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7-Research Methods > Lecture 2: Thinking Like a Researcher > Flashcards

Lecture 2: Thinking Like a Researcher Flashcards

1
Q

What is research is about?

A
  1. Using skills in critical thinking
    - learn to question everything
    - who, what, where, when, etc.
  2. Using scientific method to address questions
    - systematic and interative
  3. Less about memorizing
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2
Q

What are the 4 main question types in research?

A
  • Memory
  • Convergent
  • Divergent
  • Evaluative
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3
Q

What is a memory type question?

A

test reproduction of facts (name, define, who, what, ye/no responses)

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4
Q

What is a convergent type question?

A

integrate analysis leading to an answer (compare/contrast explain relationships)

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5
Q

What is a divergent type of question?

A

spur independent ideas (imagine, suppose, predict, if-then, wha are possible consequences)

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6
Q

What is an evaluative type of question?

A

those of judgement, value, choice (defend, justify, what do you think about, what is your opinion on…)

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7
Q

What are the steps in a systematic research?

A
  • ask questions
  • do background research
  • construct hypothesis
  • test with an experiment
  • analyze results/draw conlusions
  • hypothesis is “TRUE”
  • hypothesis is “FALSE” or partially True –> think! try again
  • report results
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8
Q

What are the 3 main types of research?

A
  • exploratory
  • descriptive
  • explanatory
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9
Q

What is an exploratory research?

A

scoping, generate ideas, test feasibility, casual observations)

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10
Q

What is a descriptive research?

A

careful observations and note taking, use scientific method, what/where/when of phenomenon, associative research

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11
Q

What is an explanatory research?

A

seeks to explain observations; addresses how/why questions; attempts to connect the dots; causality

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12
Q

What is gut thinking?

A
  • we have our own answers and views
  • shaped by evidence? strong? how much? flawed thinking? biased observations? emotions? politics? economics? etc.
  • we think that our gut is never wrong and it might lead to flawed explanations and decisions.
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13
Q

What are the main reasons behind a “flawed gut”?

A
  • Heuristic
  • Mental shortcut
  • “Better than average” Effect
  • Overconfidence phenomenon
  • Hindsight bias
  • Confirmation bias
  • Introspection
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14
Q

How is heuristic - mental shortcut related to flawed gut?

A
  • judge likelihood of event based on similar/relevant cases that easily come to mind (availability heuristic) EX: gluten-free diet worked well for a patient with symptoms A, B, C, and so…
  • judge likelihood by how much it resembles something “typical” [representative] EX: all salads must be healthy because…
  • mental shortcuts help us cope with a complex world –> not necessarily a bad thing but need to be careful with professional level.
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15
Q

How is “Better than Average” Effec related to flawed gut?

A

impossible for everyone to be >50%

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16
Q

How is overconfidence phenomenon related to flawed gut?

A
  • Overly confident about our judgements

- We have little reason to self correct

17
Q

How is hindsight bias related to flawed gut?

A
  • we overestimate our ability to have predicted results
18
Q

How is confirmation bias related to flawed gut?

A
  • we like to be correct, and focus on info that proves this
19
Q

How is introspection related to flawed gut?

A
  • we reflect on our own thoughts/experiences to find relevant evidence.
20
Q

Why are anectodes are not reliable in terms of scientific evidence?

A
  • personal anectodes*
  • we favour this; aren’t we always correct?
  • while valuable, can these generelize? Typical?
  • Law of small numbers*
  • extreme outcomes (outliers) possible
  • single (few) anectodes generalize?
21
Q

How to better make decisions without being influenced by personal anectodes?

A
  • remove anectode/emotion from decision-making*

- adapt a set of guidelines to make judgements

22
Q

Compare Psuedocience and Science

A
  • Science*
  • willingness to change with new evidence
  • ruthless peer review
  • takes account of all new discoveries
  • invites criticism
  • verifiable results
  • limits claims of usefulness
  • pseudoscience*
  • fixed ideas
  • no peer review
  • selects only favorable discoveries
  • sees criticism as conspiracy
  • non-repeatable results
  • claims of widespread usefulness
  • “ball park” measurement
23
Q

What is empirical framework?

A

It is a way of gaining knowledge by means of direct and indirect observation or experience. Empiricism values such research more than other kinds.

independent variable —hypothesis—> dependent variable

24
Q

What is theoretical framework?

A

A theoretical framework consists of concepts and, together with their definitions and reference to relevant scholarly literature, existing theory that is used for your particular study.

Construct A —–preposition—> Construct B

25
Q

How to build a research model?

A

Empirical Observations (inductive reasoning) + Theory/Logic (deductive reasoning) ——–> preliminary conclusions (develop premise, test/anticipate outcomes, specify relationships among variables) ——> final model

26
Q

What are the elements of professionalism in science?

A
  • intellectual honesty
  • excellence in thinking and doing
  • collegiality and openness
  • autonomy and responsiblity
  • self-regulation
27
Q

What are the characteristics of a good scientist?

A
  • skepticism
  • open minded
  • objective
  • empiricism
  • creative
  • communication
  • ethical
28
Q

What is an applied research?

A

is used to answer a specific question that has direct applications to the world

29
Q

What is a basic research?

A

it is driven purely by curiosity and desire to expand our knowledge. This type of research tends not to be directly applicable to the real world in a direct way, but enhances our understanding of the world around us.

30
Q

Natural vs Social Sciences

A

Natural sciences –> a branch of science that deals with the physical world e.g. physics, chemistry, geology and biology

Social sciences –> the scientific study of human society and social relationships

31
Q

What are the methods used in natural and social sciences and what are the similarities?

A
  • Natural sciences uses systematic observation, measurements, mathematics, and experiment.
  • Social sciences can use other methods as well
32
Q

What are career skills that a scientist should have?

A
  • project management
  • problem solving
  • critical thinking
  • analytical skills
  • communication skills

7-Research Methods (17 decks)

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