Different Types of Research
CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH METHODS
UNIT 1 INDIVIDUAL PROJECT
HEAVAN SETLER
AMERICAN INTERCONTINENTAL UNIVERSITY
FEBRUARY 11, 2012
DEAR COMISSIONER: Please find below the theories that are used in my approach to research. These theories are ones that are being consistently tested.
INTRODUCTION:
Research is done on an everyday basis. Big name companies research who to market their product to, clothing lines research who buys their clothes, and somewhere a college student is trying to find the right research for his first project in his new class. All of these scenarios have one thing in common: finding the right answer to a question or problem. The way one gets to that answer is all dependant on what type of research that is performed. There are four types of research theories: deductive, inductive, grounded, and axiomatic. These theories are all a part of the research process.
DEDUCTIVE REASONING: Deductive reasoning is “a before the fact reasoning, wherein a theoretical idea precedes any attempt to collect facts”, (Berg, Ireland, Mutchnick 2010). Deductive reasoning is contingent with a theory or hypothesis. The data is then collected and reported on a larger scale. A key example of this is when a husband is the first suspect in a murder case if his wife gets murdered. Nothing could pinpoint the man as a suspect, however being that most homicide offenders are the closest to their victims, the deductive reasoning would say the man probably did it.
INDUCTIVE REASONING: Inductive reasoning is “an after the fact reasoning”, (Berg , Ireland, Mutchnick 2010). This particular reasoning is based on facts to develop an explanation. This includes specific observation and generalization. Taking the example from above, an investigator might observe from other cases that they have had that most homicide victims are close with their attackers. The investigator takes this information and then articulates that spouses are likely to kill their
UNIT 1 INDIVIDUAL PROJECT
HEAVAN SETLER
AMERICAN INTERCONTINENTAL UNIVERSITY
FEBRUARY 11, 2012
DEAR COMISSIONER: Please find below the theories that are used in my approach to research. These theories are ones that are being consistently tested.
INTRODUCTION:
Research is done on an everyday basis. Big name companies research who to market their product to, clothing lines research who buys their clothes, and somewhere a college student is trying to find the right research for his first project in his new class. All of these scenarios have one thing in common: finding the right answer to a question or problem. The way one gets to that answer is all dependant on what type of research that is performed. There are four types of research theories: deductive, inductive, grounded, and axiomatic. These theories are all a part of the research process.
DEDUCTIVE REASONING: Deductive reasoning is “a before the fact reasoning, wherein a theoretical idea precedes any attempt to collect facts”, (Berg, Ireland, Mutchnick 2010). Deductive reasoning is contingent with a theory or hypothesis. The data is then collected and reported on a larger scale. A key example of this is when a husband is the first suspect in a murder case if his wife gets murdered. Nothing could pinpoint the man as a suspect, however being that most homicide offenders are the closest to their victims, the deductive reasoning would say the man probably did it.
INDUCTIVE REASONING: Inductive reasoning is “an after the fact reasoning”, (Berg , Ireland, Mutchnick 2010). This particular reasoning is based on facts to develop an explanation. This includes specific observation and generalization. Taking the example from above, an investigator might observe from other cases that they have had that most homicide victims are close with their attackers. The investigator takes this information and then articulates that spouses are likely to kill their
References: Blaber, M. (n.d.). Hypothesis versus Theory. Welcome to MikeBlaber.org. Retrieved February 12, 2012, from http://www.mikeblaber.org/oldwine/chm1045/notes/Intro/Theory/Theory.htm Glaser, B. (n.d.). Grounded Theory Institute - The Grounded Theory Methodology of Barney G. Glaser, Ph.D - Home. Grounded Theory Institute - The Grounded Theory Methodology of Barney G. Glaser, Ph.D - Home. Retrieved February 12, 2012, from http://groundedtheory.com/ Ireland, C., Berg, B. L., & Mutchnick, R. J. (2010). Research methods for criminal justice and the social sciences: practice and applications. Boston: Prentice Hall. Research Variables | Experiment-Resources.com | A website about the Scientific Method, Research and Experiments. (n.d.). Experiment-Resources.com | A website about the Scientific Method, Research and Experiments |. Retrieved February 12, 2012, from http://www.experiment-resources.com/research-variables.html