Midterm #1 & #3 - The Research Process Flashcards
hypothesis
- an educated prediction that provides a testable explanation of a phenomenon
the research process (6 aspects)
- define research question with a theory
- specific and testable hypothesis based on research question
- carry out study, collect data
- analyze and interpret data
- revise theory based on data
- repeat
3 steps for a good research question
- start with a general research idea
- turn that into an empirically testable research question
- evaluate how interesting the question really is
common sense (for hypothesis)
- body of knowledge we all know to be true
- can support or refute common sense concepts
observation of the world (for hypothesis)
- can lead to interesting questions
- culture? environment?
practical problems (for hypothesis)
- access to healthcare
- online learning services
- incentives to move to green alternatitives
past research
- may spawn new related ideas
- can re-evaluate previous studies and improve upon them
PICO framework
- population
- intervention
- comparison
- outcome
population (PICO)
- used to develop and refine research questions
intervention (PICO)
- usually quantitative
population and outcome (PICO)
- qualitative research benefits from clearly defining the population and outcome
quantitative
- descriptive
- comparative
- relationship
qualitative
- describes and contextualizes a phenomenon
- non-directional (doesn’t predict)
- flexible
deduction order (quanititative)
- theory -> hypothesis -> observation -> confirmation
induction order (qualitative)
- observation -> pattern -> hypothesis -> theory
evaluating research questions (FINER)
- feasible
- interesting
- novel
- ethical
- relevant
feasible (FINER)
- if study can be done based on resources, time, and tech
interesting (FINER)
- whether study captivates a wider audience
novel (FINER)
- uncharted areas
- new viewpoints
ethical (FINER)
- integrity
- respect and responsibility
- safeguards dignity and well-being of participants
relevant (FINER)
- research resonates with real world
criteria of professional journals
- established for a long time
- associated with a professional organization
- peer reviewed
when should stage one of peer review be done?
- between designing the study and collecting and analyzing data
when should stage two of peer review be done?
- between writing the report and publishing the report
scientific law
- a statement based on repeated experimental observation that describes some aspect of the world
scientific theory
- a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world confirmed through repeated observation
strategies for generating hypotheses
- introspection
- find the exception to the rule
- a matter of degree
- change the directionality
syllogistic logic
- IF (hypothesis) AND (method) THEN (prediction)
if a prediction is false it could mean … ?
- the method was ineffective
- the theory was wrong
- the results were a fluke
how do we test our hypothesis?
- identify key variables
- choose a research design
- conduct the study
- analyze the data and draw conclusions
- communicate the findings
experimental designs
- experimenter manipulates the independent variable
- establish cause and effect relationships between IV and DV
correlational designs
- nonexperimental
- gives us relationships without manipulation
- no IV or DV as either variable can predict the other
independent variable in correlational designs
- explanatory or predictor
dependent variable in correlational designs
- criterion or response variable
script
- written instructions
- researcher reads to each participant while collecting data
sections in an APA style report
- title page
- abstract
- intro
- method
- results
- discussion
- references
conceptual definition
- defining a variable in theoretical terms
operational definition
- determining how variables will be used in study
independent variable
- influences dependent
- manipulated or controlled
dependent variable
- measured in association with changes to the IV
- outcome or effect
