This page contains all of my notes related to scientific methods and research. My goal is currently to develop a strong foundation for scientific thinking.
Quantitative Methods (Course 1 Notes):
Source(s): Statistics and Research Methods: University of Amsterdam (Specialization) Course 1 Quantitative Methods
Vocab:
- Empirical: Verified by observation/experience rather than theory/logic
- Scientific Method Principles:
- Empirically Testability: Physical Evidence or Observations that either support or contradict hypothesis
- Replicability: Repeatedly confirmed
- Objectivity: A clear and explicit definition of procedure and methods should produce the same results.
- Transparency: All procedures, definitions, and assumptions are publicly shared.
- Falsifiability: There is a possibility for there to exist evidence that contradicts the hypothesis.
- Logic Consistency: The logical basis of a hypothesis and its subsequent conclusions are logically sound.
- Observation: General relation between properties without explanation
- Hypothesis: General relation between properties with explanation
- Law: Super precise description of relation between properties; typically mathematical formula
- Theory: Overarching explanation of many related phenomena
- Universals: Abstract and unobservable properties (e.g. love, gravity)
- Particulars: Specific examples/instances of universal (abstract properties) (e.g. object falling, cat that doesn’t like to be pet sitting next to you)
Concepts:
Philosophical Realism: The belief that the external world exists independently of human thought.
Essentially schools of thought from which the scientific method emerged.
Epistemology: How can we know it? What is accessible and can be accessed? Study of knowledge
(1.) Rationalism: Physical world is an imperfect reflection of (ideal) reality. Knowledge about reality can be attained through reasoning. Innate knowledge. (Nature?)
(2.) Empiricism: Physical world is the reality. Knowledge about reality can be attained through observation via the senses. Sensory knowledge. (Nurture?)
(3.) Constructive Empiricism: Acknowledges unobservables and states that the truth/falsity cannot be determined as claims are provisional (evidence can always come up).
Ontology: What is there to know? What exists or is real?
(1.) Materialism: The world is made of matter, including our mental processes (brain interacting in physical world).
(2.) Idealism: The world is in our minds. The world is a mental constructions/representations.
(3.) Realism: The world is made of matter, but unobservables/universals do exist. Platonic Realism states they exist on a separate abstract plane. Scientific Realism states they can be used to support claims
(4.) Nominalism: The world is made of matter, but unobservables/universals do not exist. Gravity is simply a term that represents something falling.
Research Designs and Internal/External Validity
Threats to Internal Validity:
1. Maturation: Time can serve as an alternative explanation (for example, aging, healing, growth, development, etc.)
2. Mortality: Participant drop out can skew results (or affect outcomes).
3. History: Something could happen in the world that affects the participants in the study (a study on health is affected by the covid outbreak) and therefore, affecting the outcome of the study.
4. Instrumentation: The instrument could be modified (different pre-test vs. posttest) or have an error that affects the outcome.
5. Testing: Testing can change participant perception (sensitize them to the questions, accidentally reveal the group they are in, etc.) which could affect the outcome.
6. Regression to the mean: A statistical phenomena where previously extreme values tend to be closer to the mean/avg in subsequent tests (skewing differences between pre-test and post-test).
Jevaria Onymous 