01_Research Methods Basics

Question 1

What are the basic steps of the scientific method:


Answer 1

1. Identify a problem to solve or question to answer
2. Gather initial information related to the problem
3. Generate a hypothesis

4. Test the hypothesis
   a. Collect data 

   b. Analyze data 

5. Draw conclusions (and refine the hypothesis)

Question 2

What is a Hypothesis?

Answer 2

statement that is testable (falsifiable). States or tentatively predicts the relation between variables, typically in a very specific context.
Not Testable: All murderers should be executed.
Testable: States that allow capital punishment show lower levels of murder (per capita, per year) than states that do not allow capital punishment.

Question 3

What is Theory ?

Answer 3

A formal statement of relations among variables, but the context is much less specific than for a hypothesis.

Question 4

Example
Theory: Parent-Child Attachment
The attachment formed between a parent and child early in life (e.g., secure/insecure) impacts relationship functioning in adulthood. Hypothesis?

Answer 4

Hypothesis: There is a statistically significant difference between the parent-child attachment patterns of adolescent substance abusers and non- abusers.

Question 5

What is a Research methodology?

Answer 5

Research methodology - The science of understanding
how research is performed methodically.
• It provides the justification for our choice of research methods.
The research methodology is either qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods.

Question 6

What is the difference between Qualitative and Quantitative methodologies ?

Answer 6

Qualitative
● Non-numerical data ● Subjective
● Context-specific
● Inductive logic

Quantitative
● Numerical data ● Objective
● Generalizable ● Deductive logic

Question 7

What is the difference between Research Design and Research Methods ?

Answer 7

Research Design
● The overall structure of the research study. ● A plan to answer your research question. ● The overall plan ● The logic 
● Focuses on process

Research Methods
● Techniques, procedures, and tools used to collect and nalyse the data in a study.
● The strategies to implement the plan
● The logistics
● Focuses on product

Question 8

What are Main Research Design Categories?

Answer 8

• Descriptive

• Correlational

• Experimental.

Question 9

A descriptive research design is used to find ___?

Answer 9

“what is.”
Examples:
• What is the prevalence rate of depression in women over 60 years of age? 

What are people’s perceptions of the impact of cell phone use on social relationships?

Question 10

A correlational research design is used to find the ___?

Answer 10

(non-causal) relationship between variables.

Question 11

An experimental research design is used to determine causality, or whether one variable, X, causes ___?

Answer 11

another variable, Y.

Examples:
Does cognitive behavioral therapy reduce PTSD
symptoms in abused women?
Does Ritalin decrease hyperactivity in children with ADHD?

Question 12

What is the difference between Independent and Dependent Variables ?

Answer 12

Does Ritalin decrease hyperactivity in children with ADHD?
• X is the variable that is manipulated by the researcher, and is called the independent variable (allowed to vary).
• Y – is the outcome that isdetermined by X,and is called the dependent variable (not allowed to vary).