Hello all,
I am aware of "formal methods" as it is used in computer science, to make sure our specifications are mathematically and logically sound (before we put them into a specific language). Isn't there a tool or form of notation so we can do that while we construct legitimate hypotheses for psychological research?
It is common knowledge that the construction of natural language questions (surveys about thinking and behavior), can be very questionable when it comes to construct validity. For example, did I cover everything? Am I even asking the right question? Trial and error without a formal test of our logic doesn't seem very efficient.
Does anyone know of a formal notation or research tool that lets us test natural language questions for how "sound" they are? After all, whether computer code (if/then we can do this) or human language (if/then we can assume that), it's pretty much the same logic. Thanks for any advice!
I think that you will find "formality" to be quite different in the case of formal methods from Computer Science and with regard to investigations in the social sciences. In the CS case, the domain of discourse tends to be well-defined. Questions about the nature of the population (domain) do not arise.
That's not the case for scientific hypotheses. There you have a proposition that some pattern of behavior or other property occurs in some population, and it is going to be tested statistically.
There seem to be two questions. First, will the questions and responses distinguish some factor of interest and is it scientifically sound. (I.e., does not bias or presume the result.) Secondly, given use of the questionnaire or other sources of measures/responses, are some "questions" correlated or redundant and can be removed. And determination of whether the battery of questions actually discriminates anything with respect to some population.
I haven't followed social-science research much, but you should look to see how this sort of thing is accomplished in some kinds of testing by questionnaire, such as the MMPI or efforts at predicting success in certain activities based on historical information and correlation of questionnaire results with some comparison body (such as vocational-interest questionnaires). Observe how these sorts of systems are validated over time and the battery of tests refined (e.g., in college-entrance and college-preparedness examinations).
When I was exposed to this, it was referred to as quantitative psychology. I daresay you are more versed in this than I. There must be useful information in your field. I wish you good fortune in your mission.
I think you will need to address the use of formal methods in the society of engineering before you can use the methods more broadly. I am familiar with these methods, and I am quite skeptical of their application as you suggest.
However, I do believe that there is merit to the development of mathematics in the description of social behaviors on the underlying biophysical basis. A step beyond the statistical analysis and game theory so far.
that is a killer question Lonny Meinecke and what exactly is going through my mind for last 3 days . I am also planning to use round robin algorithm to decide the intentions of employees in a firm. Your question "apply " can only be answered by big wigs and for that I think we have to present out non-conventional methods in conferences of repute . in case we are doubtful, thats the only way to get greater acceptance
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