10 02 2012 COMM 402 Study Guide Wednesday Oct 3rd Be able to define and identify types of logical thinking abduction induction deduction Abduction A B and C occur Process P would explain A B and C Perhaps P is happening series of focused observations begin by collecting clues into a first suspicion or hypothesis summarize observations and evidence Induction generalization to hypothesis ex they all have 4 legs and long necks and are all called llamas concluding that 4 legged long neck animals are called llamas Deduction General rule applies to specific case Hypothesis to generalization Ex I m a girl and I have long hair so if you re a girl you must have long hair How do arguments relate to theory and data Theory offers premise Data can test and extend premise which backs up an argument Conclusions are new theories A causes B take data test Ex A causes B but only for males in conclusion new theory that includes both males and females Arguing toward theory theory and data should be high quality Theory s quality truth accuracy beauty aesthetic justice moralit Summarize evidence induction particular observation to a generalization results in a probable conclusion Generate hypotheses and other implications deduction substitution generalization to a particular observation results in a certain conclusion Begin by collecting clues into a first suspicion or hypothesis abduction results in a hypothesis that can be tested reasoning to the best conclusion Type of methodology quantitative critical qualitative doesn t matter in these respects Data Authentic reliable and valid Even recognizing the phenomena is not simple operationalization can be controversial relational happiness Scale Duration Observer s judgment How to collect data how to measure it Operational definition is one that gives measuring instructions can put an idea into operation Investigator interpretative or distanced eg data from respondents point of view or quasi objective Involvement will increase quality of data but might change the data itself Define procedures methods observations predictions syllogism premise falsification control groups test verification random assignment comparison group pre tests validity ethos credibility procedures established method an established or correct method of doing something methods Syn theory paradigm hypothesis idea General method observe then speculate weird observations The action or process of observing something or someone carefully or in order to gain information predictions a statement made about the future syllogism deductive argument Socrates example logical argument in which one proposition the conclusion is inferred from two or more others the premises of a specific form premise A previous statement or proposition from which another is inferred or follows as a conclusion Ex major premise All men are mortal minor premise Socrates is a man conclusion Socrates is mortal falsification disproof any evidence that helps to establish the falsity of something prove if something is valid control groups When an experiment is conducted for the purpose of determining the effect of a single variable of interest on a particular system doesn t change test verification falsifying a theory in order to prove it right the more falsification efforts it survives the more confidence we have random assignment experimental technique for assigning subjects to different treatments or no treatment comparison group Group of participants that are compared to the treatment group pre tests Test collect data intervention test again collect data again Allows you to make a comparison between the two tests validity how valid something is if its testable ethos credibility qualities of a speaker that make him her more believable Be able to identify the general methods that would commonly be used in quantitative research qualitative research and critical involves analysis of data such as words e g from interviews pictures e g video or objects e g an artifact research Qualitative research Quantitative research involves analysis of numerical data Critical research power relationship is a term that is used to identify approaches that challenge taken for granted norms and aim to expose structures of power and domination It therefore assumes that there are dominated or marginalised groups whose interests are not best served by existing societal structures Critical Test o two competing theories that require different evidence to be present absent to support one of them In terms of argument quality what is the difference between two group no pretest studies and one shot case studies Two group no pretest studies where one group random assignment is exposed to a treatment and the results are tested while a control group is not exposed to the treatment and similarly tested in order to compare the effects of treatment You can use comparison control comparable groups more efficient valid than one shot One shot case studies In a one shot case study the experimental group is exposed to the independent variable X then observations of the dependent variable O are made No observations are made before the independent variable is introduced Ex today s weather in cp and today s weather in Leonia test it at one time no comparable groups not as valid How do researchers report their success or failure in supporting hypotheses after analyzing the results of their experiments Why is explaining whether their findings supported or refuted the hypothesis so difficult for researchers to analyze if there is better generalization for the model researchers need to be process minded in order to analyze the situation thoroughly and make it as general as possible Why can several models describe the same situation Because they have some similar veridical features but not all so we can have several models of the same thing What are the four general social science models that can help us understand what causes human behavior They are covered in separate chapters by Lave and March Individual choice Rational choice under risk reaction to persuasive messages o Ex voting gambling selection of mates consumer behavior Trade resources cost benefit relationship maintenance ex econ Probability learning model change relational attitudinal personal development ex psych Spread of attitudes behaviors through society rumors fads opinions Understand the relationship between argument and method an attempt to persuade someone of something by giving reasons or evidence