Session 15: Philosophy of science, quality and ethic Flashcards
(13 cards)
Q: What is ontology in research?
A: The study of what exists; the nature of reality.
Q: What is the difference between constructivism and objectivism?
A: Constructivism sees reality as socially constructed; objectivism sees reality as independent and discoverable.
Q: What is epistemology in research?
A: The study of knowledge—how we know what we know.
Q: Interpretivism vs. Positivism?
A: Interpretivism focuses on subjective meaning; positivism focuses on objective facts.
Q: Inductive vs. Deductive reasoning?
A: Inductive: from data to theory. Deductive: from theory to hypothesis/testing.
Q: Key contrasts in the qualitative–quantitative divide?
Behavior vs. Meaning
Theory testing vs. Theory generating
Numbers vs. Words
Artificial vs. Natural settings
Q: What is the difference between overt and covert research?
A: Overt: participants know they’re being studied. Covert: they don’t.
Q: What defines research quality and rigor?
A: Reliability, validity, replicability, reproducibility, transparency, novelty.
Q: Key ethical principles in research?
A: Avoid harm, obtain informed consent, protect privacy, limit deception.
Q: What are types of scientific misconduct?
A: Fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, manipulative citation practices.
What is reciprocal analysis?
Reciprocal analysis is the process of applying one type of analysis to the data of the opposite type—for example:
- Quantitative analysis of qualitative data
- Qualitative analysis of quantitative data
What is set theory vs. probability theory
Set theory deals with clear group membership: things either belong to a set or not.
Probabilistic theory deals with uncertainty: things have a likelihood (probability) of occurring.
What is the difference between validity and reliability?
Reliability: Consistency of results—do you get the same result repeatedly?
Validity: Accuracy—are you measuring what you’re supposed to measure?
Goal: Darts close together (reliability) in the bulls eye (validity).
