Week 3: Assignment



Week 3: Assignment

Research

Systematic investigative process employed to increase or revise current knowledge by discovering new facts. It is divided into two general categories: (1) Basic research is inquiry aimed at increasing scientific knowledge, and (2) Applied research is effort aimed at using basic research for solving problems or developing new processes, products, or techniques (Thompson, 2006).

Theory

A coherent group of tested general propositions, commonly regarded as correct, that can be used as principles of explanation and prediction for a class of phenomena: Einstein's theory of relativity. Or it is a proposed explanation whose status is still conjectural and subject to experimentation, in contrast to well-established propositions that are regarded as reporting matters of actual fact (Freund, 1988).

Hypothesis

An hypothesis is a specific statement of prediction. It describes in concrete (rather than theoretical) terms what you expect will happen in your study. Not all studies have hypotheses. Sometimes a study is designed to be exploratory. There is no formal hypothesis, and perhaps the purpose of the study is to explore some area more thoroughly in order to develop some specific hypothesis or prediction that can be tested in future research. A single study may have one or many hypotheses.

An hypothesis can be testing a concept or it can be developed as a result of study (Thompson, 2006):

A testing hypothesis is one that can be tested, meaning you can measure both what is being done (variables) and the outcome.

A tested hypothesis is tested with research, such as in a research study in social science.

Reliability

 Reliability refers to how consistent a measuring device is.  A measurement is said to be reliable or consistent if the measurement can produce similar results if used again in similar circumstances.  For example, if a speedometer gave the same readings at the same speed it would be reliable.  If it didn't it would be pretty useless and unreliable (Breiman, 2001).

 Reliability refers to how consistent a measuring device is.  A measurement is said to be reliable or consistent if the measurement can produce similar results if used again in similar circumstances.  For example, if a speedometer gave the same readings at the same speed it would be reliable.  If it didn't it would be pretty useless and unreliable.

Validity

 This refers to whether a study measures or examines what it claims to measure or examine.   Questionnaires are said to often lack validity for a number of reasons.   Participants may lie; give answers ...