Complete the following:
Action Items:
1. What is Research: Briefly define "scientific research." Include in your explanation what scientific research includes and what it avoids.
Paradigms and Methodologies of Scientific Research: Create your own graphic--do not find one that already exists--that illustrates the main paradigms and methodologies of scientific research. Your graphic can be simple (it must fit on a single page), but should still illustrate the parts and relationships of the main paradigms and methodologies of scientific research. You may use some words, but only as necessary. In addition, compare and contrast the natural sciences (physics, chemistry, biology) with the behavioral and social sciences (psychology, anthropology, economics, political science).
Qualitative and Quantitative Research: Briefly describe what is involved with both qualitative and quantitative research along with the strengths and limitations of each.
2. In a Microsoft Word document, identify a question about something that happens in nature (e.g., our world, universe, etc.) that has not yet been fully explained, or that you would like to understand better. As an example, a person might consider the use and benefit of vitamin supplements. One school of thought indicates that such supplements are increasingly important for maintaining a healthy diet, while the other school of thought indicates by taking such supplements, you are doing little more than turning your urine yellow.
What reasoning do you think is behind the phenomenon you have identified? Write a hypothesis that represents your belief about why the phenomenon occurs. Write a second hypothesis that would explain the phenomenon but with a different cause.
For example, using vitamin supplements, one might consider:
1. If vitamins are beneficial, then individuals who regularly take vitamin supplements will live longer.
2. If vitamin supplements are not beneficial, then individuals who regularly take vitamin supplements will not show a difference in how long they live compared to those who regularly take vitamin supplements.
(Keep in mind here, the example hypotheses make the assumption that vitamin supplements correspond to a longer life. This may or may not be accurate and should be further evaluated and refined accordingly. For example, perhaps vitamin supplements do not help you to live longer, but reduce the overall number of illnesses/diseases one experiences during his/her lifetime.)
3. Suggest empirical evidence that you might need in order to verify or refute the hypothesis.In a Microsoft Word document, write about the following:
Examine the hypothesis that palm reading is an accurate predictor of one's future with the SEARCH formula, including the criteria of adequacy.
Draw conclusions about the hypothesis: Is it problematic? Is it scientific? Why or why not?
Make sure to follow APA format, which requires in-text citations for all borrowed information as well as a list of references.
4. Use the Criteria of Adequacy to evaluate the following hypotheses:
1. Failing to wear sunscreen during prolonged periods of time out of doors increases the chance for melanoma in a person and his or her children
2. Lack of sleep changes the color of a person's aura and density of the protective electromagnetic field surrounding the body.