Introduction
Research, in general, has a defined objective, and to achieve its objectives, scientists choose from a variety of study methods. A scientist’s research methodology covers all the procedures and strategies they use to perform scientific studies. Making choices concerning how the data will be gathered and analyzed is part of this process. This essay explains five methods of scientific inquiry and uses two preferred methods to support a criminal justice hypothesis.
Methods of Scientific Inquiry
The main types of research include primary versus secondary research, quantitative versus qualitative research, applied versus basic research, descriptive versus causal research, and deductive versus inductive research. In primary research, scientists gather data directly from sources to address a new topic or generate new information (Christensen et al., 2020). For instance, this would involve conducting interviews, surveys, observations, experiments, and others. Scientists conduct secondary research by utilizing available resources/data to generate new ideas (Christensen et al., 2020). This would involve using government publications, books, websites, journal articles, and many more.
The most commonly used research methods are qualitative and quantitative research designs. Qualitative research entails collecting, analyzing, and interpreting non-numerical facts (Rahi, 2017). For example, this method of inquiry can be utilized to better understand how smartphones have enhanced students’ academic performance. On the other hand, quantitative research involves collecting and analyzing numerical data (Rahi, 2017). This research method explores causal links between variables, forecasts the future, and adapts findings to a larger demographic. For example, a scientist might use quantitative research to determine how much time, for example, hours does the average youth spends on their smartphone. In the context of applied research, the goal is to find a solution to a challenge in the actual world and address issues (Rahi, 2017). For example, how can we make the internet safer for children? Finally, basic research is a study that seeks to bridge gaps in knowledge; it seeks to discover concepts that are not necessarily obviously relevant or valuable (Christensen et al., 2020). For instance, a researcher may decide to study how infants acquire language.
A researcher may decide to investigate the relationship between physical activity and weight loss. This type of research would fall under descriptive research as it is primarily intended to explain a phenomenon’s happening or existence (Christensen et al., 2020). On the other hand, causal studies, often called experimental research, are intended to investigate if one or even several variables cause or influence the frequency of another variable (Rahi, 2017). For example, research in this line would aim to determine whether there would be a reduction in obesity cases if people stopped eating red meat? On the other hand, the inductive approach progresses from particular observations to general statements, whereas the deductive approach proceeds in the opposite direction (Christensen et al., 2020). The primary distinction between inductive and deductive thinking is that the former seeks to develop a hypothesis, whereas the latter seeks to test a formulated hypothesis.
Thus, an inductive inquiry would follow this pattern: 1) observation; Kenya is corrupt, 2) pattern; South Africa is corrupt, 3) Theory/Conclusion; Most Sub-Saharan Africa countries are corrupt. Conversely, the deductive approach would follow the opposite pattern: 1) Theory; Most Sub-Saharan Africa countries are corrupt. 2) Formulate hypothesis; if most Sub-Saharan African countries are corrupt, corruption is a significant problem. 3) Collect data to test the hypothesis: interview Kenya, South Africa, and Morocco. 4: Analyze results; 100 out of 300 Africans believe that their country is corrupt, supporting the hypothesis.
Law Enforcement Agencies Over-Police Minority Groups
Police brutality and the unfair treatment of Black people in the U.S. is not an isolated problem, as it is a part of America’s history and culture. Moreover, research has shown that these discrepancies are perpetuated by institutional exclusion and discrimination fueled by both unconscious and conscious biases (Wong et al., 2021). Accordingly, I can hypothesize that despite efforts to improve policing practices in the United States, law enforcement agencies still over-police minority groups, especially African Americans leading to their mass incarceration. To prove this hypothesis, I can use primary and secondary research methods.
Regarding primary research, I would conduct interviews with various individuals in law enforcement. These would include police officers, state prosecutors, court personnel, including judges, and others. I would also conduct interviews with students, especially African American students, to get their perception of the issue. To avoid bias, I would also interview white students and other groups not explicitly affected by racism. In this way, I would get firsthand information that would guide my hypothesis. Finally, I would utilize case studies, books, news reports, journal articles, and public inquiry reports concerning the secondary approach. Public inquiry reports such as George Floyd would be more important as they typically contain eyewitness testimonies and actual police investigations. These materials would enable me to find the information I need to support my hypothesis.
Conclusion
Researchers must understand the rationale for using a particular method in their investigation. As illustrated in this discussion, research methodology combines research methods and logical reasoning for choosing the ideal study design. Accordingly, the essay has used two research methods to demonstrate how rational scientific inquiry supports or rejects a hypothesis. Thus, research methodologies are a fantastic place to start when figuring out how to conduct a research project.
References
Christensen, L. B., Johnson, B., & Turner, L. A. (2020). Research methods, design, and analysis. Pearson Education.
Rahi, S. (2017). Research design and methods: A systematic review of research paradigms, sampling issues and instruments development. International Journal of Economics & Management Sciences, 6(2), 1-5. Web.
Wong, B., Elmorally, R., Copsey-Blake, M., Highwood, E., & Singarayer, J. (2021). Is race still relevant? Student perceptions and experiences of racism in higher education. Cambridge Journal of Education, 51(3), 359-375. Web.