Sign Up Now
Get instant access to over 1 million+ study documents
OR
Already registered? click here to login
By creating your account, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and student honor code.
¶ … scientific method in the doctoral research process.
The scientific method has long been the preferred means of conducting research in most fields, including both social sciences and hard sciences. Because the scientific methods "demands that the procedures be objective," as well as clearly stated in research papers, bias is minimized (Stangor, 2012). Moreover, the statement of procedures allows for replication of experiments, something that is integral to the peer review process. Replication is crucial for the validation of scientific research at the doctoral level and beyond.
Doctoral students might develop cogent hypotheses in their research, and those hypotheses when proven over time may evolve into widely accepted theories in their field. However, repeated testing is the only means by which to solidify theories (Harris, n.d.). The doctoral student must be relatively detached from the results of research, and the scientific method enables detachment by highlighting ways the theory can be modified for future research. Initial hypotheses may need to be altered to conform to observations subsequently made during experimentation or through research published by colleagues. The scientific method during doctoral research ensures that the research is widely accepted by the community, and contributes to the chosen field.
Although empiricism remains the benchmark for the scientific method, there are many means by which doctoral research can be carried out to achieve desired goals such as reliability and validity in reporting results....
For example, in the social sciences, qualitative research is considered valid even though it does not use empirical models for experimentation and hypothesis testing. Similarly, the case study method allows for the testing of hypotheses using methods other than experimental research designs. Empirical observations are still being carried out in both of these cases, which is why they fall under the rubric of scientific methodologies ("Introduction to Scientific Research," n.d.). Implementing the scientific method in the doctoral process prepares the student for rigorous participation in their chosen field, through an introduction to the peer review process.
References
Babbie, E. (1990). The essential wisdom of sociology. Teaching Sociology 18(4): 526-5.30
Babbie, E. (2012). The Practice of Social Research. Nelson.
Harris, W. (n.d.). How the scientific method works. Retrieved online: http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/scientific-experiments/scientific-method9.htm
"Introduction to Scientific Research," (n.d.). Chapter One. Pearson. Retrieved online: http://www.pearsonhighered.com/assets/hip/us/hip_us_pearsonhighered/samplechapter/0205701655.pdf
Stangor, C. (2012). Psychologists use the scientific method to guide their research. Retrieved online: http://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/beginning-psychology/s06-01-psychologists-use-the-scientif.html
Scientific method is a systematic method of testing hypotheses in research. The four steps are as follows: Step 1: "Observation and description of a phenomenon or group of phenomena" (Introduction to the scientific method, 2012, University of Rochester). The scientific method begins with existing research, and builds upon the research of other individuals in the field and/or observation of a particular phenomenon. Step 2: " formulation of a hypothesis to
Many inquiries were made into the universe, from how it worked to its creation, as well as the construction of a workable calendar and an understanding of numerous illnesses. These collective areas of discussion fall under the term of natural philosophy, or philosophy of nature. Before modern science was developed and widely used, natural philosophy was the prominent method of gaining knowledge. So dominant and involved was natural philosophy
(Niglas, 2004) Stated to be research questions that should guide the empirical study design are those as follows: (1) How have quantitative and qualitative elements been related? What type of combined designs have been sued? What is the level of integration between qualitative and quantitative aspects of studies? (2) Why have the authors chosen to prefer multimethod or mixed design to monomethod approach? Do they offer a rationale for their choice? What
The high stakes testing proponents believes that the use of testing will motivate students, their families and teachers to take education more seriously. (Nathan, 2002, p.595) Many opponents on the other hand believe that "teaching to the test" will likely prove disastrous for the schools and curriculums involved and this is especially true if the test is the only gauge of success or if there is any question as
Scientific Research Collect Methods Comment by Sabina: Scientific research is obtainable through several methodologies, of which qualitative and quantitative methods are highly utilized. These two research methodology are highly used in the field of social sciences and marketing. Social scientist utilizes these two data collection tools to collect data that would otherwise not be observable without these tools. Marketing researchers utilizes these tools to collect information about the market, gain information about
36). The "differential piece rate" was intended to eliminate this problem, and it meant substituting piece rates for day rates. This led to new problems, for "when the piece rate increased daily earnings, the rates were reduced" (Wrege & Greenwood, 1991, p. 39). Taylor found a way to address this problem, though it took many years to implement the two steps involved: 1) give each workman each day in advance