PSYC2012 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Inquiry vs. Critical Inquiry

Inquiry Asking questions with the aim of discovering something.

> Involves reason & logic which can be faulty (appeal to authority, bias, myths, celebrity endorsement, subjective perception)

Critical Inquiry “The single core scientific method” involves error detection & self-correction

> Replication/falsifiability

> Control for confounds/alternative explanations

Research Questions

- Should be BOTH broad (does not need to specify details) & specific (focused enough to guide research process)

> Bad = too broad/vague, value-based vs. scientific, normative vs. critical (e.g. what “should” be done)

- Does not commit to “direction” of relationship, whereas hypothesis/prediction does

Examples of Good Research Qs

> How does late-night binge-watching impact attention and memory in uni students?

> How does participation in activism influence social identity in young adults?

> Does practicing mindfulness for 4 weeks reduce self-reported stress levels in uni students?

Examples of Bad Research Qs

> "Is happiness more important than success?" = value-based

> "Should society care more about mental health" = value-based & normative

> "What is the best way for people to live their lives?" = too vague

The Role of Evidence

Test predictions/hypotheses!

> Bad = anecdotes/testimonials (bias, subjective)

> Questionable = case studies, observational data (lack controlled environment & poor causal inference)

> Good = experimental data

Claim

Assertion that something is true

> Declarative statement (argument/view)

> Not always factual: can be value-based

Hypothesis

Generalised claim about the world

> States assumed relationship between variables...

> BUT goes beyond context of study

> Is conceptual

Research Prediction

More precise version of hypothesis: in context of study

> H is conceptual, P is operational

> Quantitative