Introduction, Acquiring Knowledge and the Scientific Method: Chapter 1 Flashcards
why study research methods
- to be able to conduct research
- to be able to evaluate others’ work
- to be able to distinguish science from pseudoscience
- to protect oneself against those who would take advantage of others
- to think like a scientist and develop a systematic way of asking questions
sources of knowledge
- method of tenacity
- method of intuition
- method of authority
- method of faith
- rational method
- empiricism
method of tenacity
ideas are accepted as truth because they have been around for a long time and/or based on superstition
problem with method of tenacity
- information may not be accurate
- no method of correcting erroneous ideas
method of intuition
- information is accepted as being true because it makes sense, seems plausible or feels right
problem with method of intuition
no mechanism for separating accurate from inaccurate knowledge
method of authority
knowledge obtained from an authority figure or expert in a given area
problem with method of authority
- not always accurate
- some experts can be subjective
- assumes expertise in one area can be generalized to other areas
- statements are often accepted without question
- not all experts are “experts”
method of faith
knowledge obtained from an authority figure and based on complete trust
examples: pastor, parents, teachers, spiritual leaders
problem with method of faith
allows no mechanism to test the accuracy of the information
rational method
- knowledge acquired through logical reasoning
- begin with known facts or assumptions and use logic to arrive at an answer
problem with rational method
- a faulty premise can lead to the wrong conclusion
- not everyone is good at reasoning
empiricism
knowledge acquired through direct observation or personal experience
problem with empiricism
- we cannot necessarily believe everything we see or hear or feel
- may make erroneous interpretations
scientific method
- systematic way of examining a specific issue or problem
- allows to put forth our best guess, we cannot say we have proven something
- KNOWLEDGE IS CONSTANTLY EVOLVING - WHAT IS TRUE TODAY MAY BE PROVEN FALSE TOMORROW
fundamental assumption
world is orderly and governed by natural laws
importance of logic
discover laws of nature through a process of logical thinking
theory conditions
- parsimony
- precision
- testability
parsimony
should explain many results with few concepts
precision
must be precise enough so that different investigators can agree about its predictions
testability
theory must make predictions that can be tested empirically
categories of reasoning
- inductive
- deductive
inductive reasoning
from data, you develop theories
deductive reasoning
from theories, you develop hypotheses to test
data cycle
- continuous cycle between theories and data
- ongoing process of testing and correcting, based on how data fits predictions
THEORY - DEDUCTION - DATA - INDUCTION - THEORY
research approaches
- basic
- applied
basic research approach
understand a particular phenomena
applied research approach
solve a particular problem
scientific method
- observe a phenomenon + reach a conclusion
- formulating a hypothesis
- generating a testable prediction
- making systematic, planned observations
- evaluating the original hypothesis
scientific method must be…
- empirical
- public
- objective
pseudoscience
system of ideas presented as science, but is lacking key components that are essential to scientific research
quantitative research
based on measuring variables for individual participants or subjects to obtain scores, usually numerical
qualitative research
based on observations that are summarized and interpreted in a narrative report
research process
- find a research idea and search the literature
- form a hypothesis
- determine how you will define and measure your variables
- Identify the Participants or Subjects for the Study, Decide How They Will Be Selected, and Plan for Their Ethical Treatment
- Select a Research Strategy
- Select a Research Design
- Conduct the Study
- Evaluate the Data
- Report the Results
- Refine or Reformulate Your Research Idea
