Research Knowledge and Assessment

A6: Research Knowledge Assessment
Vincient Cleamons
Walden University

Abstract
This essay discusses the philosophies, concepts, and methodologies of research investigations. Research designs are contrasted and compared to assess benefits, limitations, and applications. Approaches to quantitative and qualitative studies are illustrated and explained. The operations and purposes of program evaluations and action research studies are elucidated. A6: Research Knowledge Assessment Research can be defined as a systematic method for formulating queries (Drew, Hardman, & Hosp, 2008, p. 4). This essay explores how these queries may be conceptualized, described, evaluated, and explained through investigative methods.
Philosophy of Research Quantitative scientific research relies on data taken from empirical methods based on observation and experience (Myers & Hanson, 2002; Stanovich & Stanovich, 2003). These systematic empirical methods can be used as inferential mathematical tools for evaluating a sample from a population. Consequently, the empirical calculations of phenomena in a sample may be applied to an entire population from which the sample was derived (Hoy, 2010, p. 5).
Research Terminologies Certain terms in research connote philosophical approaches to obtaining and evaluating information. Through the scientific process, research studies begin by developing questions or hypotheses, then collecting data to help answer the questions or test the hypotheses. Research data are collected, analyzed, and interpreted to reach conclusions (Lodico, Spaulding, & Voegtle, 2010, p. 12). However, qualitative and quantitative studies have similarities and dissimilarities in the scientific process due to the different cognitive approaches in research designs. Qualitative studies utilize inductive reasoning while quantitative studies apply deductive logic (p. 10). Figure 1 illustrates the

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