Intro to Research Methods Week 1 Flashcards
1
Q
List the essential characteristics of the scientific method
A
- data collection
- objectivity
- answerable questions
- reproducible
- falsifiable
2
Q
What is the role of quantitative scientific research?
A
- allows us to measure things with numbers
- numbers are simple, exact and informative
3
Q
What’s occam’s razor/parsimony?
A
Usually the simplest theories are more likely to be correct. The more assumptions you have to make the more unlikely an explanation is.
4
Q
What are the benefits of quantitative research?
A
- well established
- generalisable
- concrete
5
Q
What are the benefits of qualitative research?
A
- precise
- can confirm and clarify
- unexpected insight
- scepticism
6
Q
What is a variable?
A
Anything that can take on different values
7
Q
What are the six principles of scientific/critical thinking?
A
- ruling out rival hypotheses
- correlation is not causation
- falsifiability
- replicability
- extraordinary claims
- occam’s razor
8
Q
What is a type 1 error?
A
Incorrect rejection of a null hypothesis
9
Q
What is best way to win the Monty Hall problem?
A
Switch your original answer
