...Fundamentals of Research in Human Services Yolanda M. Long BSHS/382 Research and Statistics for the Social Sciences March 17, 2014 Michael A. Keitler, MA Fundamentals of Research in Human Services This paper will define the term scientific method and how it relates to research in human services. The process to evaluate the research must incorporate steps needed to identify the problem, analysis the data, and finally form a conclusion. The paper will further explore and define the differences between quantitative and qualitative research in the human services field and the scientific method behind the research. An example depicting a quantitative research, qualitative research, and mixed method research will be covered as well as how scientifically sound research can support the functions of a human service professional. Scientific Method and how it Relates to Human Services Research The Institute Innovation in Health and Human Services at James Madison University defines Scientific Method as the collection of quantitative and/or qualitative date for studies that incorporate logical design and are replicable. The measures, procedures, and analysis are informed by best practices in the field, and the findings are interpreted within the context of the extant research literature (para. 5). Scientific method is important to the field of human services as professionals try to assist clients through reliable data previously captured. If a client is dealing with abuse issues...
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...Fundamentals of Research Paper In this paper I will discuss scientific method and its relation to the human service field. I will explain the steps in the scientific method and the process of scientific inquiry, as well as define quantitative research and qualitative research. I will explain how they differ and relate each to the human services field and the scientific method. The scientific method is a method for research and study that is applied to investigate, observations and to get to the root cause of the problem/situation/s and is a process for experimentation that is used to explore observations and answer questions. Scientists use the scientific method to search for cause and effect relationships in nature. Information is collected by asking open-ended questions during in-depth interviews. Research is increasingly essential to the delivery of human services and to the professionals who are mandated with the responsibility of making the delivery of these services effective, efficient, and responsive to human needs (Monette, Sullivan, & DeJong, 2010, p. 2). When dealing with special need population the elderly, the scientific method can be applied by finding answers to questions. The steps the process of scientific inquiry would be to make an observation, collect all data, analyze what your data means, Plan out the experiment to test your hypothesis, and take notes, draw coclusion.Each of these steps must be included because it helps to minimize...
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...Running Head: FUNDAMENTALS OF RESEARCH Fundamentals of Research Tawni Romero University of Phoenix BSHS 382 Research and Statistics Tina Henderson May 2, 2011 Fundamentals of Research The text defines scientific method as a “general expression for the methodology of science, or a systematic research approach or outlook emphasizing the use of empirical reasoning” (Rosnow & Rosenthal, 2008, p. 424). Within this paper there will be a discussion on the scientific method and how it relates to research in the human services field. This paper will review the steps in the scientific inquiry process. This paper will define quantitative and qualitative research and explain how they relate and differ each to the human services field and the scientific method. The paper will determine whether to use a quantitative or qualitative research methodology, and provide examples of what sort of study is appropriate for each methodology and why. The paper will define mixed method research with descriptions and strengths included. Examples of when it is appropriate to apply mixed method research in the human services field will also be examined. In conclusion, there will be a summary of how scientifically sound research supports the function of the human services manager. The Scientific Method The six steps to conducting research are “1) identifying a research problem, 2) reviewing the literature, 3) specifying a purpose for research, 4) collecting data, 5) analyze and interpreting...
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...Fundamentals of Research Anna Albright BSHS/382 May 19, 2014 Fundamentals of Research Describe the Scientific Method The scientific method is compiled of a standard set of techniques that can be used to increase knowledge by making valid observations, interpreting results and simplifying those results. By using the scientific method researches are able to tests pre-existing results as well as modify and refine them or open up prior research for debate. According to Anol Bhattacherjee “the scientific method must satisfy four characteristics: replicability, precision, falsifiability and parsimony.” (Bhattacherjee, 2012) The definition of replicability is in the word meaning the research should be able to be replicated or repeated by other researchers and yet acquire similar or the same results. Precision means that although theoretical concepts can be difficult to measure they must be explained with intense precision that other researchers will be able to use the same explanations to measure the same concepts and test that same theory. According to Anol Bhattacherje “ the definition of falsifiability is that a theory must be stated in a way that it can be disproven. Theories that cannot be tested or falsified are not scientific theories and any such knowledge is not scientific knowledge.” (2012) If a theory consists of ideas that are not accurately measurable or cannot be tested it cannot be deemed as scientific. “Parsimony occurs when there are multiple explanations...
