1. What is the classic scientific method?
The classic scientific method is a systematic approach to scientific inquiry
that involves formulating a hypothesis, collecting data through
observation and experimentation, analyzing the data, and drawing
conclusions based on the results.
2. What are the seven basic steps of the scientific method?
The seven basic steps of the scientific method are: (1) formulating a
research question, (2) conducting a literature review, (3) formulating a
hypothesis, (4) designing and conducting experiments or studies, (5)
collecting data, (6) analyzing the data, and (7) drawing conclusions.
3. Should the researcher always formulate a hypothesis before collecting
data?
While it is not always necessary to formulate a hypothesis before
collecting data, it is generally recommended. A hypothesis provides a
framework for understanding the relationship between variables and helps
guide the research process.
4. What is the difference between the dependent variable and the
independent variable?
The independent variable is the variable that is manipulated or changed
by the researcher, while the dependent variable is the variable that is
being measured or observed and is affected by the independent variable.
5. What is the population?
The population refers to the entire group of individuals or objects that
the researcher is interested in studying.
6. What is a sample?
A sample is a subset of the population that is selected for study.
7. In which research method does the researcher get directly involved in
the social behavior under study, interacting with people in their natural
settings?
The research method in which the researcher gets directly involved in the
social behavior under study, interacting with people in their natural
settings, is called participant observation.
8. What problem do experiments often have?
Experiments often have the problem of confounding variables, which are
variables other than the independent variable that can affect the outcome
of the study and make it difficult to draw conclusions about causation.
9. What does the placebo effect prove?
The placebo effect proves that an individual's beliefs and expectations can
affect their perception of the effectiveness of a treatment or
intervention, even if the treatment itself has no physical effect.
10. What is an observational study?
An observational study is a research method in which the researcher
observes and records behavior or other phenomena without manipulating
any variables.
11. Why is different the information from a survey to that obtained in an
interview?
Surveys typically involve asking a large number of people a set of
standardized questions, while interviews involve a more in-depth, one-onone conversation with a smaller number of individuals. Interviews allow
for more detailed and nuanced responses, but are also more timeconsuming and resource-intensive.
12. What are the two main types of interviews?
The two main types of interviews are structured interviews, in which the
questions are standardized and asked in a specific order, and unstructured
interviews, in which the interviewer has more flexibility to ask follow-up
questions and explore topics in more depth.
13. with a subject at a time. Why do researchers still use them?
Despite the time and resource demands of conducting interviews with one
subject at a time, researchers often use them when studying complex
topics that require in-depth exploration or when working with hard-toreach populations.
14. Why is sometimes difficult to participate and observe?
It can be difficult to participate and observe because the researcher may
face
ethical
dilemmas,
encounter
resistance
or
suspicion
from
participants, or struggle to remain objective and avoid influencing the
behavior of those being observed.
15. What ethic rules should be considered when conducting a research?
Ethical rules that should be considered when conducting research include
obtaining informed consent from participants, ensuring confidentiality
and anonymity, minimizing harm to participants, and maintaining
objectivity and integrity in the research process.
16. Discuss the process of data analysis in qualitative research, including
exploring the data, developing themes from the data, coding data, and
connecting themes.
In qualitative research, data analysis typically involves exploring the data
through repeated readings and immersion in the data, developing themes
and categories from the data, coding the data to identify patterns and
themes, and connecting themes to develop a deeper understanding of the
phenomenon being studied.
17. Describe also the role of the constant comparative method.
The constant comparative method is a technique used in qualitative
research to compare data within and across cases to identify similarities
and differences and develop more complex and nuanced themes.
18. What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative research?
Include mention of possible differences in purpose, method, data sources,
and data analysis.
Qualitative research is focused on understanding the meaning and context
of social phenomena, while quantitative research is focused on measuring
and analyzing numerical data. Qualitative research often involves smaller
samples, more flexible and open-ended research methods, and more
subjective data analysis, while quantitative research typically involves
larger samples, more structured research methods, and more objective
data analysis.
Another answer
Qualitative research is used primarily exploratory research. It is used to
obtain in-depth and holistic understanding of a particular phenomenon.
Qualitative research is also used to uncover trends and dive deeper into
the problem. Qualitative data collection methods vary using
unstructured or semi-structured techniques and doesn’t rely on
statistical techniques. Some of the common methods include focus
groups (group discussions), individual interviews, and
participation/observations with the sample size being typically small.
On the other hand, quantitative research conceptualizes the problem by
way of generating numerical data or data that can be transformed into
statistics. Researchers use measurable data to formulate facts and
uncover patterns in research. The methods are much more structured and
data collection methods include various forms of surveys, experiments,
self-report inventories, surveys, interviews, longitudinal studies, website
interceptors, online polls, and systematic observations.