Introduction to Research Methods
questions well answered already
passed
The method of authority - correct answer ✔✔is believing that a proposition is true because
someone in a position of authority says it
Problem:
- authorities can be wrong
When is it reasonable to employ the method of authority? - correct answer ✔✔when the
authority appealed to is an expert
there is general agreement amongst authorities on the issue
it is accepted that the authorities could be wrong
The method of intuition - correct answer ✔✔is accepting unquestioningly your own
spontaneous account of an event
Why should we not follow the method of intuition? - correct answer ✔✔- the fact that we feel
absolutely certain about a proposition is no guarantee against its being false
- Numerous cognitive and motivational biases affect our perceptions, and so we may draw
wrong conclusions
The method of science - correct answer ✔✔involves the application of the best available error-
detection mechanisms
- admits that it is fallible
- the general feature of error-detection mechanisms is critical self monitoring
,What is the ontological position held by most scientific researchers? - correct answer
✔✔realism
- most scientific researchers assume that:
there is an objective (mind independent) world
the observable and unobservable features of the objective world can be discovered by the
appropriate use of scientific methods
The scientific method involves - correct answer ✔✔2 main steps:
Conceptual (logical) analysis
Observational analysis (empirical) analysis
Conceptual analysis - correct answer ✔✔is conducting theoretical research and applying logical
tests
- if the concept, theory or research question fails the logical tests:
it is either not clear enough or could not possibly be true, so it must be adjusted or abandoned
Observational analysis - correct answer ✔✔is when you thoroughly sought to answer the
question by:
a) considering existing observations
b) make new observations through
- quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods
Mixed methods - correct answer ✔✔involve both qualitative and quantitative methods
The scientific method - correct answer ✔✔can be applied to any research question
i.e., qualitative phenomena and well as quantitative phenomena, and subjective phenomena
,Hypothesis - correct answer ✔✔a contingent statement that serves as the basis for further
investigation
How do researchers come up with research questions and hypotheses? - correct answer ✔✔-
everyday observations of behaviour
- practical problems
- applied research
- basic research
- theory
- past research
- extension
- literature reviews
- experimental reports
- serendipity
- creative thinking
Practical problems - correct answer ✔✔is when research is often stimulated by the need to
solve problems that must be solved in order to realise some practical aim
Applied research - correct answer ✔✔has direct and immediate relevance to the solution of
practical problems
Basic research - correct answer ✔✔undertaken with the goal of enhancing the general body of
knowledge and are not intended to solve practical problems
Theory - correct answer ✔✔a systematic body of ideas about a particular phenomenon
1. organises existing knowledge about the phenomenon
2. provides a tentative explanation of the phenomenon
, 3. generates hypotheses about behaviour
Past research - correct answer ✔✔can stimulate further research by
- replication
- extension
- literature reviews
- experimental reports
Replication - correct answer ✔✔a study that duplicates some or all of the procedures of a prior
study
Extension - correct answer ✔✔replicates part of a prior study, but goes further and adds at least
one knew feature
- often undertaken when methodological flaws have been detected in the prior study
Literature reviews - correct answer ✔✔suggest an array of different research examples
- they are articles that summarise research on a particular topic
- conclude by specifying ideas for future research on the topic
Experimental reports - correct answer ✔✔- the discussion section includes specification of ideas
for viable future research on the hypothesis and topic being researched
Serendipity - correct answer ✔✔discovering something while looking for something else
Creative thinking - correct answer ✔✔a process of recognising meaningful connections
between apparently unrelated ideas and seeing those connections as the key to developing the
research question and/or hypothesis
questions well answered already
passed
The method of authority - correct answer ✔✔is believing that a proposition is true because
someone in a position of authority says it
Problem:
- authorities can be wrong
When is it reasonable to employ the method of authority? - correct answer ✔✔when the
authority appealed to is an expert
there is general agreement amongst authorities on the issue
it is accepted that the authorities could be wrong
The method of intuition - correct answer ✔✔is accepting unquestioningly your own
spontaneous account of an event
Why should we not follow the method of intuition? - correct answer ✔✔- the fact that we feel
absolutely certain about a proposition is no guarantee against its being false
- Numerous cognitive and motivational biases affect our perceptions, and so we may draw
wrong conclusions
The method of science - correct answer ✔✔involves the application of the best available error-
detection mechanisms
- admits that it is fallible
- the general feature of error-detection mechanisms is critical self monitoring
,What is the ontological position held by most scientific researchers? - correct answer
✔✔realism
- most scientific researchers assume that:
there is an objective (mind independent) world
the observable and unobservable features of the objective world can be discovered by the
appropriate use of scientific methods
The scientific method involves - correct answer ✔✔2 main steps:
Conceptual (logical) analysis
Observational analysis (empirical) analysis
Conceptual analysis - correct answer ✔✔is conducting theoretical research and applying logical
tests
- if the concept, theory or research question fails the logical tests:
it is either not clear enough or could not possibly be true, so it must be adjusted or abandoned
Observational analysis - correct answer ✔✔is when you thoroughly sought to answer the
question by:
a) considering existing observations
b) make new observations through
- quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods
Mixed methods - correct answer ✔✔involve both qualitative and quantitative methods
The scientific method - correct answer ✔✔can be applied to any research question
i.e., qualitative phenomena and well as quantitative phenomena, and subjective phenomena
,Hypothesis - correct answer ✔✔a contingent statement that serves as the basis for further
investigation
How do researchers come up with research questions and hypotheses? - correct answer ✔✔-
everyday observations of behaviour
- practical problems
- applied research
- basic research
- theory
- past research
- extension
- literature reviews
- experimental reports
- serendipity
- creative thinking
Practical problems - correct answer ✔✔is when research is often stimulated by the need to
solve problems that must be solved in order to realise some practical aim
Applied research - correct answer ✔✔has direct and immediate relevance to the solution of
practical problems
Basic research - correct answer ✔✔undertaken with the goal of enhancing the general body of
knowledge and are not intended to solve practical problems
Theory - correct answer ✔✔a systematic body of ideas about a particular phenomenon
1. organises existing knowledge about the phenomenon
2. provides a tentative explanation of the phenomenon
, 3. generates hypotheses about behaviour
Past research - correct answer ✔✔can stimulate further research by
- replication
- extension
- literature reviews
- experimental reports
Replication - correct answer ✔✔a study that duplicates some or all of the procedures of a prior
study
Extension - correct answer ✔✔replicates part of a prior study, but goes further and adds at least
one knew feature
- often undertaken when methodological flaws have been detected in the prior study
Literature reviews - correct answer ✔✔suggest an array of different research examples
- they are articles that summarise research on a particular topic
- conclude by specifying ideas for future research on the topic
Experimental reports - correct answer ✔✔- the discussion section includes specification of ideas
for viable future research on the hypothesis and topic being researched
Serendipity - correct answer ✔✔discovering something while looking for something else
Creative thinking - correct answer ✔✔a process of recognising meaningful connections
between apparently unrelated ideas and seeing those connections as the key to developing the
research question and/or hypothesis
