Research Methods

Question 1

What are the 6 sections of a scientific report

Answer 1

The abstract
The intro
The method
The results
The discussion
Referencing

Question 2

What is the abstract in a scientific report

Answer 2

About 150 words summarising the study, this includes all the major elements like aims and hypothesis, methods results and conclusions

Question 3

What is the introduction in a scientific report

Answer 3

A literature review I.e looking at the general area of investigation and detailing relevant theories, concepts and studies that are related to the current study.

Question 4

Why so many researchers often read lots of abstracts before conducting a study

Answer 4

To see which ones are worthy of further examination

Question 5

What is the method in a scientific report

Answer 5

Detailed enough for replication. 
Design - reasons as wel. 
Sample - the people. 
Apparatus. 
Procedure - recipe-style.
Ethics - how they are addressed.

Question 6

What is the results section in a scientific study

Answer 6

Summarise key findings of the investigation and is likely to feature descriptive statistics like tables and graphs and inferential statistics like the statistical test.

Question 7

What is the discussion in a scientific report

Answer 7

Summary- verbal rather than statistical form.
Relationships to previous research - context of the evidence presented in the intro.
Limitations and implications - suggest how to address them in the future, real world applications.

Question 8

What is the referencing part of a scientific report

Answer 8

Provides details of any source material that the resrcher drew upon or cited in the report.

Question 9

What is objectivity and the empirical method

Answer 9

Information found through experimatjon and experience and is not based on subjective opinion or guessing

Question 10

Why is objectivity and the empirical method important

Answer 10

Because the data should not vary based on who is collecting it or devising the ideas. For something to be scientific it must be probable and not reliant on fallible methods like introspection.

Question 11

What is replicability

Answer 11

Findings should be able to be repeated. This means that what you discover today should be able to be replicated tomorrow

Question 12

Why is replicability important

Answer 12

In order to rule of the possibility of a fluke, or a chance result due to other factors

Question 13

What is falsifiability

Answer 13

A theory should be able to be proved wrong under certain circumstances. There should be a definite set of criteria for what would qualify as contradictory evidence

Question 14

Why is falsifiability important

Answer 14

If you can explain any possible outcome of a study, then the theory is too vague. You must make a truly testable hypothesis in order to be scientific.

Question 15

What is theory construction and hypothesis testing

Answer 15

Science must be based on theories and testable hypotheses. Before beginning the experiment, you should state what exactly you are expecting to happen

Question 16

Why is theory construction and hypothesis testing important

Answer 16

Without it it would be easy to interpret findings in any way and come up with theories based on potentially unreplicsble data

Question 17

What is a paradigm and paradigm shift

Answer 17

Science works based on a series of assumptions and working models of how the universe works (paradigms). However sometimes groundbreaking data can cause a big shift of our understanding (paradigm shift).

Question 18

Why is paradigms and paradigm shifts important

Answer 18

This gives scientists a framework from which to devise new theories and explanations. Shifts are important in advancing scientific understanding and creating new fields of resection