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Questions and Answers
What characterizes the scientific research method?
Which statement best describes basic research?
What is the primary purpose of applied research?
What type of data does quantitative research collect?
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How do basic and applied research differ?
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Which of the following best describes scientific theories?
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What is a key distinction of qualitative data?
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Which of the following is not a characteristic of scientific research?
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Which principle obligates researchers to minimize harm and maximize benefits for participants?
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What must be provided to participants before obtaining informed consent?
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In research ethics, what is the primary distinction between anonymity and confidentiality?
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What is required to obtain informed consent from vulnerable participants?
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Which of the following practices should be avoided to uphold research ethics?
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What does non-maleficence primarily focus on in the context of research?
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Which scenario does not typically require informed consent?
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What does voluntary participation imply in research ethics?
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What distinguishes primary research from secondary research?
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Which aspect of the scientific research method emphasizes being free from personal bias?
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What does the ontology component of a research paradigm refer to?
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What does integrity in research primarily emphasize?
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Which epistemological perspective maintains that sense perceptions are the only admissible basis of knowledge?
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Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of researchers regarding participant withdrawal?
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Why is ethical conduct critical in scientific research?
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In ethical research practices, what is meant by transparency?
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What does methodology encompass in a research paradigm?
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What do ethical principles in research aim to ensure?
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What was a major ethical concern in the Zimbardo Prison Experiment?
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Which of the following is a key principle that researchers must adhere to regarding data handling?
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What is the primary focus of constructivist epistemology?
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Study Notes
Scientific Theory and Research
- A well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world based on evidence gathered through observation and experimentation.
- Theories are not guesses or hypotheses but comprehensive frameworks that explain phenomena and are supported by large amounts of data.
- Scientific research systematically and methodically investigates a particular phenomenon to generate new knowledge or validate existing knowledge.
- The purpose of scientific research is to develop or refine theories, often involving the formulation and testing of hypotheses.
Basic Versus Applied Research
- Basic research focuses on advancing fundamental knowledge, refuting or supporting theories, and is mostly performed and consumed by academics.
- Basic research often lacks practical experience in the short term but provides the underlying foundation of social policy.
- Applied Research addresses specific concerns or problems and is policy-oriented.
- Applied research focuses on immediate practical use and is frequently descriptive.
Methodology Used
- Quantitative research collects data in the form of figures
- Qualitative research collects data in the form of words or pictures
- Primary research collects and uses original data
- Secondary research uses existing data to study different problems
Research Paradigms
- A framework of beliefs, values, and methods used to make sense of the world.
- Paradigms shape our understanding of the world and inform our basic beliefs about theory and research.
- They influence the way studies are designed, how data is collected and analyzed, and how findings are presented.
Research Paradigm Components
- Ontology: What is the nature of social reality? Is it subjective or objective?
- Epistemology: What is the nature of knowing and how is knowledge constructed? What is the relationship between the researcher and researched?
- Methodology: How is knowledge acquired and disseminated? Is the research process inductive or deductive?
Ethical and Social Conduct in Research
- Scientific research must adhere to ethical guidelines to ensure honesty in reporting data, protect subjects, avoid conflicts of interest, and acknowledge contributions of others.
- Ethical principles are vital to the integrity of research, protecting the rights and well-being of participants while maintaining the trust and respect of the public.
Research Ethics
- Ethics is typically associated with morality, both concerning matters of right and wrong.
Important Ethical Agreements in Social Research
- Minimizing risk of harm
- Informed Consent
- Anonymity and Confidentiality
- Avoiding Deceptive Practices
- Voluntary Participation
Minimizing Risk of Harm
- Some studies can potentially harm participants, so the risks should be minimized.
- Potential harm can include pain, physical danger, emotional arousal, or stress, embarrassment, social distress, or misinformation.
- The principle of beneficence refers to the obligation of researchers to minimize harm and maximize benefits for research participants.
- Non-maleficence focuses on the imperative to do no harm.
Informed Consent
- Participants should be given all relevant information about the research and must give consent to participate.
- Consent must be obtained from parents for children under 18, involuntary clients, and any participants likely to be vulnerable to coercion or undue influence.
Components of Informed Consent
- An accurate explanation of evaluation procedures is given
- An explanation of risks and benefits is given
- An offer is made to answer any additional questions about the project
- The participant is told that they can withdraw at any time.
Methods Used to Verify Consent
- Consent forms are needed for all research-related interviews other than interviews with public officials.
- No consent forms are needed for brief interviews in public settings.
- Public behavior (observations) generally does not require consent.
Anonymity and Confidentiality
- Anonymity is achieved when neither the researchers nor the readers of the findings can identify a given response with a given respondent.
- Confidentiality refers to a researcher's promise not to publicly disclose a given person's responses, even though they can identify them.
- Researchers must ensure that personal information is kept private and that participants' identities are protected.
Avoiding Deceptive Practices
- Integrity refers to the obligation of researchers to be honest and transparent in their conduct, reporting, and publication of research.
- Honest reporting: Researchers should not falsify data or results.
- Transparency: Full and accurate disclosure of methods, conflicts of interest, and any potential limitations of the research is essential.
- Replication and Verification: Researchers should conduct studies that can be verified and replicated by others.
Voluntary Participation
- Participation in research must be voluntary, and individuals must be free to withdraw at any time without penalty.
- Researchers must ensure that no coercion or undue influence exists to participate in the study.
- Participants should be informed that they can withdraw from the study at any point without any negative consequences.
Cases of Ethical Controversy
- Stanley Milgram’s Obedience Study (1974)
- Zimbardo Prison Experiment (1974)
- Laud Humphrey’s Tearoom Trade Study (1975)
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Description
Explore the key concepts of scientific theory and research in this quiz. Understand the differences between basic and applied research and how these methodologies advance knowledge. Test your understanding of the frameworks that underlie scientific investigation.
