worldviews
Although philosophical ideas remain largely hidden in research (Slife & Williams, 1995), they still influence the practice of research and need to be identified. I suggest that individuals preparing a research proposal or plan make explicit the larger philosophical ideas they espouse. This information will help explain why they chose qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods
Selected Strategies of Inquiry Philosophical Worldviews Postpositive Social construction Advocacy/participatory Pragmatic Qualitative strategies (e.g., ethnography) Quantitative strategies (e.g., experiments) Mixed methods startegies (e.g., sequential) Research Designs Qualitative Quantitative Mixed methods
Research Methods Questions Data collection Data analysis Interpretation Write-up Validation
Figure 1.1
A Framework for Design—The Interconnection of Worldviews, Strategies of Inquiry, and Research Methods
01-Creswell (RD)-45593:01-Creswell (RD)-45593.qxd
6/20/2008
4:36 PM
Page 6
6
Preliminary Considerations
approaches for their research. In writing about
6/20/2008
4:36 PM
Page 5
The Selection of a Research Design
5
THREE COMPONENTS INVOLVED IN A DESIGN
Two important components in each definition are that the approach to research involves philosophical assumptions as well as distinct methods or procedures. Research design, which I refer to as the plan or proposal to conduct research, involves the intersection of philosophy, strategies of inquiry, and specific methods. A framework that I use to explain the interaction of these three components is seen in Figure 1.1. To reiterate, in planning a study, researchers need to think through the philosophical worldview assumptions that they bring to the study, the strategy of inquiry that is related to this worldview, and the specific methods or procedures of research that translate the approach into practice.
Philosophical Worldviews
Although philosophical ideas remain largely hidden in research (Slife & Williams, 1995), they still influence the practice of research and need to be identified. I suggest that individuals preparing a research proposal or plan make explicit the larger philosophical ideas they espouse. This information will help explain why they chose qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods
Selected Strategies of Inquiry Philosophical Worldviews Postpositive Social construction Advocacy/participatory Pragmatic Qualitative strategies (e.g., ethnography) Quantitative strategies (e.g., experiments) Mixed methods startegies (e.g., sequential) Research Designs Qualitative Quantitative Mixed methods
Research Methods Questions Data collection Data analysis Interpretation Write-up Validation
Figure 1.1
A Framework for Design—The Interconnection of Worldviews, Strategies of Inquiry, and Research Methods
01-Creswell (RD)-45593:01-Creswell (RD)-45593.qxd
6/20/2008
4:36 PM
Page 6
6
Preliminary Considerations
approaches for their research. In writing about