Discussion Questions - Chapter One

1. Identify the various sources of knowledge acquisition: Experience, Authority, Deductive Reasoning, Inductive Reasoning and the Scientific Method
2. Briefly discuss the limitation of each source of knowledge, i.e., in what way is the source of knowledge questionable in coming to an accurate conclusion.
3. Identify the four major steps encountered in the scientific method.
4. What is meant by classification of research by purpose? What is the goal of each of the following: basic, applied, evaluation, and action?
5. What is the difference between quantitative research and qualitative research?
6. Briefly discuss the following quantitative approaches: descriptive research, correlational research, causal-comparative research, experimental research.
7. What is the difference between causal-comparative research and experimental research?
8. What is considered as a good hypothesis?
9. What is an independent variable? What is a dependent variable?
10.Provide a question or problem that you are interested in investigating: Is your question researchable?