Formulating Hypotheses and Nonexperimental Research Designs

Glossary Key Terms & Questions

Archival Study

A nonexperimental research design that involves examining existing records, data, or documents for a new research purpose

Case Study

An in-depth, descriptive record of a single individual's experiences, behaviors, or both, often conducted by an outside observer.

Deduction

A form of reasoning that starts with a general principle or theory and moves to specific instances or predictions (hypotheses).

External Validity

The extent to which the results of a research study can be generalized or applied to people and situations outside the specific research setting.

Falsifiable

A characteristic of a scientific hypothesis, meaning it is stated in such a way that it can be proven false through empirical testing.

Field Study

Research conducted in natural, real-world settings, including methods like naturalistic observation and participant-observer studies.

Frequency Method

A behavioral observation technique that involves counting the number of times a specific behavior occurs within a given time period.

Fruitful Hypothesis

A characteristic of a good hypothesis, indicating its potential to lead to new studies, questions, and discoveries.

Hypothesis

A testable and falsifiable statement about the relationship between two or more variables.

Induction

A form of reasoning that starts with specific observations and moves to broader generalizations or the formulation of a hypothesis.

Internal Validity

The degree to which a research design allows for confident causal claims about the relationship between the independent and dependent variables.

Interval Method

A behavioral observation technique that involves dividing an observation period into specific time intervals and recording whether a behavior occurs within each interval.

Meta-analysis

A statistical technique that combines the results of multiple independent studies addressing a similar research question to provide an overall estimate of the effect.

Naturalistic Observation

A type of field study where researchers observe behaviors as they occur spontaneously in natural settings without any intervention.

Nonexperimental Research

Research designs that do not involve the manipulation of independent variables; often used for descriptive, correlational, or exploratory purposes.

Parsimonious Hypothesis

A characteristic of a good hypothesis, emphasizing simplicity and conciseness in its explanation.

Participant-Observer Study

A type of field study where the researcher becomes an active participant in the group or situation being observed.

Phenomenological Study

A qualitative research approach that aims to describe and understand the essence of individuals' lived experiences regarding a particular phenomenon.

Qualitative Research

Research that primarily uses non-numerical data, such as words, narratives, and observations, to explore and understand phenomena in depth.

Review Paper

A scholarly article that summarizes and synthesizes the existing research on a particular topic.

Serendipity

The act of finding something valuable or agreeable when not actively searching for it; a potential source of research hypotheses.

Synthetic Statement

A characteristic of a good hypothesis, indicating that it is a logical "if-then" statement that can be empirically tested.

Systematic Observation

A type of field study where researchers use pre-determined categories or codes to record specific behaviors in a systematic and structured manner.

Testable Hypothesis

A characteristic of a good hypothesis, meaning that there are available methods and measures to manipulate the independent variable and measure the dependent variable.

Unobtrusive Measures

Data collection methods in field studies where participants are unaware that they are being observed, minimizing reactivity

1. Why is the characteristic of "falsifiability" essential for a hypothesis to be considered scientifically sound?

Falsifiability is crucial because a scientific hypothesis must be stated in a way that it can be proven wrong through empirical testing. This allows for the refinement and advancement of knowledge by discarding incorrect ideas.