Introduction to Research Flashcards
What is imagination?
The application of knowledge.
What is knowledge?
The fundamental principles that give a basis for imagination.
What is creativiting?
Connecting different things.
What are 5 common characteristics of research?
- Systematic
- Logical
- Empirical
- Reductive
- Replicable
What makes research systematic?
It has problems, methods, data, analysis, and conclusions.
What makes research logical?
Others can evaluate conclusions drawn.
What makes research reductive?
Data is used to establish more general relationships.
What makes research empirical?
Conclusions drawn are based on data.
What makes research replicable?
The research process is recorded and others can repeat or build on that research.
What is a philosophical worldview?
A researcher’s basic set of beliefs about the general orientation of the world and the nature of research.
What are Creswell’s 4 worldviews?
- Postpositivism
- Constructivism
- Transformative
- Pragmatism
What is postpostivism?
It is based on the notion of a single reality and “objective truth”
What is postpostivism associated with (2)?
The scientific method and qualitative research.
How should postpositive research be (2)?
Unbiased and objective.
What is constructivism?
Based on the notion of multiples realities and meaning varied and multiple.
What does constructivism focus on?
The complexity of views.
How should constructive research be?
It should recognize how one’s background shapes their interpretations of the world.
Is constructivism primarily qualitative or quantitative?
Qualitative (phrenology and ethnography).
What is the transformative worldview?
Based on the notions that research needs to be intertwined with politics and political agenda.
What does the transformative worldview focus on?
Action and reform that may change the lives of participants.
How do researchers with the transformative worldview work with patients?
Collaboratively.
Is the transformative worldview primarily qualitative or quantitative?
Qualitative (participatory action research).
What is pragmatism?
Based on the notion that research needs to be concerned with “what works” and solutions to problems.
Is there a single notion of reality in pragmatism?
No.
Is pragmatism primarily qualitative or quantitative?
It uses mixed methods (whatever works best).
Quantitative research is likely driven by which philosophical worldview?
Postpositivism.
What does quantitative research focus on?
Measurements, statistics, and protection against bias.
What are the steps in the scientific method (4)?
- Develop Problem
- Formulate Hypothesis
- Gather the data
- Analyzing and interpreting the results
What is the independent variable?
What researcher manipulates.
What is the dependent variable?
The effect of the independent variable
What is a hypothesis?
The anticipated outcome of the experiment.
What internal validity?
The generalizability of the results.
What forms of research questions in quantitative research?
- Comparing groups
- Relating independent and dependent variables
- Describing response/status on a variable
What are statistics?
An objective way of interpreting data.
What 2 things do statistics rely on?
- Reliability
2. Meaningfulness
How do you calculate the mean of a set of numbers?
The average of the numbers.
What is the median of a set of numbers?
If there is an odd number of data values then the median will be the value in the middle. If there is an even number of data values the median is the mean of the two data values in the middle.
What is the mode of a set of numbers?
First put the numbers in order, then count how many of each number. A number that appears most often is the mode.
What is the equation for the variance of a set of numbers?
(#-mean)+(#-mean)…./(n-1)
What is the standard deviation of a set of numbers?
The square root of standard variance.
What is the central tendency?
A single score that best represents all scores for a group of individuals
What is variability?
The spread of scores.
What is qualitative research used for?
Exploring and understanding meanings ascribed by individuals or groups.
What are 4 types of qualitative data that are collected?
- Documents
- Audiovisual Material
- Observations
- Interviews
How should interview questions be?
- Open-ended
- Clear
- Include follow-up
