Research Concepts
More Reading
The free online encyclopedia Wikipedia contains many contributed articles, some on very advanced topics. Since anyone can edit the articles, some are better than others. The administrators of Wikipedia can and do delete articles in certain circumstances such as bias, excessive personal points of view or factual error.
Many Wikipedia articles are excellent surveys of complex topics. This page contains links to just a few of the multitude of articles related to statistical research. Enrolled students should use the links on learn.ou.edu to resources at the OU Library with more reliable and scholarly editorial controls rather than Wikipedia.
Bias
There are of course many kinds of bias, not just the one arising in statistics.
Experiment
An experiment is designed to test a prediction. Thus the essense of a social science experiment involves exposing subjects to a treatment and observing the results. Experiments involve three fundamental principles:
- Randomization
- Replication
- Control
Hypothesis
Many research objectives are phrased as hypotheses. A hypothesis is a provisional idea whose merit must be assessed. In order to assess a hypothesis, at a minimum it must be possible to prove it false, i.e., it must be falsifiable. This is generally accomplished through observations, i.e., by gathering evidence.
Measurement
Expanded discussion on nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio scales.
Peer Review
Prior to publications, scholarly works are reviewed by experts in the field (the "peers"of the author of the work). Peer review is intended to assure that the work is new, significant and correct. Of course, occasionally percieved or real rivalries can impede the peer review process, but in the main it is one of many safeguards in the research process.
Reliability
Some further information on reliability.
The Scientific Method
This article provides a fine overview of the history and basics of the scientific method. The four steps of the scientific method are
- Problem definition (characterization)
- Hypothesis (theoretical explanation)
- Prediction (use the theory to predict evens)
- Experiment (conduct an experiement to see if the prediction is correct)
The first and fourth steps of the process involve observation.
Statistics
This link has a good definition and many supporting links.
Validity
Some further information on statistical validity.
