Week 1

Question 1

what is the nature of research?

Answer 1

1• systematic
2• logical
3• empirical
4• reductive
5• replicable

Question 2

what is systematic?

Answer 2

variables must be identified and the research is designed to test the relationship between variables

Question 3

what is logical?

Answer 3

examination of the methods and procedures used in research allows researchers to evaluate the conclusions they have made

Question 4

what is empirical?

Answer 4

researchers collect data on which to base decisions

(i.e., it is not just theory or logic)

Question 5

what is reductive?

Answer 5

researchers use the data to establish general relationships

Occam’s razor (i.e., the simplest explanation is most likely – a single cause of disease)
Hickam’s dictum (i.e., there could be multiple causes of disease, or multiple diseases)

Question 6

what is replicable?

Answer 6

process is recorded enabling others to repeat the findings or extend them (i.e., documentation must be clear and easy to understand)

Question 7

describe the scientific method of problem solving?

Answer 7

1. Identify and delimit a problem: Define the problem and its boundaries/limits.
   Independent & dependent variable
2. Searching, reviewing, analysing, integrating, summarising relevant literature: What is the context? What is known already? What is not known?
3. Specifying/defining testable hypotheses: What do you expect will be observed?
4. Designing research to test the hypotheses: Appropriate study design (e.g., treatment, intervention) and methods for collecting data including control conditions

Internal and external validity

5. Selecting participants and gathering data: Recruiting a specific population? Comparison groups? Timing?
6. Analysing and reporting the results: Data analysis, statistics, or identifying and summarising themes?
7. Discussing meaning and implications: Why is this relevant? What does this add?

Question 8

what is the independent variable?

Answer 8

what is being manipulated or the groups

Question 9

what is the dependent variable?

Answer 9

what is being measured and might change/be different

Question 10

what is internal validity?

Answer 10

can the results of the study be attributed to the treatments in the study?

Question 11

what is external validity

Answer 11

the generalisability of the results

Question 12

what are the non scientific methods of problem solving?

Answer 12

Tenacity
Intuition
Authority
Rationalistic method
Empirical method

Question 13

what is tenacity

Answer 13

Tenacity: People cling to beliefs despite lack of supporting evidence

(e.g., a coach wears the same hat to competitions, athletes have a pre-match routine)

Question 14

what is the intuition?

Answer 14

Intuition: Common sense/knowledge, self-evident – but there may be no evidence!

(e.g., it is obvious that drinking caffeine will improve sporting performance)

Question 15

What is authority?

Answer 15

Authority: A position of power or responsibility or the qualifications someone holds

(e.g., a football club manager or a professor of nutrition who is very active on social media)

Question 16

What is rationalistic method?

Answer 16

Rationalistic method: Knowledge through reasoning, but it could be a logical fallacy!

“Basketball players are tall, Tom is a basketball player, therefore Tom is tall…”
“I ate some cucumber, I have indigestion, the cucumber gave me indigestion…”

Question 17

What is the empirical method?

Answer 17

Empirical method: “a description of data that is based on observations”

But your own experiences may be limited/different to others and subject to bias

Question 18

What is inductive reasoning?

Answer 18

Question 19

what is deductive reasoning?

Answer 19

Question 20

What are the two main categories of research?

Answer 20

• basic: addresses theoretical problems under controlled conditions with limited direct application
• applied: addresses immediate problems, less controlled, the findings have direct value to practitioners

Question 21

What is Basic vs. applied research is on a continuum:

Answer 21

Some studies have features of both categories

Question 22

what is ecological validity

Answer 22

The extent to which research emulates the real world and is it generalisable

Question 23

What are the 5 main types of research?

Answer 23

Analytical
Descriptive
Experimental
Qualitative
mixed

Question 24

What is analytical research

Answer 24

In-depth study and evaluation of information to explain complex phenomena
- Historical research
•Events that have already happened: events, organisations, institutions and people
- Philosophical research:
•Critical enquiry that establishes hypotheses, facts, evidence, and theory.
- Reviews:
•Critical evaluation of recent research on a specific topic or theme
•Analysis, evaluation, integration of literature providing a summary
- Research synthesis:
•Systematic review – contains methodology, analyses methods, rigor, strength, inclusion/exclusion criteria, results, interpretation
•Meta-analysis – takes data from studies and converts into a standard metric to enable comparisons and statistical analysis to draw more reliable conclusions

Question 25

What is descriptive research?

Answer 25

Information is collected without changing the environment (i.e., no manipulation)
•“Observational” – describes characteristics of a population or phenomenon

• Questionnaire
• Interview
• Normative survey: a type of survey that presents results in the form of comparative standards
• Case study: Detailed information about one person, one community, one institution
• Observational research: Behaviours observed in a natural setting

Question 26

What is experimental research?

Answer 26

Involves manipulation of treatments/interventions to establish cause-and-effect
•Studies often have 2 groups (experimental vs. control) – best designs: randomised
•The researcher attempts to control all variables

Question 27

What is qualitative research?

Answer 27

Explores and provides deeper insight into real world problems with reflection •
> Focus on “words” not “numbers”
> using “sense-making” (no hypothesis testing)
> interviews (structured, semi-structured, conversational) or focus groups
> observing variables/people and behaviour in the “real world”

Question 28

What is mixed methods research?

Answer 28

• both quantitative and qualitative
• usually descriptive & experimental

Question 29

What are the values in research?

Answer 29

Honesty: convey information truthfully and honouring commitments
Accuracy: report findings precisely and take care to avoid errors
Efficiency: use resources wisely and avoid waste
Objectivity: let the facts speak for themselves and avoid improper bias

Question 30

What is research and integrity

Answer 30

Conducting research in ways that are aligned with professional standards so that others can have confidence in the methods used and the research findings

Question 31

What is research ethics

Answer 31

Research practice viewed from the perspective of moral principles