u Flashcards
What are the sources of knowledge according to ACIRE?
- Authority
- Common Sense
- Intuition
- Rationalism
- Empiricism
Each source has its own strengths and weaknesses, influencing how knowledge is perceived and validated.
Define Authority as a source of knowledge.
Experts/scientists, can be biased
Authority figures may provide valuable insights but can also be influenced by personal biases and agendas.
What is the Theory-Data Cycle in the scientific process?
Data collected to test/refine theories
This cycle allows for continuous improvement and validation of scientific theories.
List the characteristics of good theories.
- Parsimonious (simple)
- Falsifiable
- Generate many hypotheses
Good theories should be straightforward and capable of being tested through observation.
What are Merton’s Scientific Norms?
- Universality
- Communality
- Disinterestedness
- Organized Skepticism
These norms guide ethical and systematic scientific inquiry.
What does the Availability Heuristic refer to?
Emotional/memorable things guide thinking
This cognitive bias affects decision-making by making vivid examples more accessible.
Fill in the blank: The _______ Bias is the tendency to ignore contradictory information.
Confirmation
This bias can lead to skewed reasoning and reinforce pre-existing beliefs.
What is the difference between Constructs and Operational Definitions?
- Construct: Intangible trait (e.g., intelligence, love)
- Operational Definition: How it’s measured
Understanding both concepts is crucial for designing effective research.
What are the types of claims in research?
- Frequency: Describes numbers (nominal)
- Association: Links two variables (not causal)
- Causal: One variable causes another
Each type of claim has specific requirements and implications for research interpretation.
Define Internal Validity.
Did IV change DV, or was it something else?
Internal validity assesses whether the study’s design effectively isolates the independent variable’s effect on the dependent variable.
What does Reliability refer to in research?
Consistency of a measure over time
Reliability is essential for ensuring that research findings are stable and replicable.
What are the scales of measurement in research?
- Nominal: Categories
- Ordinal: Rank/order
- Interval: Equal intervals, no true zero
- Ratio: True zero
Understanding these scales is key to accurately analyzing and interpreting data.
What are the Belmont Report Principles?
- Respect for Persons: Protect autonomy
- Beneficence: Protect from harm, maintain anonymity
- Justice: Fair representation and benefit
These principles guide ethical research practices involving human subjects.
What is Random Assignment in experimental design?
Reduces confounds
Random assignment helps to ensure that each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to any group, minimizing bias.
What are Interaction Effects?
Occur when the effect of one IV depends on another IV
Identifying interaction effects is vital for understanding complex relationships in data.
