ABSTRACT
In Chapter 1, we examined the nature of science and theory, and the relationships among theory, research, and application. This chapter examines some of the forms research can take. The form a particular piece of research takes can be classifi ed along a number of dimensions. We can classify research in terms of which of three immediate purposes it fulfi lls-theory testing, applied problem solving, or evaluating the success of an intervention. Research can also be classifi ed in terms of the type of data it produces, quantitative or qualitative. Researchers can collect data by using any of three research strategies experimental, case study, or correlational. Research studies also differ in terms of time perspective (a short-term “snapshot” of behavior or a long-term, longitudinal approach) and where they are conducted (in the laboratory or in natural settings). In this chapter, we review each of these topics to provide a context for the discussion of the foundations of research in Chapters 3 through 6. Many points reviewed here are covered in detail in Chapters 7 through 15.
