Week 1 - Survey Research and Design

Question 1

What is Positivism??

Answer 1

A philosophy of science that confines itself to data of EXPERIENCE (empirical evidence)

Question 2

What is Empirical Evidence?

Answer 2

Data or knowledge, also known as SENSE EXPERIENCE, is a collective term for the knowledge or source of knowledge acquired by means of the senses, particularly by observation and experimentation.

Question 3

What is the empirical approach to research?

Answer 3

• the world is made up of data
• the data can be measured, recorded and analysed
• leads to valid insights about people

Question 4

Define the Experimental Method

Answer 4

Characterised by RANDOM ASSIGNMENT to groups, with full control over extraneous (irrelivant) variables, and manipulation of independent variables

Question 5

Define the Quasi-experimental Method

Answer 5

Characterised by the study and comparison of NATURALLY OCCURING groups. Non-random assignment, with control over some extraneous (irrelivant) variables

Question 6

Define the Non-experimental Method

Answer 6

Characterised by study of a SINGLE SAMPLE, without comparison between groups

Question 7

What is Exploratory Research used for?

info gathering

Answer 7

The goal is to EXPLORE the phenomena.

E.g. discovering, uncovering, exploring

Question 8

What is Descriptive Research used for?

info gathering

Answer 8

The goal is to DESCRIBE the phenomena.

E.g. gathering info, describing, summarising

Question 9

What is Explanatory Research used for?

theory testing

Answer 9

The goal is to EXPLAIN the phenomena by looking at the relationships between variables.
E.g. testing and understanding causal relations

Question 10

What is Predictive Research used for?

theory testing

Answer 10

The goal is to make accurate/useful PREDICTIONS

E.g. predicting what might happen in various scenarios