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...THE MATERIAL. PLEASE DO NOT PLAGIARIZE MY WORK! Fundamentals of Research Amanda Lopez BSHS/382 October 31, 2011 Kevin Benbow Fundamentals of Research Research plays a vital role in the human services field. Utilizing research methods (such as the scientific method) assists human services professionals in making numerous informed decisions daily. This paper will provide a detailed description of the scientific method and the fundamentals of research by first defining the term ‘scientific method’ as well as by providing an explanation of how it relates to human services research. The steps in the process of scientific inquiry will be reviewed along with why each of these steps must be included to support the scientific method. A human services research example of the scientific method that identifies each of the steps involved in the process of scientific inquiry will also be provided. Likewise, the terms quantitative and qualitative research will be defined and an explanation of the manner in which they differ as well as relate to the human services field and the scientific method will be included along with specific examples of what sort of study is appropriate for each methodology and an explanation why. The term mixed method research will then be defined and the strengths associated with this type of research method will be given as well as an example of when it is appropriate to apply mixed method research in the human services field. Lastly, a brief summary...
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...Facilitator * BSHS382 Week 1 Individual: Fundamentals of Research paper February 10, 2014 Fundamentals of Research Paper The scientific methods and fundamentals of research are as varied as the researchers who use the approaches. “Researchers in disciplines as varied as psychology, biomedicine, business, education, communication, economics, sociology, anthropology, physics, biology, and chemistry all use some variation of this approach.” (Rosnow & Rosenthal, 2008). The scientific research method is essentially a form of investigation used by researchers to explore already known facts, gain new insight and education and to disprove or further prove what is believed to be facts. There are three forms of research methods that make research scientific research of; descriptive and observational, experimental, and relational research. The descriptive and observational research method is where the researcher will map out the research using description to allow for the creation of a matrix or map that can be followed. The experimental research method is used to research the effect of an independent variable from a dependent variable. The relational research method employs the relation and correlation of two or more factors. (Rosnow & Rosenthal, 2008). Human Services research The scientific method relates to the human services research in that helping professionals in the human services field are consistently doing research in order to determine how to best serve the...
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...Fundamentals of Research University of Phoenix Karan Normand BSHS 382 March 14, 2012 Staci Lowe Fundamentals of Research Research makes many things possible in life. Business owners use research for marketing purposes. Consumers use research for the best purchases and so on. The scientific method is considered the most effective way to test data. “Research is a process of steps used to collect and analyze information to increase understanding of a topic or issue” (Cresswell, 2008). Scientific Method The scientific method is a method of investigating. The scientific method is done in steps starting with defining a question. One need to understand exactly what it is that is to be examined. Otherwise the direction of the experiment is chaos and no determination of the research can be made. The next is to make a guess or develop a hypothesis as to what is believed to be found during the research. Then we need to gather the data so we have some information to go by. This can be done with surveys, testing, or any resources that can give the necessary information. The next step is to test the hypothesis. It must be logical and unbiased for the experiment to be accurate. The conclusion is based on the design of the experiment and the results. It may or may not agree with the hypothesis. Human Services can use the Scientific method to research homelessness in a certain area. For this project a mixture of quantitative and qualitative research should be considered...
