362
Progress 1/25/09
CIS in Science
General
Generalization
pro
gre
ss
Specic Description Prediction Causal Explanation
Understanding
Description
Description requires little to no understanding. Beginning with descriptions, you provide access to the event(s). From the description you identify terms that may provide predictive power through further exploration.
1
1/25/09
Prediction
Prediction requires a realization that two items are related. The goal of certain types of studies is to establish these relations.
Causality
We are looking for more than interrelated items. We want to identify those features are are causally connected. Our aim is the production of general causal explanations.
Causal, not Correlational
We should exercise some caution in the beginning. Correlational explanations state that two variables are related. This does not imply that one is directly related to the behavior of the other. There may be a mitigating factor that influence both.
2
1/25/09
Correlational
A correlational approach explains phenomena by describing between relationships observable events.
Theoretical
A theoretical approach attempts to explain relationships with principles and constructs that are often several levels of abstraction removed from the observable events.
Process of Science
Theory
World
Models
Hypotheses
Research Questions
Research Design Research Results
3
1/25/09
Types of Studies
Formal Experiment Case Study Survey Ethnographic study Simulation
Formal Experiment
Subjects are assigned to treatment groups to perform a task using methods of tools. Experiments attempt to control the variability in the environment so conclusions can be drawn regardi...