What is empiricism? Do you think there are disciplines whose underlying view on knowledge is different from empiricism? (Hint: you have, most probably, taken courses in a discipline where this question at least can be discussed.)
Empiricism: Sensory experience is considered to be the ultimate basis for knowledge.
In mathematics knowledge can come from pure reasoning and logical deduction, independent of sensory experience.
Distinguish, in your own words, direct, aided and indirect observation from each other. Can indirect observations be made without direct observations?
When we make a direct observation, we use our senses—like hearing, smelling, touching, tasting, or seeing—to observe something without the help of instruments.
When we use tools or instruments to enhance our senses, such as microscopes or telescopes, this is called an aided direct observation.
If we want to observe something that cannot be detected directly, even with tools, we rely on indirect observation. This means we observe the effects of the object rather than the object itself. The effects are something we can observe directly with our senses.
Therefore, we cannot make an indirect observation without first making some form of direct observation.
Explain why it is a bad practice to define words in terms of how they are measured.
There are three components of any operationalization. What are they? Give an example of an operationalization where you point out each component.
The observation that the sugar in a bowl weighs 100 g, using a scale, is a theory dependent observation. Give an example of a theory that might be needed for this observation.
Measures should be comparable and stable. What does this mean?
What, according to you, would be the correct scale to use when measuring how much money a person or a company has? What could be an ordinal scale for measuring money?
Give an example of something being measured on a so-called “nominal scale”.
Do you think that the number of houses in a city should be measured on an absolute scale?
Explain, in your own words, the terms random error and systematic error and relate them to accuracy and precision. How can these be reduced, and can any error be eliminated?
Self-confidence and self-esteem are generally considered to be two different psychological traits. What would it mean if an operationalization would achieve divergent validity when measuring these two traits in a person? How would one achieve convergent validity in measuring these traits?
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