Research Methods, Design, and Analysis, Global Edition
Summary study book Research Methods, Design, and Analysis, Global Edition of Larry B. Christensen, R. Burke Johnson, Lisa A. Turner, Pearson - ISBN: 9781292057743 (Chapter 1 notes)
Chapter 1: Understanding scientific research:
1. Intuition:
-The act or process of coming to direct knowledge or certain without
reasoning or inferring.
-Occurs when one feels they have direct knowledge or insight but
cannot state any observation or reason for the knowledge.
-Relies on justification such as “it feels true to me” or “I believe this
point, although I can’t really tell you why.”
Problem with intuition:
-It does not provide a mechanism for separating accurate from
inaccurate knowledge.
2. Authority:
-Refers to the acceptance of information or facts stated by another
person because that person is a highly respected source.
-Used in the design stage of a study. If you are unsure of how to
design a study to test a specific variable, you might call someone
who is considered an authority in the research area and get his or
her input.
Problem with the authority approach:
-That the information or facts stated by the authority might be
inaccurate.
3. Rationalism:
-Approach uses reasoning to arrive at knowledge and assumes that
valid knowledge is acquired if the correct reasoning process is used.
-Mathematics is a type of rationalism.
, Problem with this approach:
-It is not unusual for two well-meaning and honest individuals to
reach different conclusions.
Empiricism:
-The acquisition of knowledge through experience.
- “If I have experienced something, then it is valid and true”.
Traced to John Locke (1632–1704) and David Hume (1711–
1776):
-Argued that virtually all knowledge is based on experience.
-Locke claimed that each person is born a tabula rasa (i.e.,
individuals’ minds are blank slates or tablets upon which the
environment writes).
-The origin of all knowledge is from our senses (sight, hearing, touch,
smell, and taste).
Problem with this approach:
-Our memory for events does not remain constant as we tend to
forget things and an actual distortion of memory might take place.
Science:
-Latin verb: scire means “to know.”
-Coined in 19th century by William Whewell (1794–1866).
-Before that time, scientists were called “natural philosophers”.
-The most trustworthy way of acquiring reliable and valid knowledge
about the natural world.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller owamimthanti. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $7.16. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.