Research Methods I: Chapter 1

Tiffany is researching methods used to treat autism spectrum disorders and begins by searching on the Internet. Which statement should make her suspicious that she is on a site rooted in pseudoscience?

The entire website is plastered with testimonials from family members that describe seemingly miraculous cures.

the best description of the scientific method:

a circular process that leads to a tentative answer

a distinction between science and pseudoscience is that

a science is based on hypotheses that are testable and refutable

what is a potential problem with the method of authority

an expert may be giving answers outside his or her area of expertise; an "expert" answer may be only a personal, subjective opinion; a person may claim to be an expert when he or she really is not

set of premise statements that are logically combined to yield a conclusion

argument

the third step of the scientific method uses a general hypothesis to develop a testable predication. this step involves the use of:

deduction

what kind of reasoning uses a general hypothesis to make a specific prediction

deductive

method of using observation & direct sensory theory

empirical method

finding information in a textbook is an example of using the rational method of inquiry

false

using a hypothesis to predict how people will behave demonstrates the use of induction

false

what kind of reasoning uses a few specific observations to produce a general hypothesis?

inductive

a patient who demands a second opinion before agreeing to surgery is double checking information obtained by the

method of authority

when your doctor asks you whether you have been sleeping well at night, the doctor is gathering information by using the

method of authority

Which method of acquiring knowledge is being used by a person who says "I'll believe it when I see it?"

method of empiricism

method of authority in which people have unquestioning trust in an authority figure

method of faith

the phrase "science is objective" means that scientific answers are

not influenced by researcher bias

sentence used in logical reasoning that describes facts or assumptions

premise statement

set of ideas based on nonscientific theory, faith, & belief

pseudoscience

scientific study based on observations summarized & interpreted in a narrative report

qualitative research

scientific study based on measuring variables numerically & submitting them to a statistical analysis

quantitative research

method that involves seeking answers by the use of logical reasoning

rational method

repetition of a search study with the same basic procedures used in an original study

replication

means of acquiring knowledge that functions via formation & testing hypotheses

scientific method

when you "know" that you do not want to eat fried worms, even when everyone around you says that they taste great, your decision is based on the method of:

tenacity

a good research hypothesis should be

testable and refutable

the mode of inquiry that is called the method of faith is variant of which other method of inquiry?

the method of authority

a limitation of using the method of empiricism is that

the process can be time consuming and often risky

a good hypothesis should make a statement about the existence of a relationship, a difference, or a treatment effect

true

clinton is using the empirical method when he decides to eat a handful of berries to see if they are poisonous

true

dallas is using the rational method when, upon seeing that birds eating certain berries do not die, concludes that the berries are not poisonous

true

in the scientific method, the process of forming a hypothesis means that you are trying to find a possible explanation for the phenomenon that you have observed

true

one critical component of the scientific method is that all answers or explanations must be demonstrated empirically

true

the method of tenacity is a nonscientific way of knowing

true

to find out whether it really is cold enough to make your tongue stick to a metal flagpole, you press your tongue against a metal flagpole. this is an example of using the empirical method

true

visual illusions demonstrate one problem with the method of empiricism

true

characteristics and conditions that change or have different values for different individuals

variables