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...Performing research helps to justify what we know about human nature from what we only think we know. Discovering suitable solutions to the current status quo of experimental outcomes involve exploring data analysis. The concept of research is based on the scientific method researchers use to learn, scrutinize, and explain scientific conclusions interpreted in data collected by conducting experiments, addressing questions, or creating ideas. Understanding the process of the scientific method in research involves many steps that generate evidence that can answer many problems in the human services field. Following the steps of scientific inquiry includes identifying a problem, formulating a hypothesis, performing an experiment, and finally analyzing the data from the experiment. Philosopher Hans Reichenbach’s idea of scientific inquiry included two phases. “Reichenbach’s discovery phase of scientific inquiry includes coming up with a testable idea (in the form of a working hypothesis), crafting the research materials, and developing a study design and a plan to implement it. The justification phase creates the rationale for the plan of study and the data analysis, as well as the logic behind conclusions put forward” (Rosnow & Rosenthal, 2008, Chapter 2). Each step must be included to support the scientific method to discover legitimate statements made and provide a foundation for improving choices about personal health and the health of our community. A human services...
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...Fundamentals of Research Paper This paper will discuss the fundamentals of research and how it can be applied in the field of human services. Example of scientific methods related to the human services will also be provided. A brief description explaining the differences of quantitative research and qualitative research models and how they relate to field of human services and the scientific method will also be given. Also the concerns of quantitative and quality research methodology will be addressed. A brief summary of how scientifically sound researches supports the function of a human services manager will be discussed as well. According to dictionary.com scientific methods is defined as a method of research in which a problem is identified, relevant data are gathered, a hypothesis if formulated from these data, and the hypothesis is empirically tested (dictornary.com). In other words scientific methods are steps that researchers follow in order to test, acquire, and describe different options during the planning stage. Research is needed in the human service field. Let say that there is a large rapid increase child abuse or homeliness, the rapid increase requires results to the question of why the rapid increase. By the use of research the answer to these questions can be answered by the collection of data, observation, and experiment can offer assistance in the field of human services. Scientific inquiry is a way to investigate...
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...Fundamentals of Research Paper BSHS/382 Define the scientific method. The scientific method has its foundation in a number of steps including research, observational analysis and establishing data-driven rulings. Tell how it relates to human services research. Based on substantiation research studies, medical treatments and newer drugs are not only sustained but also adapted and improved over time. Exclusive of scientific research, their formation and effectiveness regulation will not be achievable. What are the steps in the process of scientific inquiry? Why must each of these steps be included to support the scientific method? Provide a human services research example of the scientific method and identify each step within your example 1. The first step in executing a scientific examination for research in a given field of study. It ascends and takes a solid shape, once a trained researcher figures out that some evidence may be necessary but is missing, and to study such information, the researcher proposes the research setback. 2. Then occur, set up of variables and investigational conditions. 3. This is trailed by choosing or indiscriminately assigning qualified participants, under controlled laboratory and research conditions, to their individual experimental groups. 4. The variables are expended in distinctive variations, along with the treatment to be tested, and their endings are noted...
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...the Fundamentals of Research Stephan A. Bell BSHS 381 Research and Statistics for the Social Sciences 10 December 2012 Dr. Christine Cutis This paper will offer explanation of how scientific method and scientific research can be used in the Human Service field. This paper will also cover the steps involved in scientific inquiry and why the steps are of importance, then provide an example a scientific method related to the Human Services field. Also discussed will be a brief description of qualitative research and quantitative research, explaining the differences in both models and how the methods relate to the Human Service field and the scientific method. Discussion will concern quantitative and qualitative research methodology, define mixed method research, and describe its strengths. The scientific method can be explained as a method for research and study that is applied to investigate observations and to bring answers to questions. Within the scientific method researches can exploit the cause and effect relationships. Stated plainly, they can plan a study so that changes to an entity of the study influence something else in the study to vary in an unpredictable or expected manner. In the Human Service field, these method may relates if there is an upsurge in child abuse, or joblessness, or homelessness, replies offering results are required to answer the questions related to the upsurge. The only path to those replies can be done through research. In...
