Empiricism (year 2)

Question 1

What does ‘empiricism’ mean?

Answer 1

Empiricism is the belief that people should rely on practical experience and experiments, rather than on theories, as a basis for knowledge.”

Question 2

Unscientific Methods of Problem Solving (gaining knowledge): Beliefs?

Answer 2

•Certain believes despite a lack of evidence

Question 3

Unscientific Methods of Problem Solving (gaining knowledge): Intuition

Answer 3

•Common sense

Question 4

Unscientific Methods of Problem Solving (gaining knowledge): Authority

Answer 4

• Peers/coach

* Validity depends on the authority (qualifications/methods)

Question 5

Two main methods of logical thinking:

Answer 5

Inductive reasoning (observational):
Related observations to arrive at a general conclusion 

Deductive reasoning (hypothesis-based):
Uses a general principle or law to forecast specific results

Question 6

Key terminology in empirical research

•A hypothesis

Answer 6

Must be testable and falsifiable

Can only be removed with ‘good reason’ (i.e. a more testable hypothesis)

Question 7

Basic Research includes:

Answer 7

Theoretical problems
Laboratory based
Controlled conditions
Limited direct application

Question 8

Applied Research includes:

Answer 8

Immediate problems
Real-world settings
Limited control
Direct application

Question 9

Descriptive Research: Questionnaire

Answer 9

•Allows data to be collected from a wide geographical area.

Question 10

Descriptive Research: Interview

Answer 10

•Allows clarification/rephrasing of question to enhance data gathering

Question 11

Descriptive Research: Normative Survey

Answer 11

•Data collected on a large population to create “norms” for comparison

Question 12

Descriptive Research:

Case Study

Answer 12

•Detailed in formation on one individual(usually)

Question 13

Developmental (descriptive) Research

Can be conducted as:

Answer 13

• Longitudinal (What is the effect of chronological age or maturation on physical strength?)
• Cross-sectional (What is the effect of chronological age or maturation on physical strength?)

Question 14

Correlational Research does what?

Answer 14

• Explores relationships between variables
• Cannot establish cause and effect
• No manipulation of variables
• Often used to support other observations
• Relationships should be investigated based upon prior knowledge rather than simply correlating a set of measurements to see what happens.

Question 15

Experimental Research

Answer 15

“Researcher manipulates treatments to cause things to happen in an attempt to establish cause and effect relationships”

“Researcher attempts to control all factors except the experimental(treatment)variable….
..If these(extraneous)factors are controlled then the researcher can presume that the resulting changes were due to the manipulation.”

Question 16

Causal Comparative

Answer 16

-Some similarities to experimental research, except:

•No manipulation of independent variable (usually because they can’t be or they shouldn’t be)

• Groups classified according to an existing characteristic
• Smokers vs. Non-smokers
• Midfielders vs. defenders
• Welsh vs. Australians •No control