Week 1

Question 1

4 types of research questions

Answer 1

Exploratory, descriptive, explanatory, evaluative

Question 2

When do you use an explorative research question?

Answer 2

When you do not know a lot about the topic

Question 3

When do you use a descriptive research question?

Answer 3

When you have a clear definition and want to go more in-depth

Question 4

When do you use an explanatory research question?

Answer 4

When you want to answer a ‘why’ question

Question 5

When do you use an evaluative research question?

Answer 5

When you want to answer a ‘how effective’ question

Question 6

What are the two directions in which theory is used in research?

Answer 6

Deductive and inductive

Question 7

What is deduction? What is it based on?

Answer 7

When you derive concrete hypotheses from general theory. It is based on predictions and logical reasoning

Question 8

What is induction? What is it based on?

Answer 8

When outcomes of observation guide theory. It is not based on predictions but on observations

Question 9

What is an iterative approach?

Answer 9

When you go back and forth between deduction and induction. Iteration means repetition. After presenting a theory based on observations (inductive), the researcher can start gathering more data to refine or retest the theory (deductive).

Question 10

What is ontology?

Answer 10

The study of being. Question they ask: what is the nature of reality?

Question 11

What are the two contrasting views of ontology?

Answer 11

Objectivism and constructivism

Question 12

What does the view of objectivism in ontology represent? Give an example

Answer 12

This view is linked to the natural sciences. Social entities are objective entities that have a reality that is not influenced by our view on them. An example is a river, which is not created in our minds but actually exists

Question 13

What does the view of constructivism in ontology represent?

Answer 13

This view is linked to the social sciences. Social entities are constructions built up from our perceptions and actions. An example is happiness

Question 14

What is epistemology?

Answer 14

The study of knowledge. Question they ask: how should we obtain knowledge?

Question 15

What are the two contrasting views of epistemology?

Answer 15

Rationalism and empiricism

Question 16

What does the view of rationalism in epistemology represent?

Answer 16

Knowledge is gained through logical reasoning

Question 17

What does the view of empiricism in epistemology represent?

Answer 17

Knowledge is gained through observations and experiences

Question 18

What is the falsification principle?

Answer 18

It suggests that for a theory to be scientific it must be able to be tested and proven false. For example, the hypothesis that “all swans are white,” can be falsified by observing a black swan.