RDA Week 1: Acquiring Knowledge and Scientific Method

Method of Tenacity

Information is accepted as accurate based on long-term belief or superstition

Limitations of Tenacity

-Potential inaccuracies

-No method of correcting incorrect statements

Method of Intuition

Information is accepted based on hunches or gut feelings

Limitation of Intuition

No method of separating accurate or inaccurate knowledge

Method of Authority

Relies on information or answers from an expert in the subject manner (often quickest and easiest)

Limitations of Authority

-Expert statements may be subjective or biased

-Can’t be an expert in all areas

-Not all “experts” are qualified

Method of Faith

Unquestioning faith in authority figure

The Rational Method

Answers questions by the use of logical reasoning

Limitations of The Rational Method

-Logical conclusion is only valid if the premise statements are true

-Most people are not skilled at logical reasoning

-Failure to collect data

An Argument

A set of premise statements logically combined to yield a conclusion

The Empirical Method

Answering questions by direct observation or personal experience

Limitations of The Empirical Method

-Observations can be misinterpreted

-Beliefs can influence sensory experience

-Time consuming and potentially dangerous

The Scientific Method

An approach to acquiring knowledge that involves formulating specific questions and systematically seeking answers

Step 1:

Observe a behaviour or phenomena

-Inductive

Step 2:

Formulate a hypothesis

-A tentative answer or explanation

Step 3:

Use the hypothesis to generate a testable prediction

-Deductive

Step 4:

Evaluate the prediction by making a systematic, planned observation

Step 5:

Support, refute or refine the original hypothesis

Empirical

Involves structured and systematic observation of natural phenomena that are accessible to the senses and measurable

Public

Makes observations and findings available to the public via academic publications and conference presentations

Objective

Observations and studies are designed to control researcher bias/beliefs and avoid inaccurate conclusions

P < 0.05

-Hypothesis supports prediction

-Suggests there is a difference between our two groups

P > 0.05

Hypothesis doesn’t support prediction

Quantitative Research

Produces numerical scores measuring variables that are statistically analyzed for summary and interpretation

Qualitative Research

Based on making observations, summarizing them, and interpreting in a narrative report