JOVEN, Camille Joy G.

11314087
RESMETH A55

1. What is Organized Skepticism? How do social researchers adhere to this principle? Provide a clear case
or cite an example.
Organized Skepticism was introduced as one of the Mertonian Norms by Robert Merton in the
1940s. Organized Skepticism means that every claim must be subjected to be scrutinized, tested, and
challenged prior to its acceptance as an addition to our body of knowledge (Merton, 1942). The claims,
methods used, data gathered, and findings must be examined and justified empirically and logically. This
is done to make sure that the new knowledge as much as possible has no loop hole, very much effective
and done properly. Social Researchers adhere to this principle by submitting researches into Skeptic
Organizations, in which these organizations critically scrutinize the study. For example, in universities,
theses are given to a panel to be read and criticized. This way, the panel serves as the skeptic organization.

2. Explain the difference between validity and reliability in research. Provide a clear case or cite an
example.
A research is reliable when the variables being measured are stable or constants. According to
Creswell (2013) Reliability is a measurement procedure that is stable or constant should produce the same
results if the same individuals and conditions are used. While Validity encompasses the entire
experimental concept and establishes whether the results obtained meet all of the requirements of the
scientific research method. For example, the experiment about the planting of a seedling inside a box with
and without a hole. The hole is for the sunlight. The result of this experiment is that the plant inside the

box with hole grew more healthily than the other. Every time this experiment is done, it always gets the
same result. Then, we can say that the study is reliable. While Validity comes in the general procedure,
when the researcher follows every step, then we can say that the study is valid.

3. What is an effective literature review? Explain the important components and characteristics of a good
RRL.
Related Literature is a part in the study where the researcher evaluate and analyze existing
literature about the study. The review of related literature is effective when the review summarizes,
describes, and analyzes past studies related to the topic pursued. These are done to know what has already
been studied and what else is not yet delved into. Effectivity of the RRL is measured by when the limits
or scope of your topic of inquiry is defined, ability to show the reader why the topic is important, when
there is an outline of key researchers and research findings relevant to your topic, when there is a gap in
knowledge presented to support the case, and lastly by setting a benchmark for your study (Creswell,
2013).

4. Choose an Ethical issue that may arise during the process of research. Invent a dilemma that might
happen in your own research and present how you might anticipate resolving it in the design of your
study.
Our study is about The Netherlands Red Light District, and if there is an ethical issue that may
arise its about the protection of human subjects. For example, the subjects right to anonymity. There
may be a chance that along the process of the research we will not be able to change the name of the
subjects into pseudonyms. In this case, this may cause embarrassment and emotional trauma in view of
subjects' concerns. To avoid this, we have to make sure that the information of the subjects are well kept
and their names should be changed in the study proper to protect their identity.

5. Discuss how theoretical framework supports your research objectives, and how it connects to the entire
body of the research.
According to Swanson (2013) theoretical framework is the structure that can hold or support a
theory of a research study. It introduces and describes the theory that explains why the research problem
under study exists. Theoretical framework supports the research objectives and the entire body of research
by explaining it through a theory. The theory will serve as a lens, this will help the researcher on how they
will approach and examine the study. It provides a grounding base, or an anchor, for the literature review,
and most importantly, the methods and analysis and it identifies a plan for investigation and interpretation
of the findings (Swanson, 2013).

References:
Creswell, J. (2013). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method approaches I by John
W. Creswel1.- 2nd ed. http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic1334586.files/2003_Creswell_A%20
Framework%20for%20Design.pdf
Merton, R. (1942). "The Normative Structure of Science", in Merton, Robert K., The Sociology of
Science: Theoretical and Empirical Investigations, Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
http://www.collier.sts.vt.edu/5424/pdfs/merton_1973.pdf
Swanson, Richard A. (2013). Theory Building in Applied Disciplines. San Francisco, CA: BerrettKoehler Publishers 2013.