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Delve into the scientific method, research processes, and knowledge acquisition methods. Learn to evaluate, understand, and apply research findings effectively for informed decision-making.
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Chapter 1 Scientific Method
Do you know the answer? • Are girls more likely to cyber-bully than boys are? • Are children of divorced parents less likely to commit to romantic relationships? • Can parents’ preoccupation with their own weight influence their children’s dieting behavior?
Why take a research methods course? • Required • Reading and understanding research articles • Understand abbreviated descriptions of studies • To be educated consumers of information • Evaluating journal articles • Learn how to do research • Learn about others’ practices (methods) • Decision making
Methods of acquiring knowledge • The method of tenacity • The method of intuition • The method of authority (the method of faith ) • The rational method • The empirical method
The method of tenacity • Information is accepted as true because it has always been believed or because superstition supports it. Overemphasis on memorization harms your cognitive reasoning. You cannot teach an old dog new tricks Opposites attract
Method of intuition • Information is accepted on the basis of a hunch or “gut feeling” • Information is accepted as true because it “ feels right” • Speaking mother language at home will harm students’ achievement in school. • You look at a student and realize he is not understanding.
Method of authority, • A person finds answers by seeking out an authority on the subject. • This can mean consulting an expert directly or going to a library or a website to read the works of an expert.
Limitations • It does not always provide accurate information. • The answers obtained from an expert could represent subjective, personal opinion rather than true expert knowledge.
Limitations • Expert in what? • Not really an expert. When a famous athlete appears on television telling you what soup is more nutritious, should you assume that being an outstanding football player makes him an expert on nutrition?
The method of faith • Is a variant of the method of authority in which people have unquestioning trust in the authority figure and, therefore, accept information from the authority without doubt or challenge.
The rational method • Involves seeking answers by logical reasoning. • Research shows technology improves learning. Mr. Fox uses technology in his teaching. Mr. Fox improves his students’ learning
The empirical method • The empirical method, or empiricism, uses observation or direct sensory experience to obtain knowledge. • Attempts to answer questions by direct observation or personal experience. • I use technology in my courses to see if it helps my students.
Limitations • It is fairly common for people to misperceive or misinterpret the world around them.
Limitations • Sunrise & Sunset • Long and Short lines
The scientific method • Is an approach to acquiring knowledge that involves formulating specific questions and then systematically finding answers. • The planned and systematic application of the empirical method
The scientific method • By combining several different methods of acquiring knowledge, we hope to avoid the pitfalls of any individual method used by itself. • The scientific method is a carefully developed system for asking and answering questions so that the answers we discover are as accurate as possible.
The steps of the scientific method Step 1: Observe behavior or other phenomena Step 2: Form a tentative answer or explanation (a hypothesis (guess a reason) Step 3: Use your hypothesis to generate a testable plan to evaluate the hypothesis Step 4: Make systematic, planned observations (data collection) Step 5: Use the observations to evaluate (support, refute, or refine) the original hypothesis
Step 1: Observe behavior or other phenomena • It is not necessary to start with a well- planned, systematic investigation. • Simply observe the world around you until some behavior or event catches your attention.er & Sue told me this winter is very depressing
The end of step 1= Induction • Induction, or inductive reasoning, involves using a relatively small set of specific observations as the basis for forming a general statement about a larger set of possible observations. • People are more depressed during winter
Step 2 (Hypothesis) • This step in the process usually begins by identifying factors, or variables, that are associated with your observation. Identify Why are people more depressed during winter? What other variables are associated with winter and depression?
Hypotheses • Health: People tend to catch colds and get the flu during the winter, and perhaps their illness leads to depression. • Weather: Perhaps people become depressed in the winter because the weather is literally dark and depressing.
Step 4: data collection This is the actual research or data collection phase of the scientific method. The goal is to provide a fair and objective test of the research hypothesis by observing whether the prediction is correct.
Step 5: Hypothesis Testing • Use the observations to support, refute, or refine the original hypothesis • To what extent do the observations agree with the predictions?
