RESEARCH METHODS STUDY GUIDE #11 CH. 1-7
Empiricism - involves using evidence from the senses (sight, touch, hearing) or from
instruments that assist the senses (such as thermometers, timers, photographs, weight
scales, and questionnaires) as the basis for conclusions; empiricists base their
conclusions on systematic observations (data).
Theory-Data Cycle - scientists collect data to test, change, or update their theories. Ex:
troubleshooting an electronic device is a form of engaging in this cycle.
Basic-Applied Research Cycle
Peer-Review Cycle
Theory-Data Cycle
Journal-to-Journalism Cycle
Cupboard Theory - theory of mother-infant attachment; the mother is valuable to a baby
mammal because she is a source of food
Contact Comfort Theory
Cupboard Theory
Contact Comfort Theory - theory that hunger has little to do with why a baby monkey
likes to cling to the warm, fuzzy fur of its mother. Instead, babies are attached to their
mothers because of the comfort of cozy touch.
Contact Comfort Theory
Cupboard Theory
Theory - a statement that describes general principles about how variables relate to one
another
Hypothesis
Data
Theory
Hypothesis - prediction about a specific outcome based on a theory
Hypothesis
Data
Theory
Data - a set of observations
Hypothesis
Data
Theory
,Basic Research - research that is not intended to address or solve a particular practical
problem; the goal is to enhance the general overall body of knowledge in a particular
field
Basic Research
Applied Research
Applied Research - research that is done with a practical problem in mind; researchers
hope that the solution can be practically applied to the problem
Basic Research
Applied Research
Basic-Applied Research Cycle - applied research is targeting real world problems, while
basic research is intended to contribute to the general body of knowledge (not really
meant to solve real world problems)
Peer-Review Cycle
Journal-to-Journalism Cycle
Basic-Applied Research Cycle
Peer-Review Cycle - scientists write up the results of their research and publish them in
journals for other scientists to view. Once scientists conduct research, and want to tell
everyone about it, they will write up the results in a manuscript; the manuscript will be
sent to a scientific peer-reviewed journal and it's either accepted or rejected.
Peer-Review Cycle
Journal-to-Journalism Cycle
Basic-Applied Research Cycle
Journal-to-Journalism Cycle - the difference between academic journals and journalism.
Academic journals are a medium for scientists to present their research; the general
public probably doesn't get a kick out of reading them (bland), and journalism is the
news most of us read and is most likely not written by scientists.
Peer-Review Cycle
Journal-to-Journalism Cycle
Basic-Applied Research Cycle
Statistically significant - when something is ________________, it means that the
results of our study (the differences we found) are probably not due to chance.
Confounds - in the real world, there are several possible explanations for any outcome.
These alternative explanations are called _______________.
, Intuition - the ability to understand something immediately without conscious reasoning
Thinking the Easy Way, Thinking What We Want to Think - Biases of intuition fall into
two basic categories
Thinking the Easy Way - at times intuition is biased because some ideas are simply
easier to believe than others. It's easier to believe a "good story" or memorable events;
The Good Story, The Present Bias, The Pop-Up Principle
The Good Story - ex) doctor treating stomach ulcers - believed they were caused by
stress and excess stomach acid. His treatment was giving the patients antacids and
carbonated drinks. His intuition probably delayed the discovery of the real cause
The Present Bias
The Pop-Up Principle
The Good Story
The Present Bias - it's more difficult to notice the absence of something rather than the
presence of something. Ex) Dr. Rush only focused on patients who received the
bleeding treatment and recovered
The Present Bias
The Pop-Up Principle
The Good Story
The Pop-Up Principle - things that easily come to mind tend to guide our thoughts
The Present Bias
The Pop-Up Principle
The Good Story
Thinking What We Want to Think - sometimes we want to challenge our preconceived
ideas. We simply ____________________________; Confirmation Bias, Asking Biased
Questions, Being Overconfident
Confirmation Bias - Cherry picking the evidence; seeking and accepting the evidence
that supports what we already think
Confirmation Bias
Asking Biased Questions
Being Overconfident
Asking Biased Questions - asking questions that will likely lead to the desired response
or expected answers; when we test hypotheses, we tend to ask questions that support
the expectations (we seek out confirmation)
Empiricism - involves using evidence from the senses (sight, touch, hearing) or from
instruments that assist the senses (such as thermometers, timers, photographs, weight
scales, and questionnaires) as the basis for conclusions; empiricists base their
conclusions on systematic observations (data).
