Tracey & Glidden-Tracey (1999) Integration of theory, research design, measurement, and analysis, Toward a reasoned argument

Question 0

Iterative (repeating a process) model – four components of research

Answer 0

1. Substantive theory
2. Design
3. Measurement
4. Analysis

Question 1

Major problems with current research

Answer 1

1. Wrong question
   a. Shift from “What test or measure or design should I use?” to “What do I wish to be able to say?”
2. Poor assumptive specification
   a. lack of complete explication of all assumptions
   b. poor accuracy of assumptions
   c. conclusions do not follow logically from assumptions
3. Lack of integration of the components of research
   a. Not discrete units, but integrated – got it?

Question 2

Substantive theory

Answer 2

Explicate, delineate, etc.

Question 3

Design

Answer 3

a. experimental v ex post facto
b. rigorous v relevant
c. exploratory v confirmatory

Question 4

Measurement (dimensions of a measure)

Answer 4

a. concreteness – construct easily grasped by all?
b. type – discrete v continuous
c. perspective – self, parent, therapist
d. realism – naturalness, setting of measurement
e. level – local v global
f. biases – social desirability?
g. sensitivity – over the full variable range, or restricted?
h. ideographic v nomothetic – individuals v groups
i. dimensionality – bipolar, unidimensional or otherwise

Question 5

Analysis

Answer 5

over reliance on null hypothesis testing; advocate use of factor analysis, cluster analysis, multidimensional scaling, and basic exploratory data

Question 6

Main point of article?

Answer 6

Research process viewed as iterative, not linear; choices and assumptions in one component are interrelated with other components in the construction of a single coherent argument, each component needs to be revisited until the discrepancy among the assumptions in each of the components is minimal.