Key Concepts: Introductory Readings

Connaway & Powell

• Quantitative research - research methods that involve a problem-solving approach that is highly structured in nature and that relies on the quantification of concepts for purposes of measurement and evaluation
• Qualitative research - research methods that focus on observing events from the perspective of those involved and attempting to understand why individuals behave as they do

Wildemuth

• Evidence-based practice - the application of research results to improve professional practice
• Best practices - methods or processes that are developed through (1) significant amounts of direct experience or (2) through an examination of application of research findings

 Williams

• Positivist approach to research - research is an organized, systematic, data-based, critical, scientific inquiry or investigation into a specific problem undertaken with the objective to finding answers or solutions.  This approach emphasizes the collection of quantitative data, or data in the form of numbers that has been collected through questionnaires and other instruments of measurement
• Interpretivist approach to data - research is a process of trying to gain a better understanding of human interactions.  This approach emphasizes meanings created by people and data that are qualitative (in the form of words) collected by interviews and observations