6 Surveys, Observations, And Sampling Flashcards
Census
A set of observations that contains all members of the population of interest.
Acquiescence
Or yea-saying. Answering “yes” or “strongly agree” to every item in a questionnaire or interview.
Cluster sampling
A sampling method in which researchers randomly select clusters of participants within the population of interest and then collect data from all of the participants in each selected cluster.
Convenience sampling
Choosing a sample based on those who are easiest to access.
Faking bad
A situation that occurs when survey respondents give answers that make them look worse than they really are.
Fence sitting
A situation that occurs when respondents play it safe by answering in the middle of the scale for every question in a questionnaire or interview.
Forced-choice format
A question type in which respondents give their opinions by picking the best of two or more opinions.
Likert scale
A scale containing multiple response options that are anchored by the term strongly agree, agree, neither agree nor disagree, disagree, and strongly disagree. A scale that does not follow this format exactly may be called a Likert-type scale.
Masked study
A study design in which the observers are unaware of the experimental conditions to which participants have been assigned.
Multistage sampling
A method of sampling in which to random samples are taken from some population: a random sample of clusters and then a random sample of people within those clusters.
Nay-saying
Answering “no “or “strongly disagree” to every item in a questionnaire or interview.
Observational research
The process of watching people or animals and systematically recording what they are doing.
Observer bias
A bias that occurs when observers’ expectations influence their interpretation of the subjects’ behaviors or the outcome of the study.
Observer effects
Reactivity. A term referring to people or animals changing their behavior (reacting) because they know another person is watching.
Open-ended question
A question that allows respondents to answer in any way they see fit.
Oversampling
A variation of stratified random sampling in which the researcher intentionally over represents one or more groups.
Population
Some larger group from which the sample is drawn, which the sample is intended to represent.
Probability sampling
The process of drawing a sample from a population of interest in such a way to each member of the population has an equal probability of being included in the sample (e.g., randomly).
Purposive sampling
The inclusion of only certain kinds of people in a sample.
Random assignment
The use of a random method to assign participants into different experimental groups.
Response set
A shortcut respondents may use to answer the items in a self-report measure with multiple items, rather than responding to the content of each item.
Sample
The group of people, animals, or cases used in the study.
Self-selection
A form of sampling bias that occurs when a sample contains only people who volunteer to participate.
Semantic differential format
A self-report response scale whose numbers are anchored with contrasting adjectives (easy and hard).
Simple random sampling
The most basic form of probability sampling, in which the sample is chosen completely at random from the population, perhaps by drawing names out of a hat.
Snowball sampling
A variation on purposive sampling in which participants are asked to recommend acquaintances for the study.
Socially desirable responding
Faking good. Giving answers to a self-report measure that make one look better than one really is.
Stratified random sampling
A sampling method in which the researcher identifies particular demographic categories of interest and then randomly selects individuals within each of the categories.
Systematic sampling
A method of random sampling in which the researcher counts off to achieve a sample (choosing every and nth person in a population, where n is a randomly chosen number).
Unobtrusive observation
An observation made indirectly, through physical traces of behavior, or made by someone who is hidden or is posing as a bystander.
