Chapter 1
What is Knowledge?
Information believed to be true and reliable. Creating scientific knowledge.
Research Methods
Methods, processes, or steps used to conduct social science research.
Behaviorally specific question
In research, a question that tends to be more graphic in nature, which leave little doubt in the mind of the respondent about the type of information the research is after.
Research Question
Question that guides research designed to generate knowledge. This question guides the research endeavor.
Information
Required by the Belmont Report for ethical research. Those considering participating in research must be provided information about the study they are considering.
Science
A branch of knowledge that uses research to develop that knowledge.
Ethics
Norms for behavior that distinguish between what is and is not acceptable. What the common norms of moral behavior in society dictate.
Tradition, customs, and norms
Knowledge or beliefs passed on from person to person over time. This knowledge is thought to be true and valuable because people have always believed it to be true and valuable.
Literature Review
Review, summary, and synthesis of extant knowledge on a topic.
Institutional Review Board
Committee convened and tasked with reviewing, approving, and monitoring health and social science research involving humans in the United States.
Research
Systematic investigation or examination that will contribute to generalizable knowledge.
Sample
Subset of a population of interest from which information or data is gathered.
Personal experience
Knowledge accepted based on one's own observations and experiences.
Three fundamental principles outlined in the Belmont Report:
1. Respect for persons (autonomy)
2. Beneficence (researchers obligation is to cause no harm)
3. Justice (research subjects must be treated reasonably)
Social Science Research
Area of science focused on society and human relationships in society. Criminal justice, criminology, and sociology are a few disciplines within the social science.
Definition
Clarifying the precise meaning of a particular concept when used in research.
Authoritative sources.
Knowledge based on information accepted from people or sources that are trusted such parents, clergy, news sources, bloggers, social media, or professors.
Three requirements for human subjects ethical research
1. Informed consent (Participants in research can choose what shall be or not shall be done to them.)
2. Assessment of risk and benefits (all parties engaged in research examine whether the benefits outweigh the risk.)
3. Selection of subjects (fair selection of, and fair distribution of, outcomes associated with the selection of research subject for research conducted.)
Data
Information that takes a variety of forms, such as words, observations, measurements, descriptions, and numbers.
Measurement
Process of quantifying a concept. Can be conducted in a variety of ways.
Intuition
Knowledge developed based on a feeling or gut instinct
Voluntary participation
Required in ethical research. A participant's engagement in a study must be grounded n having received comprehensible information about the study