Chapter 1

Question 1

Science

Answer 1

: body of knowledge about reality and a set of methods for generating this knowledge

Question 2

Two approaches to scientific knowledge

Answer 2

Agreement reality
• What we know as a part of culture and those around us

Experiential reality
• What we know from personal experience

Question 3

2 pillars of science

Answer 3

Logical
• Must make sense

Empirical
• Be supported by observation

Question 4

Methodology

Answer 4

: set of practices and techniques used to collect process and interpret information amid at enhancing our understanding of reality

Question 5

ordinary human inquiry the two methods

Answer 5

Casual reasoning
: Future circumstances are rooted or conditioned by present ones
o Ex: getting an education affects how much money you make
o Ex: go beyond reef may encounter shark

Probabilistic reasoning
: Effects occur more often but always when specific causes are present
• Ex; recognize the danger swimming behind a reef from sharks but know not all attacks will be fatal

Question 6

two things that hinder human inquiry

Answer 6

Tradition
o All inherit culture made up of firmly accepted knowledge about the world
o May test but simply accept they are true or things everybody knows
o Ex: eating too much cady decays your teeth, masturbation will bind us
o Can be bad
 Can hinder human inquiry’s
• Won’t seek out what we think we know

Authority

 believing depends on status of the person
 Ex more likely to believe a DR
o Can assist and hinder human inquiry
o Authority can give wrong or misleading information weather not they mean to

Question 7

4 errors in finding information

Answer 7

Inaccurate observations
 Make mistakes in observation
 Often because we use casual or semi-conscious observations
 Solution
• Observation is a conscious activity make observation more deliberate
• Simple and complex measuring devices help guard against

Overgeneralization
 When we look for patterns, we assume similar events are evidence of a general pattern

Selective observation
 Overgeneralization leads to selective observation
 Tendency to look at future based of past patterns
 Racial and ethnic prejudice
 Uses conformation bias
• Tendency to seek out recall or interpret information that supports ones existing views
• To help against
o Specify before the number and kind of observations to be mase as a bias for reaching a conclusion

Illogical reasoning
 Other ways in which we deal with observations that contradict our understanding of the way we think in our daily life
 Gambler’s fallacy
• Mistaken belief that random events will balance out over time

Question 8

3 types of experiences

Answer 8

Concrete experiences
 Empirical
 5 senses (touch, taste, smell, sight, hear)
 Components are called percepts which come together to form patterns
 Notable facts
• We share world with other creatures and experience their own concrete experiences
• Concrete is meaningless by itself

Abstract experiences
 Imaginary experiences in the mind
 Composed of concepts that form propositions
 Give meaning to life

Reality experiences
 Facts which are related to knowledge

Question 9

3 main aspects of social science

Answer 9

Theory
• Interrelates propositions providing a logical explanation of empirical regularities

Data collection
• Accurately observing empirical patterns

Analysis

Question 10

is science theory or belief?

Answer 10

o Concerned with what is not what should be
o Did not used to be like this
o People would let opinion influence them
o Scientific theory cannot settle debates about theory
o Ex: cannot determine if socialism or capitalism is better
o Can see how systems perform based on criteria
 For example freedom or dignity

Question 11

is there more certainty in physical science or social science

Answer 11

social science
o Ex: when drop a ball it drops
o Vs Ex: someone may vote differently from election to election

Question 12

aggregate

Answer 12

a group os people

Question 13

variables

Answer 13

o Properties of an object that can change
o Different scores that comprise a variable
o Use variables for two purposes
 Characterize a single object
• Ex: (colour, size, shape)
 Compare different objects

Question 14

attributes

Answer 14

o Properties of object that change
o Are variables changes across a set of scores
ex: male or female

Question 15

constants

Answer 15

 Properties that do not change across objects or over time

- Are interests in explanations

Question 16

are we more interests in variables or constants

Answer 16

constants as we are interests in explanations that account for events that occur in the past

Question 17

Idiographic explanation

Answer 17

o Explanation that aims to understand or make sense of specific events
o Ex: failed exam because missed the bus and your roommate kept you up the night before

scope is limited to single case on hand

Question 18

nomothetic

Answer 18

o Identifies a few common causes of a broad category of events
o Explains a class of situations or events rather than a single one
o Ex: when study with a group you do better on an exam
o Use words like
 Usually, on the whole, all else being equal

Question 19

inductive vs deductive

Answer 19

Inductive
o Form of reasoning that moves from specific case to the general case
o Moves from set of specific observation to the discovery of a pattern
o Does not tell you why the pattern exists
o Ex: list exams noting how well you did on each then try to see if you did better on multiple choice, long answer
o Goes from whether to why

Deductive
o Reasoning that moves from the general principles to a specific case
o ex: try to find the best way to study for exams by adding pros and cons
o goes from abstract/ conceptual thought to concrete/ empirical observation
o a patten to and observation
o goes from why to whether

Question 20

qualitative vs quantitative data

Answer 20

quantitative
o numbers
o easier to compare and summarize data

qualitative
o words
o gives richness to data

Question 21

pure vs applied research

Answer 21

Pure Research
o Investigation driven by curiosity and satisfied by understanding something previously unknown
o Knowledge for knowledge’s sake
o Satisfies curiosity about something

Applied Research
o Investigations directed toward insights that allows us to live more efficiently or effectively
o Put research into practice for the greater good

Question 22

when using mixed methods of research a researcher will

Answer 22

o Collect both quantitative and qualitative data
o Mix the two forms of data and combine them
o Give priority to one or both types of data
o Frame procedures
o Combine procedures into specific research design that direct plan for conducting the study

Question 23

why use mixed methods of data 4 reasons

Answer 23

1. Triangulation
   a. Gives multiple points of view on some phenomenon
   b. If similar viewpoint it reinforces our conclusion
   c. If different viewpoints then examining deeper can help enrich understanding
2. Offsetting strengths and weaknesses
   a. Uses the strengths and weaknesses of both methods
3. Complementarity
   a. Different methods can give different pieces of the puzzle
   b. Can be combined to give more comprehensive conclusion
   c. Increases meaningfulness of conclusion
4. Development
   a. Use one method to shape or inform the findings of another method

Question 24

MMR design - Convergent parallel

Answer 24

(QUAN + QUAL)
o Both QUAN and QUAL are collected and analyzed in the same stage
o Results are combined to generate an overall interpretation

Question 25

MMR design - Explanatory Sequential

Answer 25

QUAN -> qual
o Two distinctive phases
 1st quantitative data collection and analysis
 2nd qualitive phase used to enhance understanding

Question 26

MMR design - Exploratory sequential

Answer 26

QUAL -> quan
o 2 phases
 1st get explanatory data qualitive data
 2nd quantitative data used to test or generalize the previous findings

Question 27

MMR design- Embedded

Answer 27

Embedded
QUAN (qual) or QUAL(quan)
o Combining the collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data
o The secondary method is embedded in the primary design
o Collection of the secondary data may occur before, during, or after collection of primary data