Chapter 2 & 8 Flashcards
a good technical sentence is logically _________ and ______ in it’s meaning
structured and unambiguous in it’s meaning
What is technical writing?
scientific writing
to convey info efficiently & provide a clear understanding of the material
T/F Convergent writing is technical writing
true, divergent is CREATIVE writing
how should a good introduction be written?
- good introduction=good legal brief
- convincing;persuasive; grounded
- demonstrates need for and value of the study
- often reveals the “hole” or paucity in the literature
Describe the nature of technical writing
- aims to convey information efficiently, provide a clear understanding of the material
- simple, precise, and direct
- logical
- should be convergent writing
- readable and avoids passive voice or personal pronouns
What is are the components of the introduction?
- general statement of the problem
- rationale for the investigation
- review of the relevant literature
- may conclude
- summary of purpose, list of research questions, overview of hypothesis
The clarity of writing can lead to _________ and _______ of submissions
misinterpretation/revision
(Component of introduction) explain general statement of the problem
- it is used to lend perspective to the nature of the study
- forms the design of the study
- includes: population, measurement, conditions
In comparison to statement of problem, what is the statement of purpose
- it allows the reader to understand the investigators intent
- purpose is associated with a particular focus, goal, or objective of a study
what do the literature citations used for in the introduction?
- to buttress the researchers position
- help justify the statement of the problem by providing adequate background embedded in the study for a specific context
the more specific the research the more _________ the answers
specific
What is the purpose of the statement of the purpose?
it shows how the results may advance knowledge, revise a theory, or modify practice
(it shows how important your study is or that your study can revise a theory that’s established or modifies practice)
All problems MUST be justified through rationale, why and how?
Because it is impossible to investigate all aspect of a the general problem, it presents the case for studying selected aspects of a problem and identifies the limitations
it stems from the general statement of the problem
Support for a study must be based on ____________ of research and evidence, not emotion or false claims or poor reasoning
logical connections
What different forms can rationale take?
- inadequacy of previous research
- follow-up research
- resolve conflicting results
- provide empirical data
- absence of previous research
Define argument
a means by which a particular claim or interpretation is rationally justified
this is not a nasty or emotionally-changed discussion
an argument persuades the reader of a _________ (claim) by providing __________ (premises) to support it.
proposition; premises
what is rationale?
it is a set of logical arguments
What are the 6 types of arguments?
- by example
- by credible authority
- by analogy
- by induction
- by deduction
- fallacies
Explain arguments by example
it is anecdotal evidence
observation is used as a premise
less trustworthy than study evidence (shouldn’t be considered evidence at all because you can’t build a case off of this)
explain arguments by credible authority
best used to supplement other forms of verifiable evidence
someone who has demonstrated expertise in a topic
explain arguments by analogy
if two or more things are similar in some respects, they are likely to be similar in another
different but comparable relationships is used as a premise (p 34)
explain argument by induction
the premises only offer support for the proposition (excerpts 2.5-2.8)
usually baed on an established theory or general principles
argument by deduction
if the premises provide valid evidence, then the proposition logically must follow
proposition follows necessarily from the premises
i.e. CP causes dysarthria
Define fallacies
arguments are invalid when the premises are incorrect or unsupported, or when there is an error in logical reasoning
there are 3 types: of reason, of distraction, of induction
briefly explain the 3 types of fallacies
of reason: appeal to belief, emotion, popularity
of distraction: irrelevant info or false dilemma
of induction: exclude evidence that would challenge, weaken support for the author’s proposition
Emotionally volatile words or topics that suggest _______ according to sex, culture, ethnicity, or disability are not appropriate for rationale arguments
BIAS
Review of literature is not a ___________ of past studies but a _________ of an area of investigation
-comprehensive summary; critical synthesis
- Put research into context or historical perspective
- How the investigation fits into same themes and arguments
- Authors responsibility to indicate how key terms are defined in the article
- Provide context for their research to contribute to professional knowledge
The literature review should define _________, constructs, and ______
central terms; principles
why? it relates to a body of literature that support and explain importance of it
cite the relevant work to place the problem in perspective and develop a convincing rationale
ex. aphasia is an acquired neurogenic communication disorder
What important questions does a critical evaluator ask?
- With each sentence–“So what? if well constructed, the answer will be in the next sentence”
- Ask “How do you know?” or “why do you think so?” look for cited evidence
- Have the data been accurately reported?
- “Were conclusions of previous research criticized fairly?” describe the strengths and weaknesses
What questions do you ask in reference to the citations?
- how thorough is the review of literature?
- has the author overlooked recent work
- are the citations relevant?
- has the author used primarily original sources?
- check dates
Research questions should relate directly to what?
what preceded them.
this is often positions at the end of the literature review
Research questions may be oriented to what?
- Providing descriptions
- determining differences
- establishing relationships
Hypothesis should be pulled from
-practical experience, critical appraisal of the scientific literature or interest in an untested theory
A researcher should have completed what 4 things in relation to hypothesis and research question
- Defined a specific question area
- Reviewed the relevant literature
- Examined the question’s potential significance
- Examined the feasibility of studying the question
A hypothesis is what?
statements regarding a prediction flow from research questions, literature review, and theoretical framework
it is a declarative statement that predicts an outcome
explains or predicts the relationship or difference between two or more variables in terms of expected results or outcome of a study
Three characteristics should be evident in the research question
- it clearly identifies variables under consideration
- it specifies the population being studied
- it implies the possibility of empirical testing
T/F the hypothesis suggests an answer to the research question
true
What are the limitations of the study?
acknowledgements by author of research limits (usually included at the end of the publication)
-reduced control over subjects
-controls that limit application
-sample size
-convenience sample vs. randomized sample
=best acknowledge all/most pertinent limitations
