Question

QUESTION TWO

A teacher has worked in the same primary school for two years. While chatting to the children, she is concerned to find that the majority of them come to school without having eaten a healthy breakfast. In her opinion, children who eat ‘a decent breakfast’learn to read more quickly and are better behaved than children who do not. She now wants to set up a pre-school breakfast club for the children so that they can all have this beneficial start to the day. The local authority is not willing to spend money on this project purely on the basis of the teacher’s opinion and insists on having scientific evidence for the claimed benefits of eating a healthy breakfast.

From the above information, explain why the teacher’s personal opinion cannot be accepted as scientific evidence. (Hint: Refer to some of the major features of scientific research?

QUESTION THREE

a. Briefly explain the following basic concept in research

i. Quantitative Research

ii. Qualitative Research

iii. Experimental research

iv. Non experimental research

v. Action Research​

b. Discuss any five ethical issues that the researcher will have to consider when conducting any credible research?

Answer 1

Answer:

As per the given information, the teacher wants to set up a pre-school breakfast club for the children so that they can all have this beneficial start to the day. This is absolutely her personal opinion. The worthiness of any opinion depends on the knowledge and/or intellectuality of the person. However, the local authority is not willing to spend money on this project purely on the basis of the teacher’s opinion.

This happens because the teacher’s knowledge regarding the ‘relationship between healthy breakfast and performance of students’ is not established with actual facts. Therefore, the accuracy of her inference/perception /opinion would depend upon following factors:

• This has to be truthful for most of the population, the student community
• If this is true only for few students, then it won’t serve the purpose. However, very often perception could be based on few numbers/groups which may not represent the greater portion of the population
• Therefore such inferences could be misleading.
• Thus, the facts has to be statistically proved, then only the decision could be taken. This implies that any factors should be proved to cover majority of the population.
• This could be done only by proper statistical analysis, which helps to know how to draw conclusions about large populations based only on information obtained from samples.
• Only after collecting, classifying, analyzing and interpreting statistical data, any actionable recommendation should be done.

Also the scientific study/research helps to:

• Keep away from risk of making uninformed decisions and costly mistakes
• Differentiate between scientific conclusions and questionable conclusions

Q a) Basic concept in research

I) Quantitative Research:

This type of research methodology is applied for Categorical (qualitative) variables which have values that can only be placed into categories, such as “yes” and “no.” Therefore, only for variables of descriptive type are applicable. Example: Marital Status, Political Party, Eye Color

II) Qualitative Research:

This type of research methodology is applied for Numerical (quantitative) variables have values (numbers) that represent quantities. Such numbers could be of following two types:

• Discrete variables arise from a counting process. Example: Number of Children, Defects per hour
• Continuous variables arise from a measuring process. Example: Weight, Voltage

III) Experimental research:

In this case, research conducted to identify cause-and-effect relationships among variables. It implies to develop a scientific design one or more independent variables (that can be measured, calculated and compared) are manipulated in order to measure their effect on a dependent variable, while controlling for exogenous variables in order to test a hypothesis.

IV) Non experimental research:

Whereas in this case, the above activities, like control, manipulation or alterationof the variables (data) are not possible and instead, the researcher fully depends on interpretation, observation or interactions to come to a final conclusion. It is unable to demonstrate a true cause-and-effect relationship.

V) Action Research:

It is identified through observations regarding any transformation/change of simulation process. The comparison of process re done and impact or consequences are assessed. It is primarily applied in several branch of social sciences.

Q b) Ethical issues to consider when conducting any credible research

Ownership of data: The research would be based on the data, which is the fundamental core. The researcher should either generate the data, or he/she must have the authorization to do.

Accuracy of Analysis: The researcher must analyze the data properly. The examination and validation of the analysis is very important, otherwise the decision/ind=ference could be wrong. It is the primary duty of the researcher to do the examination/calculations properly.

Conflicts of interest: It may so happen that the researcher has some particular personal interest, and the same is reflected through the judgement of the research. This is a severe question of credibility of entire research. Therefore, it must be avoided at any cost.

Intellectual Property: If the researcher has taken help (or referred) of any other author’s publication, then first of all he/she must obtain prior permission to do so. Then such reference (with the source) must be mentioned in the research paper.

Legality and enforceability: The research topic, process and development must be in accordance with the law and regulations. It should fully cover any specific and/or collective guideline, protocols, standard practices and prescribed rules and regulations, so that it passes all levels of compliances.