Developing Research Ideas

Question 1

What are the main steps in the empirical research process?

Answer 1

Idea & Question - Formulation of research question and hypothesis - Planning of empirical study - Analysing of empirical study - Interpretation and Presentation of results - Idea & Question

Question 2

What is an author’s h-index?

Answer 2

The h-index is defined as the maximum value of h such that the given author has published at least h papers that have at least been cited h number of times. For example - if an author has five publications cited, 9, 7, 6, 2, 1 - then the author’s h-index is 3 - because 3 papers have been cited at least three times. Obviously the h-index cannot exceed the number of papers the author has published. (Sorry for the long answer - but I found this a bit hard to understand without the longer explanation!)

Question 3

What is the impact factor of a journal?

Answer 3

The impact factor of a journal is the average number of citations received per published paper within that journal during the preceding two years.

Question 4

What in general can be considered a reasoned prediction about an empirical result that should occur under certain circumstances?

Answer 4

A hypothesis :-)

Question 5

What are the three attributes of good theories?

Answer 5

• Productivity - good theories advance knowledge by generating more research.
• Falsification - a theory that appears to explain everything is seriously flawed!
• Parsimony - they should include the minimum number of constructs and assumptions needed to adequately explain the phenomenon. Simplicity is key!

Question 6

Astrology, flat earth theory and Phrenology are examples of what?

Answer 6

Pseudoscience