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Explain why a researcher investigating a highly original research question might formulate an a-theoretical hypothesis rather than immediately developing a broad explanatory theory.
Question: Explain why a researcher investigating a highly original research question might formulate an a-theoretical hypothesis rather than immediately developing a broad explanatory theory.
Sample answer: A researcher might formulate an a-theoretical hypothesis because a highly original question lacks existing theories to explain or predict outcomes. Formulating a specific prediction first allows the researcher to collect data and make observations, which provide the empirical foundation necessary to construct a broader explanatory theory later.
Key points:
- Highly original research questions lack existing, broader explanatory theories to derive hypotheses from.
- Researchers need to collect data and make observations first to understand the phenomenon.
- The empirical findings from testing the a-theoretical hypothesis are used to develop the broader explanatory theory afterward.
Rubric: The answer should explain that highly original questions lack existing theoretical frameworks. It should note that formulating a hypothesis and collecting data/observations must occur first to provide the basis for developing a broader theory later.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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Explain why a researcher investigating a highly original research question might formulate an a-theoretical hypothesis rather than immediately developing a broad explanatory theory.