STA630 - Solved Assignment - by Maha Malik

SPRING 2024
RESEARCH METHODS (STA630)

ASSIGNMENT NO. 1
Due date: 29th April 2024 Total marks: 10
Topic: Important characteristics of scientific methods
Objective of the Assignment:

To familiarize the students with the important characteristics of scientific methods.
Learning Outcome:
After attempting this activity, students will be able to comprehend and apply the characteristics of
scientific methods in real-time scenarios. They will also be able to answer questions in their exams
related to characteristics of scientific methods.
Scenario
Zarah, a team lead of the marketing department at a renowned social media company,
arranges a brainstorming session with her social media team. The discussion focuses on generating
innovative ideas to enhance user satisfaction with the mobile app.
The team suggested conducting an online survey to gather valuable feedback directly from
users. They designed a comprehensive survey containing close-ended questions that covered topics
such as app usage patterns, useful features, user preference, ease of use, and suggestions for
improvement. Additionally, open-ended questions were also included in the survey to capture
qualitative insights.
Excited about the potential feedback, Zarah and her team actively monitor user responses
from the survey. They are confident that this information will be instrumental in upgrading and
improving the mobile app.
REQUIREMENTS:
Which five important characteristics of the scientific method, as outlined in your research
methodology course, are addressed in the provided scenario, and which ones are either not met or not
discussed? Justify your answer as well.
Met (✔️) / Not Met (❌) with

Characteristic
justification
Empirical Empirical ✔️
The scenario involves gathering
data directly from users through
an online survey. This data
collection process is empirical
since it relies on observable
evidence and experiences to
inform decision-making.
Verifiable Verifiable ✔️
The data collected from the
survey can be verified by
analyzing the responses and
comparing them against each
other. Additionally, the team can
cross-reference the survey results
with actual user behaviors within
the app to verify the validity of
the feedback.
Cumulative Cumulative ✔️
The survey results contribute to a
cumulative body of knowledge
about user preferences and
behaviors regarding the mobile
app. As more surveys are
conducted over time, the insights
gathered will continue to build
upon previous findings, leading
to a deeper understanding of user
satisfaction and areas for
improvement.
Deterministic Deterministic ❌
The scenario does not explicitly
mention the use of deterministic
methods or principles.
Determinism in the scientific
method refers to the idea that
given the same initial conditions,
the outcomes will be predictable.
While the survey aims to gather
user feedback systematically, it
does not imply that the outcomes
are entirely deterministic, as
human behaviors and opinions
can vary.
Statistical Generalization Statistical Generalization ✔️
The survey includes close-ended
questions aimed at collecting
quantitative data, which can be
analyzed statistically to make
generalizations about the larger
user population. By aggregating
and analyzing the responses, the
team can identify trends and
patterns that provide insights into
the preferences and behaviors of
the broader user base.
Overall, the scenario effectively addresses several key characteristics of the scientific method,
including empiricism, verifiability, cumulativeness, and the potential for statistical generalization.
However, it does not explicitly incorporate deterministic principles.
Note: The solution should be provided in the following table. Failure to provide the
answer as suggested will result in a deduction of marks.
IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS:
• Students are advised to study the whole text carefully.

• Try not to include any irrelevant material in the solution.
• Try to come up with precise and original answers.
• Any act of plagiarism like copy paste from internet will result in ZERO marks.
• Assignments reaching after the due date would not be considered.
• Make sure to upload the solution file before the due date on VULMS.
• Any submission made via email after the due date will not be accepted.
FORMATTING GUIDELINES:
• Use the font style “Times New Roman” or “Arial” and font size “12”.
• It is advised to compose your document in MS-Word format.
• Use black font color only.
RULES FOR MARKING:

Please note that your assignment will not be graded or graded as Zero (0), if:
• It is submitted after the due date.
• The file you uploaded does not open or is corrupt.
• It is in any format other than MS-Word or Open Office; e.g. Excel, PowerPoint, PDF etc.
• It is cheated or copied from other students, internet, books, journals etc.
24 hours extra/ grace period after the due date is usually available to overcome uploading
difficulties. This extra time should only be used to meet the emergencies and above-
mentioned due dates should always be treated as final to avoid any inconvenience.
Good Luck!

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SPRING 2024

RESEARCH METHODS (STA630)

Topic: Important characteristics of scientific methods

Objective of the Assignment:

Met (✔️) / Not Met (❌) with

• Students are advised to study the whole text carefully.

RULES FOR MARKING:

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