Research Term I
The Two Pillars of Scientific Research
What is Theoretical Level and Empirical Level
When researchers aim to test concepts and patterns informed by theory using new empirical data (theory testing research) they are doing what?
What is Deductive Research?
Essentially, all theories must be discussed in ways that clearly identify route for the theory to be disproven, or falsified.
What is Falsifiability?
Refers to our assumptions about how we see the world (does the world consist mostly of social order or constant change).
What is Ontology?
These are Used to define constructs in terms of how they will be empirically measured.
What are Operational Definitions?
Largely conceptual and somewhat abstract in nature (ie., how we think about and make sense of various phenomenon) and the relational/interactional dynamics (observation based).
What is Theoretical Level
The standardized set of techniques that build a scientific knowledge by informing how researchers make valid observations, interpret results, and generalize results.
What is the Scientific Method?
In the event that data procedures have multiple explanations for the same phenomenon researchers must always accept and prioritize the least complex and most logically economical explanation.
What is Parsimony?
This Research conducted in new areas of inquiry.
What is Exploratory Research?
The process of designing precise measures for abstract theoretical constructs.
What is Operationalization?
This Tests the theoretical hypothesis to determine how well they reflect observation of reality.
What is the Empirical Level
The Scientific Method must meet the following four characteristics
What is Replicability, Precision, Falsifiability, Parsimony
An abstract concept that is specifically chosen (or created) to explain a given phenomenon
What is Construct?
To scope out the magnitude or extent of a particular phenomenon, problem or behavior.
What is the First Goal of Exploratory Research?
The target population from which they wish to collect data.
What is Sampling?
These are the Primary ways to approach research and experimentation
Inductive Research and Deductive Research
If the same study is repeated by another team of researchers, the experiment should yield identical, or nearly identical results as the initial study.
What is Replicability?
Research that is directed at the making of careful observations and detailed documentation of an identified phenomenon. Observations here are based on the Scientific Method.
What is Descriptive Research?
To generate some initial ideas (or hunched) about that phenomenon
What is the Second Goal of Exploratory Research?
Refers to the person, collective group, or object that is the target of the investigation
What is Unit Analysis?
When researchers aim to infer theoretical concepts and patterns from observed data (Theory Building Research) they are doing?
What is Inductive Research
Moving theoretical concepts from an abstract concept to a precise and operational definition, allowing for other researchers to measure the same terms in similar ways.
What is Precision?
This Refers to our assumptions about the best way to study the world (e.g., should we use an objective or subjective approach to study social reality.
What is Epistemology?
To generate some initial ideas (or hunched) about that phenomenon
What is the Third Goal of Exploratory Research?
A measurable representation of an abstract construct.
What is a Variable?