ACADEMIC RESEARCH

Why conduct academic research?

Academic research has the highest level of credibility. Academic research involves theory and the collection and analysis of data in order to solve a problem (Balian, 1988). Academic research involves processes that enhance the validity and reliability of the data and findings. Academic publications in peer-reviewed, scholarly sources require the work to be critiqued and approved by experts in the field. See Table 1 for an analogy between choice of police weapon and level of credibility.

Research

Research is a systematic process of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting information in order to better understand the subject of study (Balian, 1988). Research attempts to solve a problem by answering a question. A qualitative research study indicates why variables are related, based on feelings, opinions, and perceptions. This is especially important if the motive for a particular behavior needs to be investigated. A quantitative research study, on the other hand, indicates how variables are numerically related and is especially important if the method of operandi for a particular event needs to be investigated. Quantitative research allows predictions to be made based on confidence levels. Qualitative and quantitative studies have equal value; each type of study only provides half of the information. In other words, neither one is necessarily better than the other. Although it may be time and cost prohibitive in many cases, a mixed study may be conducted. A mixed study is a study that utilizes both qualitative and quantitative research techniques, which provides more comprehensive information. See figure 1 (Lutterman, 2015).

It should be noted that both qualitative and quantitative research studies have independent and dependent variables. By understanding how and why variables are related, people in authority may be able to manipulate the independent variables in order to manage the dependent variable. By manipulating the independent variables (e.g., perception of crime, perception of the police, sport participation, etc.), the dependent variables (e.g., riots, child abuse, aggression, etc.) may be effectively managed. For example, if the number of training hours is inversely related to the number of complaints received against police officers (quantitative study), then a police department may require more training hours for its officers. On the other hand, if residents engage in riots because they feel that the police are abusive (qualitative study), then the residents' feelings will need to be better understood and addressed. See Table 2 for the differences between qualitative and quantitative research.

Quantitative Research

Quantitative investigations are scientific, objective, and effective in describing phenomena in terms of magnitude (Balian, 1988). Quantitative investigations use numeric values and statistics to identify patterns, to objectively quantify relationships between variables, and to make predictions. In addition, because large sample sizes are used, data can be generalized to larger populations. However, numeric values are ineffective in describing the subjective interpretations of human emotions (Wakefield, 1995). Because individuals have unique lived experiences and their realities are based on their own perceptions, a single objective truth is unattainable; indeed, there are multiple realities when dealing with perceptions. Thus, quantitative investigations are ineffective for the reconstruction of meanings. In short, quantitative studies ask how variables are related but not why they are related. For example, a quantitative research question may ask, Is there a relationship between ice cream sales and the murder rate? In fact, there is a relationship, but trying to solve the murder rate by outlawing the sale of ice cream will be ineffective because the sale of ice cream does not cause murder (Davis, 2015). Failing to properly identify the root cause of the problem will result in a waste of resources.

If you conducted a qualitative study and asked people why they commit murder when ice cream sales are high, perhaps they will tell you that they commit murder when it is hot (ice cream sales to them may be irrelevant). When it is hot, perhaps the heat agitates them to a point of violence, they may be more mobile (compared to when there are snow covered roads in the winter), and they may have more targets available to them in public.

Types of Research

There are many different types of academic research. The appropriate research design will depend on the purpose and focus of the study. See Table 3 for various types of research.

Theories

As stated earlier, all research involves theory, collects some type of data, and attempts to solve a problem by answering a question. Theories help explain problems, they provide possible solutions to the problems, and they guide the questions that are to be asked on a survey when collecting data (for validity). For example, if the social learning theory is being used to explain a problem (i.e., learning because of the frequency, intensity, duration, and importance of social learning experiences), it does not make sense to ask biological- based questions on a survey (i.e., diet, medications, etc.). In other words, if the social learning theory is being used to explain the problem, then the social learning theory must be used to solve the problem.

Assumptions

All theories rely on assumptions, which may impact the effectiveness of any decisions based on those theories. Understanding theories is important because applying the wrong theory to solve a problem will be less than optimal. This is why Megan's Law is proving to be less than effective. According to research on Megan's Law, the deterrence theory and labeling theory are being used to solve a biological-based problem (Corrigan, 2006). Thus, the proposed solution is not in alignment with the theories used to explain the problem and, consequently, Megan's Law is less than effective.

Decisions depend on assumptions, and we will never know if all of the assumptions are 100% accurate. Although we may be confident about a decision, we cannot know with absolute certainty that the decision is correct. However, understanding the assumptions that were relied upon in making a decision is important because the assumptions may change, which may impact best-practice decisions.

Qualitative Studies

When studying a topic that cannot be quantitatively predicted, such as human emotions, qualitative studies are most effective. Indeed, qualitative studies are preferred for describing and interpreting experiences in context specific settings because each person's reality is construed in his or her own mind (Adams, 1999; Ponterotto, 2005). Feelings, opinions, and emotions cannot be accurately assessed via quantitative analysis; probing the participants for more detail through in-depth interviews using open-ended questions is...