Week One - Introduction To Scientific Method & Research Process

Question 1

What is intuition?

Answer 1

Knowledge is gained without intellectual effort or sensory processing e.g., instinct, emotion

Question 2

What are the 5 ways of ‘knowing?’

Answer 2

Intuition
Authority
Rationalish/Logic
Empiricism
Scientific Method

Question 3

What is authority (regarding ways of knowing)?

Answer 3

Knowledge is acquired through acceptance of ideas from respected figures e.g., parents, media

Question 4

What does it mean to use rationalism/logic when knowing?

Answer 4

Knowledge is gained through application of logical rules e.g., premise stated
If premise or application of rules is wrong, conclusion will be invalid

Question 5

How is knowledge acquired through empiricism?

Answer 5

Knowledge is acquired through observation and experience
- Senses limit what we can experience, and are open to
deception and illusion

Question 6

How is knowledge gained through the scientific method?

Answer 6

Knowledge is developed through systematic empiricism

- Data is systematically collected and evaluated

Question 7

What are the 3 features of science?

Answer 7

Systematic empiricism
Empirical questions
Public knowledge

Question 8

What are the 3 goals of science?

Answer 8

Describe: Observational research
Predict: Correlational research
Explain: Experimental research

Question 9

What are the 2 types of research?

Answer 9

Basic Research

Applied Research

Question 10

What is the aim of Basic Research

Answer 10

Aim is to increase understanding of phenomena

Question 11

What is the aim of Applied Research

Answer 11

Aim is to find solutions to practical problems

Question 12

What are the 5 steps of the Scientific Process?

Answer 12

Generate a question

Develop procedures

Make empirical observations

Rationally interpret the observations (inference = deriving conclusions from observed facts or other ideas)

Use interpretations to predict other events

Question 13

Describe Deductive Reasoning

Answer 13

General - Specific
Theory - Predictions

If the premises are true (valid) then the conclusion is valid

E.G., All humans are mortal. Erica is human, therefore Erica is mortal

Question 14

Describe Inductive Reasoning

Answer 14

Specific - General

Something is true in a specific case, therefore it is assumed to apply in more general cases as well.

E.G., The crows in that flock are all black, therefore all crows are black.

Question 15

What is a Theory?

Answer 15

A coherent explanation or interpretation of one or more phenomena.

Question 16

Theories enable what form of logical reasoning?

Answer 16

Deductive reasoning (hypotheses)

Question 17

What are constructs? What do they do/what is their purpose?

Answer 17

A construct is the idea that a phenomena might not literally exist, therefore it is merely just a construct.

Constructs observe and measure what is believed to be related to the phenomenon of interest.

Question 18

What are the 4 key points that make a good theory?

Answer 18

Parsimony
Testability
Functional
Valid

Question 19

What is meant by Parsimony? (in relation to a theory)

Answer 19

A theory is no more complex than it needs to be to explain behaviour.

Question 20

What is meant by Testability? (in relation to a theory)

Answer 20

A good theory must be able to make predictions that are open to empirical refutation.

Question 21

What is meant by Functional? (in relation to a theory)

Answer 21

A good theory explains how variables relate to one another.

Question 22

What is meant by Valid? (in relation to a theory)

Answer 22

Must make specific, testable predictions that are confirmed by observation.

Question 23

What are the 7 phases of research?

Answer 23

Idea Generating Phase
Problem Definition Phase
Procedures Design Phase
Observation Phase (doing research)
Data-Analysis Phase (statistics)
Interpretation Phase 
Communication Phase

Question 24

Explain the key processes of the Idea Generating Phase.

Answer 24

Read literature in an area of interest
Deduce hypothesis from existing theory
Apply existing theory to new phenomenon

Question 25

Explain the key processes of the Problem Definition Phase.

Answer 25

How have others conceptualised, measured and tested related ideas

Develop testable hypotheses from

• Previous research
• Own ideas and speculations

Question 26

Explain the key processes of the Procedures Design Phase.

Answer 26

What are the variables?
What will be measured?
How will data be recorded?
What will be manipulated?
How will data be analysed?
Who will be tested (ethics)

Question 27

Explain the key processes of the Observation Phase (doing research).

Answer 27

Research is actually conducted
Might begin with a pilot study
- Results might lead to reconceptualisation of hypotheses
- Could result in changes to procedures

Question 28

Explain the key processes of the Data-Analysis Phase (statistics).

Answer 28

Apply statistical methods that were identified in design phase
This is the classical and somewhat ‘stuffy’ approach to research

Question 29

Explain the key processes of the Interpretation Phase.

Answer 29

Inductive process
Data inform the following
- What answer is provided in relation to the hypothesis?
- How do the data contribute to existing knowledge?

Question 30

Explain the key processes of the Communication Phase.

Answer 30

• Public
• Presentation at scientific meetings
• Publication of research in peer reviewed journals

Question 31

What are the 5 main types of Research Designs?

Answer 31

Naturalistic Observation
Case Study
Relational Research
Differential Research
Experimental Research

Question 32

Describe Naturalistic Observational Research.

Advantages/Limitations?

Answer 32

In-depth observation of phenomenon in its natural setting

Advantages
- Major benefit is that findings have clear application outside the laboratory since observations are made in the ‘real world’

Disadvantages
- Awareness of being observed may affect behaviour

• Generalisability
  (can the findings obtained by observing one group be applied to other, unobserved groups (external validity))
• Bias
  (researcher expectations can affect what they look for)

Question 33

Describe Case Study Research.

Advantages/Limitations?

Answer 33

In-depth observation of one person or small group

Advantages/Useful when
- Phenomenon of interest is not well understood, or difficult to produce experimentally
- Phenomenon is rare (e.g., H.M., split-brain)
- Qualitative research often relies on case studies
- Useful in early development of theories which can then
be subsequently tested

Limitations

• May not be representative of larger population (conclusions will lack external validity)
• Subject to researcher bias

Question 34

Describe Relational Research.

Advantages/Limitations?

Answer 34

Attempts to determine the degree to which two or more variables are related.

E.G., Early studies that established links between early life experiences, SES, parental background and occupations with children’s later intelligence and success at school

In medical science sometimes referred to as epidemiological studies

LIMITATIONS
Cannot be used to establish cause and effect because:
- Lack of control means direction of causation is ambiguous
- Causation might be due to a third (lurking) variable
- How the data are collected is the issue with relational research.

Question 35

Describe Differential Research.

Advantages/Limitations?

Answer 35

Compares two or more groups of participants on some variable

ADVANTAGES

• Groups are pre-existing and not under the researchers’ control
• High constraint research

LIMITATIONS
Missing component in quasi experimental research is the random assignment of participants to the treatment conditions
- means that we can never rule out alternative explanations for the effect that is observed (measured).

Question 36

Describe Experimental Research.

Advantages/Limitations?

Answer 36

Participants are randomly assigned to groups/conditions

ADVANTAGES

• Researchers are able to have strict control over all aspects of the study
• Highest level of constraint

LIMITATIONS

• High constraint means little flexibility
• Experimental conditions may not translate well to ‘real-world’ settings