Cognitive Bias and Research Methods

Illusion of Knowledge

• Defined as a cognitive bias where individuals overestimate their knowledge and abilities.
• Leads to poor judgments, decisions, and resistance to new information.
• Stems from overestimating personal skills, underestimating others' skills, and overlooking subjective errors.
• To overcome this bias, practice continuously, seek feedback from others, and honestly assess knowledge gaps.

Learning Communities

• Groups of students with close interaction in campus activities.
• Promote academic, social, and service involvement.
• Foster a growth mindset and collaborative problem-solving.
• Encourage mutual respect and understanding of diverse backgrounds.

Scientific Research

• A systematic method for studying problems and finding solutions.
• Aims to understand, predict, and control phenomena.

Historical Research

• Studies past events to understand current contexts.

Descriptive Research

• Studies present phenomena with past roots.
• Researchers limit themselves to describing present impacts.
• Includes seven types:
  • Surveys: Observe prevalence in groups.
  • Correlational: Find relationships between variables.
  • Retrospective: Analyze past effects on present.
  • Work analysis: Describes professions for guidance.
  • Content analysis: Evaluates document/curriculum quality.
  • Evolutionary: Tracks individual changes.
  • Case study: Analyzes specific problems for comprehensive description, causes, and solutions.

Experimental Research

• Studies present phenomena to observe future effects.
• Aims to find cause-and-effect relationships.

Hypothesis

• A proposed explanation, a temporary solution to a problem.
• Written in a declarative form and tested.
• Includes hypotheses for correlational coefficients, differences in averages, and predictions in studies.

Themes of Excellence

Digital Enrichment

• Integrates technology into teaching to enhance learning.
• Uses multimedia, flipped classrooms, and online courses to promote active learning.
• Focuses on critical thinking, problem-solving, and productivity.

Entrepreneurial Enrichment

• Aims to develop entrepreneurial attitudes and skills.
• Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE) offers support through seminars, contests, workshops, and a minor.
• Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) provides resources for entrepreneurial education.
• Champions of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) support entrepreneurial initiatives.

Experiential Education

• Promotes active, community-based, inquiry-based learning.
• Shifts focus from teacher-centered instruction to learner-centered experiences.
• Emphasizes hands-on activities and real-world application.
• Based on Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory stages: concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, active experimentation.

Learner-Centric Education

• Puts learners at the center of the educational process.
• Encourages active learning through problem-solving, teamwork, and collaboration.
• Rooted in constructivism, emphasizing knowledge construction and active learning.
• Employs Bloom's Taxonomy framework (Remembering, Understanding, Applying, Analyzing, Evaluating, Creating).
• Implementable methods include problem-based learning, case studies, just-in-time teaching, and flipped classrooms.

Research-Informed Education

• Integrates research into teaching, emphasizing critical thinking.
• Improves problem-solving, creative thinking, and real-world applications.
• Prepares students for graduate studies and enhances communication skills.
• Promotes connections to researchers, interdisciplinary learning, external audiences, careers, and peer/alumni networks.
• Based on Fung's and Healey & Jenkins' frameworks.