CHAPTER 2:RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Flashcards
VOCABS
Empiricism
Is the Idea that knowledge is a cluster of experience and observation instead of relying on theories and logic alone ( it says we should use our senses by seeing, hearing / experimenting)
The Three primary goals of science
- Description
- Prediction
- Explanation
Research
Scientific process that involves careful collection, analysis, and interpretation of data
Data
Measurements gathered during the research process.
scientific method
A systematic procedure of measuring phenomena used to actively describe, explain, and predict. it involves interaction among research theories and hypotheses.
How do we know which theory is the best?
- it has a variety of hypothesis
- it will be falsifiable
i.e a theory that cognitive development predicts that kids that can count they can subtract. if a kid can subtract before they can count it calls the theory into question - Good theories follow the Parsimony or occams Razor ( simplest explanation)
the seven steps after coming up with a theory
1, Frame the research question
2 , conduct literature review
3, form a hypothesis
4, Test your hypothesis ( using appropriate research method)
5, recruit participants from target popn
6,use Statistical analysis to compare responses
7, report Results and restart the research process.
variable
something in the world that can vary and that a resasercher can manipulate change and measure
Operational definition
How a researcher defines and measures something in a study
i.e if their variable is happiness how do they measure it?
Replication
A process of repeating a research to confirm or contradict the result
why is it hard for scientists to replicate research?
- False positive ( a result indicating statistically correct data but wrong information.
- sometimes not hypothesized conditions tend to make a difference within a research
- the unintentional bad practices of science for researchers also make research unreplicable.
What are some Unintentional bad practices of science?
-HARKing - which is hypothesizing after results are known.
-P- hacking - which is scientists manipulating their data by emitting data that doesn’t follow their hypothesis.
Underreporting null effect- in which scientists don’t report a condition that didn’t make any change compared to their control.
What are some good practices for scientist?
Pre-registration - where researchers preregister their topic methodology and hypothesis before conducting the research.
Meta-analysis is “A study of the studies” where research on the same topic is compiled together into one study of studies. The research is wished differently if one research is based on a small population size and the other on a large population size, then they are reviewed separately.
Critical thinking
It’s a systematic way of questioning and evaluating information Using well-constructed and trusted evidence.
What are the ways of Critical thinking
- Ask for evidence for the claim that’s being made
- Ask for clarification and definition of the question that is being asked.
- And look for the source of the information you obtained ( can the source be trusted? Is the source a peer-reviewed paper?
What types of studies are used in scientific research?
- Descriptive research
-Correlational research - Observational studies
Descriptive research
What are the three ways of conducting descriptive research?
Case Study
Observational
self-report and interview
Case study
- is a descriptive research method that involves intensive examination of a person or an organization
- it can be flawed as one result from a specific case study might not apply to another.
What are the two types of observational studies?
-Participant observation
- naturalistic observation
What is the difference between the two observational study methods?
- Participant observation of the research is involved in the studies
- Naturalistic observation is the research where the research is not involved at all.
What is correlational studies?
It is the description and prediction of the relationship of variables.
What are the limitations of correlational studies?
- Correlation doesn’t imply causation
- Directionality problem ( does wealth cause happiness) or ( does happiness cause wealth )
- third variable or lurking variable
What is correlational study good for?
for making predictions
Experimental method
A research method that tests a casual hypothesis by manipulating variables
independent variable
Is the variable that is being manipulated
dependent variable
is the variable that is being produced after the outcome of the manipulated variable.
Experiment Group
The Participants in an experiment who receive the treatment
Control group
The participants in an experiment who receive intervention or receive an intervention unrelated to the independent group.
Confound
Anything that affects a dependent variable and that may unintentionally vary between the exipermntal conditions of a study.( it’s like a third variable)
Random assignment
Placing each participant into the conditions of an experiment in such a way that each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to any level of independent variable.
