Week 1 Flashcards
In breaking down the name of the course: “Ways of Knowing: Research”, what does ways mean?
Knowing?
Ways - methods
Knowing - curiosity, question, discover, partial truths vs. truths
Research has two parts, what are they?
Methods, and the theories part
the way of speech, the way to construct knowledge - the way knowledge is constructed
Discourse
What was the focus of Florence Nightingale’s research?
Sanitation in rural India + British army and on public health conditions and also childhood mortality
Describe the chain from research question to theory.
Research question –> data (relevant information) –> analysis (stats) –> findings –> policy and knowledge –> becomes theory over time
Why is there no such thing as proving?
Because this implies there are no alternative explanations
(only Siths deal in absolutes); in science, we believe there are alternative explanations
The systematic investigation into and study of material and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.
research
when something measures what it purports to measure, it is said to be?
valid
The consistency of measures.
reliability
Research is subject to ______ - often dictated by financial and political interests –> i.e. research is not ____ free
values
bias
the extent to which a study’s design, implementation, and analysis minimizes bias
quality
Can we completely eliminate bias?
NO! But we can minimize it
Quantifiable measurement, sample size, as well as strength of the findings from data analyses
Quantity
The degree to which similar findings are reported from studies that have similar and different designs
Consistency
What is the research wheel?
Clockwise from the top - Theory –> Hypotheses –> observations –> empirical generalizations
A theory is very ______, but a hypothesis is _______.
abstract
concrete
In the research wheel, observations refer to what?
data collection
_______ _______ support or modify existing theories
empirical generalizations
ways of naming, ways of conceptually ordering our senses of the world. They are tools with which we decide what it is that we experience, why something is the way it is, and how it is that we might act or react to it
theories
Properties of a theory:
- a systematic set of interrelated statements intended to _______ some aspect of social life
- Explain _______ patterns
- Explain ________, not individuals
- State a ________ (three possible words that are synonyms), but NOT a _______ ________
explain
recurring
aggregates
probability/chance/tendency, not a causal relationship
Generated by the expectations of a theory; a tentative statement about the relation between 2 or more variables
hypothesis
the causal variable that produces the effect
IV
the effect/outcome variable that results from the causal variable
DV
Describe the DV/IV of the following hypotheses:
“arrest for spouse abuse reduces the risk of repeat offences”
“Older adults who are more isolated (e.g. less family visits) will have a higher frequency of doctor’s appointments”
o IV – arrest (for spouse abuse)
o DV – (risk of) repeat offences of spousal abuse
o IV – Isolation
o DV – frequency of doctor’s appointments
_________ of concepts into variables –> finding the appropriate indicators
operationalization
Analysis of data leads to generalized statements about findings
empirical generalizations
Sometimes, a researcher will replicate findings in a different set of populations/geographic locations. Why?
higher external validity - can extrapolate to different populations and still be valid
Deduction:
- Theory _________
- Works from the ______ to the more ________
- ____-_____ approach
testing
general, specific
top-down
Induction:
- Theory _________
- moving from _______ observations to ________
- _____-__ approach
construction
specific –> general(izations)
bottom-up
Where is deduction located in the research wheel?
Induction?
Deduction is between theory and hypotheses
Induction is between observations and empirical generalizations
What are the parts of a research article based on the description?
A - Key points, quick review
B - describes current knowledge, identifies gaps and mentions how you will contribute to filling that gap
C - who, what, where, when and how
D - interprets and puts in context of other findings
A - abstract
B - introduction
C - methods
D - discussion
Assessment of a study’s methodological quality.
Critical appraisal
Critical appraisal takes what into consideration?
Its validity and reliability
Its results
Its practical relevancy
We are ______ information contributors
active