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...Fundamentals of Research Shemika Savage University of Phoenix The use of the scientific method is a necessity in research. The scientific method could be used in observation and experimentation. The results determined during the use of the scientific method help in many different aspects. In order for researchers to prove theories or assumptions, they must have proof and facts. These facts are proven with the scientific method. The scientific method is defined as “a method of research in which a problem is identified, relevant data is gathered, a hypothesis is formulated from the data and the hypothesis is empirically proven.”(Dictionary.com,LLC, 2012) The steps in the scientific method are: defining the problem, observations, hypothesis, experimentations, data gathering, testing of the hypothesis, and conclusions. The steps of the scientific method need to be conducted in order. No steps should be left out. The scientific method helps to determine the relationships between cause and effect. The method helps to define problems and to collect data and make possible solutions. The research would not be complete and the conclusions would not be solid or valid. The scientific method can be used in human services to establish the collection of data in many scenarios. It is crucial to investigate the realms that are the cause for the issues or problems. The scientific method can be used in human services to help a mother who suffers from alcoholism. The human service worker...
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...Fundamentals of Research In: Business and Management Fundamentals of Research THIS PAPER IS ONLY MEANT TO BE USED AS A GUIDE TO HELP OTHERS IN GAINING AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE MATERIAL. PLEASE DO NOT PLAGIARIZE MY WORK! Fundamentals of Research Amanda Lopez BSHS/382 October 31, 2011 Kevin Benbow Fundamentals of Research Research plays a vital role in the human services field. Utilizing research methods (such as the scientific method) assists human services professionals in making numerous informed decisions daily. This paper will provide a detailed description of the scientific method and the fundamentals of research by first defining the term ‘scientific method’ as well as by providing an explanation of how it relates to human services research. The steps in the process of scientific inquiry will be reviewed along with why each of these steps must be included to support the scientific method. A human services research example of the scientific method that identifies each of the steps involved in the process of scientific inquiry will also be provided. Likewise, the terms quantitative and qualitative research will be defined and an explanation of the manner in which they differ as well as relate to the human services field and the scientific method will be included along with specific examples of what sort of study is appropriate for each methodology and an explanation why. The term mixed method research will then be defined and the strengths associated with...
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...Fundamentals of Research Shannon Ladd April 21, 2013 BSHS/382 Vanessa Byrd This paper will define scientific method as well as give an explanation of how scientific research is used in a human services field. It will also discuss the steps in scientific inquiry and why those steps are important and an example will provide of scientific method in relation to the human services field. A description of quantitative and qualitative research will be given, explaining the differences in both model and how these methods relate to the human services as well as the scientific method. Further discussion will involve quantitative and qualitative research methodology touching on the definition of mixed method research. Finally summarizing how scientifically research sound supports the function of a human services manager. The scientific method is a method for research and study that is applied to investigate observations and to bring answers to questions. Researches can exploit the scientific method to search for cause and effect relationships. There are many different types of aspect to the human services field, no matter which one research is always needed. If there is a sudden increase in homelessness, child abuse, or joblessness, research offering results is required to answer the question that are related to the increase. The path to those answers can only be found through research. Scientific method according to the Merriam-Webster (2010), is “principles...
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...Fundamentals of Research University of Phoenix BSHS 381 Fundamentals of Research Research is an important part of our lives. Everything around us and what we know involves research. Based on the readings there are several research methods. The most common one is the scientific method. The scientific method refers to the ways of investigating a fact by gathering new information and old information (Rosnow, Rosenthal, 2008). In order for it to be scientific one must follow and gather observable, empirical and measurable, evidence to the principle of reasoning (Rosnow, Rosenthal, 2008). According to Rosnow and Rosenthal, for scientific research, information must be gathered threw observing, experimenting and formulating, the information to come up with a hypothesis. Then the hypothesis must be test. There is also Sander Peirce beliefs, which he called The Fixation of Beliefs. His three approaches are the method of tenacity, the method of authority, and a priori method(Rosnow, Rosenthal, 2008). The Oxford English Dictionary says that scientific method is: "a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypothesis." When the word science is said what comes to mind is natural science like biology, or chemistry. The human services field is a science also. Scientific method is used in the human service field to answer...
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