Scientific Research Week 2 Flashcards
List why scientific research is so important
- obtaining new important knowledge
- answering important questions
- finding out whether something works, like an intervention
- helping to understand causal relationships
List the characteristics of scientific method
- data collection
- objective
- no bias
- addresses answerable questions
- reproducible
- falsifiable
What is falsifiability?
(Karl Popper)
When a theory can be shown to be false e.g all swans are white, and then you see a black one.
What is quantitative research?
- numerically focused
- numbers represent phenomena
- mathematical and stats techniques
What is qualitative research?
- subjective experience/language
- can suggest new directions
- human processes/reasoning
What is a theory?
A well established explanation of what is going on in an environment
What is a research question?
a specific analytical question grounded in theory or practice that is answerable
A good hypothesis should -
- be parsimonious
- be testable
- be consistent
What is an independent variable?
The independent variable is the ‘cause’ in a study - the predictor
What is a dependent variable?
The ‘effect’ or outcome variable in a study
Describe the features of an experimental design
- two groups, separate conditions
- participants randomly allocated to conditions
- control vs. experimental
What makes a quasi experimental design different to an experimental design?
participants are not randomly allocated; they are pre-assigned to their groups by something like gender, neighbourhood etc
What are the characteristics of a correlational design?
- no cause and effect, just relationships
What is a control group?
A group in a true experimental design where they do not receive the treatment. Used as a baseline to which the treatment group can be compared.
Why should we randomly allocate people to groups?
It makes sure that other influences - sources of error - are randomly spread amongst groups
