Introduction

Question 1

what is the object of research

Answer 1

to extend human knowledge of the physical, biological and social world beyond hat we already knwo

Question 2

the scientific method: research cycle

Answer 2

observations, questions, search literature, hypothesis, experiment, collect data, conclusion, share results, develop interventions, ask new question

Question 3

main idea of addressing research is

Answer 3

uncertainty

Question 4

where do research Qs come from

Answer 4

clinical practice
published literature
intuition

Question 5

testing hypothesises

Answer 5

an idea or explanation for something that is based on known facts but has not yet been proven

• a testable and tentative answer to a research question

Question 6

hard to

Answer 6

prove hypothesises

Question 7

hard to prove hypotheses so we use

Answer 7

null hypotheses

Question 8

a null hypothesis

Answer 8

a default position that there is o relationship between measured phenomena, or no associations among groups

Question 9

alternative hypothesis

Answer 9

the rival hypothesis that there something going on

Question 10

reductionism

Answer 10

when research focuses on a tiny aspect of a hypothesised causal system
- approach will vary according to specific questions e.g. social sciences= more complex

Question 11

what will increase the value and quality of research (5)

Answer 11

1) predefined protocol
2) ethical scrutiny
3) funding scrutiny
4) institutional scrutiny
5) peer review scrutiny

Question 12

value of research depends on

Answer 12

design quality and study conduct

Question 13

most papers are

Answer 13

never sited

Question 14

why may papers not be cited often

Answer 14

de to low impact- may not be due to low quality

Question 15

most papers are sited less than

Answer 15

10 times

Question 16

naturalistic means

Answer 16

qualitative

Question 17

positivistic means

Answer 17

quantitative

Question 18

conceptual qualitative (naturalistic)

Answer 18

• focused on understanding reality from peoples own perspective and experiences.

Assumes reality is dynamic and negotiated

Question 19

methodological qualitative

Answer 19

• data collected through ons and interview
• data aniseed by themes emerging from data
• data are reported in participants own words
• small purposeful samples in their natural habitat

Question 20

Conceptual quantitative (positivistic)

Answer 20

-focused on understanding facts about reality
and causal relationship
- assumes a fixed and measurable reality

Question 21

methodological quantitative

Answer 21

• data are collected by measuring things
• data are analysed statistically
• findings are reported using quantitive data
• large samples- preferably randomised to intervention

Question 22

what is Occams Razor

Answer 22

” the number of entities used to explain phenomena should not be increased unnecessarily”

Question 23

who said this: “ the number of entities used to explain phenomena should not be increased unnecessarily”

Answer 23

William of Ockham

1300

Question 24

Occams Razor and the KISS principle

Answer 24

states that most systems work best if they are kept simple rather than made complicated= therefore simplicity should be key goal in designs if unnecessary complexity should be avoided

Question 25

who’s idea was falsifiability

Answer 25

Karl Popper

Question 26

falsifiability and the problem of induction e.g.

Answer 26

all swans we have seen are white and therefore all swans are white (inductive logic)

Question 27

Inductive logic

Answer 27

doesn’t include certainty in the way deductive logic does

-some one who goes from specific instances to general conclusions e.g. all swans are white

Question 28

therefore inductive logic uses

Answer 28

specific instances to create general principles

Question 29

deductive logic uses

Answer 29

general principles to make conclusions about specific instances

Question 30

‘absence of evidence

Answer 30

is not evidence of absence’

Question 31

correlation

Answer 31

does not mean causation

- although events may closely correlate doesn’t mean causation