Grounded theory is a systematic approach that can be applied in qualitative research. Its goal is to create new theories that are grounded in data.
With a grounded theory approach, data collection and analysis occur at the same time (this is called theoretical sampling). This approach can be helpful when you are conducting research in a new area and do not have a hypothesis related to study outcomes.
Continue reading: What is grounded theory?
Triangulation involves using a combination of data or techniques to answer a research question. Triangulation can help you confirm the validity of your findings. This can be helpful in qualitative research, which is often subjective and vulnerable to bias.
Types of triangulation include the following:
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Anonymity and confidentiality are both important aspects of research ethics.
Anonymity means that researchers do not collect personal information that can be used to identify a participant or that someone’s responses cannot be linked to their identity.
Confidentiality means that only the researchers conducting a study can link study responses or data to individual participants.
If you run a study and do not know who your participants are (i.e., you collect no identifying information), your data are anonymous. If you know who your participants are but no one else does (i.e., you collect identifying information but don’t publish it), your data are confidential.
Continue reading: What’s the difference between anonymity and confidentiality?
An institutional review board (IRB) is a committee that reviews proposed studies involving human participants to ensure research ethics are being followed. In most countries, a study must be approved by an IRB before data can be collected.
An IRB is sometimes called a research ethics board (REB), an ethical review board (ERB), or an independent ethics committee (IEC).
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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has defined seven principles to protect clinical research participants and promote research ethics:
Social and clinical value: the scientific advances of a research study should justify the costs or risks of conducting this research.
Scientific validity: a study should be designed to address an answerable question using feasible and accepted research methods.
Fair subject selection: participants should be selected based on the scientific aims of the study and should not be included or excluded for reasons unrelated to research goals.
Favorable risk-benefit ratio: the potential risks to participants should be minimized and should be outweighed by potential benefits.
Independent review: an independent review panel should ensure a study is ethical before research begins.
Informed consent: participants should decide whether to voluntarily participate in a study after learning about its research question, methods, potential risks, and benefits.
Respect for potential and enrolled subjects: individuals should be treated with respect throughout the research process.
Continue reading: What are NIH’s 7 principles of ethics in research?
The American Psychological Association (APA) has five principles to guide psychologists in conducting ethical research and scientific work.
Beneficence and nonmaleficence: protect the welfare of research participants and do no harm.
Fidelity and responsibility: serve the best interests of society and the specific communities impacted by research and scientific work.
Integrity: conduct and teach psychology in an accurate and honest manner.
Justice: ensure that all people have equal access to the benefits of psychology services and research.
Respect for people’s rights and dignity: show consideration for people’s dignity and their right to privacy, confidentiality, and autonomy.
Continue reading: What are the APA’s 5 principles of research ethics?
Research ethics are principles that guide scientists, helping them distinguish right from wrong when conducting research. Research ethics help protect the people involved in scientific studies and ensure the integrity of scientific research.
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A mediator (or mediating variable) is a variable that falls between a dependent and independent variable; that is, it connects them.
For example, the dependent variable “academic performance” is influenced by the independent variable “exercise” via the mediator variable “stress.” Exercise reduces stress, which in turn improves academic performance. Stress therefore mediates the relationship.
A moderator (or moderating variable) influences how an independent variable influences a dependent variable; in other words, it impacts their relationship.
For example, the relationship between the dependent variable “mental health” and the independent variable “social media use” may be influenced by the moderator “age.” The impact that social media has on mental health depends on someone’s age.
The expected influence of mediator and moderator variables can be captured in a conceptual framework.
Continue reading: What is the difference between mediator and moderator variables?
A variable is something that can take on different values. A study contains independent and dependent variables, control variables, and confounding variables that influence its results.
Dependent variables represent the outcome of a study. Researchers measure how they change under different values of the independent variable(s).
Independent variables are manipulated by the researcher to observe their effect on dependent variables.
Control variables are variables that are held constant to isolate the effect of the independent variable.
Confounding variables are variables that have not been controlled for that may influence a study’s results.
The expected relationship between these variables can be illustrated using a conceptual framework.
Continue reading: What is the difference between dependent variables, independent variables, control variables, and confounding variables?
The literature review, conceptual framework, and theoretical framework are all important steps in defining a research project.
A literature review is conducted early in the research process. Its purpose is to describe the current state of a research area, identify gaps, and emphasize the relevance of your own research question or study.
A theoretical framework is the lens through which a research question is viewed and answered. Different fields have their own assumptions, methods, and interpretations related to the same phenomenon that influence the choice of a theoretical framework.
Consider a neuroscientist and a social psychologist studying the construct “love.” They will each take a different approach, applying specialized methods and interpretations. In other words, they each use a unique theoretical framework that is guided by the existing theories of their field.
A conceptual framework describes the variables relevant to a study and how they relate to one another. This may include dependent and independent variables as well as any confounding variables that could influence results.
Continue reading: What is the difference between a conceptual framework, a theoretical framework, and a literature review?
