study notes Research Methods Methods

What is empirical research?

Empirical research is a way of gaining knowledge by means of direct or indirect observation or experience.

What are the goals of social scientists?

To conduct applied research, which seeks to address practical problems, versus pure, theoretical, or recreational research that aims at gaining understanding without immediate application.

What are the characteristics of scientific knowledge?

Scientific knowledge is empirical, falsifiable, non-normative, transmissible, cumulative, general, explanatory, predictive, and exhibits parsimony.

Define falsifiability in the context of scientific theories.

Falsifiability refers to the ability of a theory to be proven wrong, suggesting that scientific knowledge is provisional and tentative.

What does it mean for scientific knowledge to be non-normative?

Non-normative means that scientific knowledge does not prescribe how things ought to be but rather describes how things are.

Why is it important to have clear descriptions of research procedures in scientific studies?

A clear description of research procedures is important to ensure transmissibility of knowledge, allowing others to replicate or verify the research.

What does the term 'cumulative' refer to in scientific knowledge?

Cumulative indicates that scientific knowledge builds upon previous discoveries, as new findings often enhance or refine existing theories.

What are explanatory and predictive elements of scientific theories?

Explanatory elements clarify why phenomena occur, while predictive elements indicate what will happen under certain conditions.

What is parsimony in scientific explanations?

Parsimony refers to the preference for the simplest explanation that accounts for all the observed phenomena.

What is the significance of theory in social sciences?

Theory provides frameworks for understanding complex social phenomena and guiding empirical research.

What are some objections to the empirical approach in studying politics?

Objections include focusing on trivial, measurable aspects while ignoring significant normative issues and competing research stances like interpretivism and critical theory.

What is a literature review?

A literature review is a comprehensive survey of existing literature on a specific topic, providing context and background for research.

What is the peer review process?

The peer review process involves evaluation of scholarly work by experts in the same field to ensure its quality and credibility before publication.

What are the characteristics of a good hypothesis?

A good hypothesis is an empirical statement that is general, plausible, specific, corresponds to the data, and is testable.

Define independent and dependent variables.

Independent variables are those that are manipulated or controlled in experiments, while dependent variables are what is measured to see effects or outcomes.

What is operationalization in research?

Operationalization is defining a concept by specifying the procedures to measure it and how the variables will be assessed.

What are the types of measurement bias?

Measurement bias occurs when there are systematic errors in the collection of data, such as instrument bias or respondent bias.

What are the levels of measurement?

Levels of measurement include nominal, ordinal, and interval/ratio, determining how data can be analyzed.

What is face validity?

Face validity refers to the extent to which a measure appears effective in terms of its stated aims, based on subjective judgment.

What are dichotomous variables?

Dichotomous variables are variables that have two distinct categories or values (e.g., yes/no, true/false).