Theory-Data Cycle - scientists collect data to test, change, or update their theories. Ex:
troubleshooting an electronic device is a form of engaging in this cycle.
Basic-Applied Research Cycle
Peer-Review Cycle
Theory-Data Cycle
Journal-to-Journalism Cycle
Cupboard Theory - theory of mother-infant attachment; the mother is valuable to a baby
mammal because she is a source of food
Contact Comfort Theory
Cupboard Theory
Contact Comfort Theory - theory that hunger has little to do with why a baby monkey
likes to cling to the warm, fuzzy fur of its mother. Instead, babies are attached to their
mothers because of the comfort of cozy touch.
Contact Comfort Theory
Cupboard Theory
Theory - a statement that describes general principles about how variables relate to one
another
Hypothesis
Data
Theory
Hypothesis - prediction about a specific outcome based on a theory
Hypothesis
Data
Theory
Data - a set of observations
Hypothesis
Data
Theory
,Basic Research - research that is not intended to address or solve a particular practical
problem; the goal is to enhance the general overall body of knowledge in a particular
field
Basic Research
Applied Research
Applied Research - research that is done with a practical problem in mind; researchers
hope that the solution can be practically applied to the problem
Basic Research
Applied Research
Basic-Applied Research Cycle - applied research is targeting real world problems, while
basic research is intended to contribute to the general body of knowledge (not really
meant to solve real world problems)
Peer-Review Cycle
Journal-to-Journalism Cycle
Basic-Applied Research Cycle
Peer-Review Cycle - scientists write up the results of their research and publish them in
journals for other scientists to view. Once scientists conduct research, and want to tell
everyone about it, they will write up the results in a manuscript; the manuscript will be
sent to a scientific peer-reviewed journal and it's either accepted or rejected.
Peer-Review Cycle
Journal-to-Journalism Cycle
Basic-Applied Research Cycle
Journal-to-Journalism Cycle - the difference between academic journals and journalism.
Academic journals are a medium for scientists to present their research; the general
public probably doesn't get a kick out of reading them (bland), and journalism is the
news most of us read and is most likely not written by scientists.
Peer-Review Cycle
Journal-to-Journalism Cycle
Basic-Applied Research Cycle
Statistically significant - when something is ________________, it means that the
results of our study (the differences we found) are probably not due to chance.
Confounds - in the real world, there are several possible explanations for any outcome.
These alternative explanations are called _______________.
, Intuition - the ability to understand something immediately without conscious reasoning
Thinking the Easy Way, Thinking What We Want to Think - Biases of intuition fall into
two basic categories
Thinking the Easy Way - at times intuition is biased because some ideas are simply
easier to believe than others. It's easier to believe a "good story" or memorable events;
The Good Story, The Present Bias, The Pop-Up Principle
The Good Story - ex) doctor treating stomach ulcers - believed they were caused by
stress and excess stomach acid. His treatment was giving the patients antacids and
carbonated drinks. His intuition probably delayed the discovery of the real cause
The Present Bias
The Pop-Up Principle
The Good Story
The Present Bias - it's more difficult to notice the absence of something rather than the
presence of something. Ex) Dr. Rush only focused on patients who received the
bleeding treatment and recovered
The Present Bias
The Pop-Up Principle
The Good Story
The Pop-Up Principle - things that easily come to mind tend to guide our thoughts
The Present Bias
The Pop-Up Principle
The Good Story
Thinking What We Want to Think - sometimes we want to challenge our preconceived
ideas. We simply ____________________________; Confirmation Bias, Asking Biased
Questions, Being Overconfident
Confirmation Bias - Cherry picking the evidence; seeking and accepting the evidence
that supports what we already think
Confirmation Bias
Asking Biased Questions
Being Overconfident
Asking Biased Questions - asking questions that will likely lead to the desired response
or expected answers; when we test hypotheses, we tend to ask questions that support
the expectations (we seek out confirmation)
