Chat with AIExam 2: C: Reading and Evaluating Scientific Research
Describe and compare correlational research and experimental research.What key advantage does experimental research have over correlational research?
(35) 
VerifiedCorrelational research shows you that a change in one variable will likely result in a change in another variable but this type of research does not determine why that change occurs.A third variable could cause both variables to change.Experimental research is designed to test a hypothesis in tightly controlled conditions so that a cause-and-effect relationship can be established.
What are the five characteristics of good research described in the textbook? Briefly explain each.
(37) VerifiedA good answer will include the following key points.
- Research should be based on measurements that are
* objective: consistent across instruments and observers
* valid: actually measure what they claim to measure
* reliable: provide consistent answers when remeasured
- Good research can be generalized to situations,individuals,and events beyond the original study.
- It should use techniques to reduce bias from both the participants and the experimenters.
- Research should be made public,usually through the peer-review process and publication in an academic journal.
- Finally,it must be possible for other researchers to replicate the results of good research.
Anecdotal evidence,appeals to authority,and appeals to common sense are all considered poor forms of evidence.Provide an example of each and explain why claims based on them cannot be trusted.
(29) VerifiedAnecdotal evidence is the experience of one person generalized into a theory,such as a person listens to hypnosis CDs and loses 58 pounds in three months.This is anecdotal evidence and not real evidence because no hypothesis was tested in developing the theory.The result could have been for any number of things other than the CD causing the weight loss.Appeal to authority is evidence from an "expert" that is assumed to be valid and reliable simply because an expert said it was true.An expert may claim to have found a great weight-loss program but experts can be wrong and experts can have hidden agendas.It is important to see what the expert may have to gain by claiming an untested theory is true.Appeal to common sense is evidence that sounds like it must be true but hasn't necessarily been tested.A great example is that people long thought that the earth was stationary and the centre of the universe because this theory made sense based on their other (limited)knowledge of the cosmos.The best theory is always based on the results of hypotheses tested using the scientific method.
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