Introduction to Empirical Inquiry
By Karen Zimmerman
Glossary Terms
Empirical – observations made and assessed through the five senses - touch, sight, hearing, smell, or taste
Empirical-Analytic – “evidence obtained in systematic and controlled manner.” (Zimmerman, 1989, pg. 4)
Deductive reasoning – looking systematically at the data and evidence to come up with conclusions
Inductive reasoning – observances are made about an event and then there are inferences made about the parts (i.e. results of a test, inferences made about the students)
Descriptive research – “collecting data in order to test hypotheses or to answer questions regarding the current status of the subjects” (Zimmerman, 1989, pg. 7)
Correlation – “relationship exist between subcategories” (Zimmerman, 1989, pg. 7)
Explanatory research – has researcher “formulate hypotheses about the causes of x phenomena under n conditions” (Zimmerman, 1989, pg. 7)
Hypotheses - A tentative explanation for an observation, phenomenon, or scientific problem that can be tested by further investigation.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hypotheses
Quotes
“All significant questions cannot be answered by the use of one research perspective only.” (Zimmerman, 1989, pg. 3)
I feel like this is an important quote about research, particularly when it comes to research of the social sciences. It is far easier to observe what happened in a scientific experiment with chemical in an empirical form but that does not hold true for areas where the subjectivity of the observed plays a very important part. Home Economics has a strong history and many of the areas bring up memories and feeling that it is hard, if not impossible to discount these aspects.
Comments
This article summarizes the history, intent, aim, objectivity and the types of empirical-analytical research. While the author gives a really good overview of this type of research, you know by the above quote she does not suggest that this is the best or most valuable form of research for all areas. She also brought the idea to me that human beings have an insatiable need to understand the world around them and we do this through our research.
References
Zimmerman, K. (1989). Introduction to empirical inquiry. In F. H. Hultgren & D. L. Coomer (Eds.), Alternate modes of inquiry in home economics research, pp. 3 - 8. Yearbook 9, American Home Economics Association. Peoria, IL: Glencoe.
Empirical – observations made and assessed through the five senses - touch, sight, hearing, smell, or taste
Empirical-Analytic – “evidence obtained in systematic and controlled manner.” (Zimmerman, 1989, pg. 4)
Deductive reasoning – looking systematically at the data and evidence to come up with conclusions
Inductive reasoning – observances are made about an event and then there are inferences made about the parts (i.e. results of a test, inferences made about the students)
Descriptive research – “collecting data in order to test hypotheses or to answer questions regarding the current status of the subjects” (Zimmerman, 1989, pg. 7)
Correlation – “relationship exist between subcategories” (Zimmerman, 1989, pg. 7)
Explanatory research – has researcher “formulate hypotheses about the causes of x phenomena under n conditions” (Zimmerman, 1989, pg. 7)
Hypotheses - A tentative explanation for an observation, phenomenon, or scientific problem that can be tested by further investigation.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hypotheses
Quotes
“All significant questions cannot be answered by the use of one research perspective only.” (Zimmerman, 1989, pg. 3)
I feel like this is an important quote about research, particularly when it comes to research of the social sciences. It is far easier to observe what happened in a scientific experiment with chemical in an empirical form but that does not hold true for areas where the subjectivity of the observed plays a very important part. Home Economics has a strong history and many of the areas bring up memories and feeling that it is hard, if not impossible to discount these aspects.
Comments
This article summarizes the history, intent, aim, objectivity and the types of empirical-analytical research. While the author gives a really good overview of this type of research, you know by the above quote she does not suggest that this is the best or most valuable form of research for all areas. She also brought the idea to me that human beings have an insatiable need to understand the world around them and we do this through our research.
References
Zimmerman, K. (1989). Introduction to empirical inquiry. In F. H. Hultgren & D. L. Coomer (Eds.), Alternate modes of inquiry in home economics research, pp. 3 - 8. Yearbook 9, American Home Economics Association. Peoria, IL: Glencoe.