Analysing Data

Question 1

What is quantitate research?

Answer 1

• Quantifying relationships between variables
• Measure variables on a sample of participants
• Express the relationship between variables

Question 2

What are variables?

Answer 2

• A concept or construct
• Can have more than one value
• Can be different for each research participant

Question 3

What is a constant?

Answer 3

• A concept or construct

- Always has the same value for each participant

Question 4

Independant Vs. Dependant Variables

Answer 4

IV:
Explains or causes a change in another variable
Not dependant on another variable
Manipulated by the researcher

DV:
Explained or caused by IV
Level is dependant on other variable
Of interest in explaining and understanding

Question 5

What does it mean to conceptualise?

Answer 5

To accept a nominal definition

Question 6

What does it mean to operationalise?

Answer 6

To accept a way of measuring

Question 7

What are the levels of measurement

Answer 7

Categorical –>

• -> Nominal –> Classifies
• -> Ordinal —> Classifies orders

Numerical –>

• -> Interval –> Classifies orders, equal intervals
• -> Ratio –> Classifies orders, equal intervals, absolute zero

Question 8

Categorical Variables: Nominal Level

Answer 8

• Names the levels uniquely
• Variables are:
  Discrete –> Data falls into categories
  Non-meteric –> No order in categories

E.g. Gender, Eye colour

Question 9

Categorical Variables: Ordinal Level

Answer 9

• Names and orders the levels
• Variables are:
  Discrete –> Data falls into categories
  Order in the categories, ranking
• Tells whether participants are different plus that one is more or less than the other

E.g. How do you feel today

1. Very unhappy
2. Unhappy
3. OK
4. Happy
5. Very Happy

Question 10

Numeric Variables: Interval Level

Answer 10

• Categories of the variable are legitimate numbers
• Categories have equal intervals between them
• No true zero point

E.g. Relative Sitting Height (%), BMI (Kg/m2)

Question 11

Numeric Variables: Ratio Level

Answer 11

• Most precise form of measurement
• Equal intervals between categories
• True zero point
• Tell us:
  –> whether two people are different
  –> whether one is more something than the other
  –> How much they differ
  –> What is the ratio between one from the other
  E.g. age, height, weight

Question 12

What are the 3 measurement concerns?

Answer 12

1. Constraints
2. Reliability
3. Validity

Question 13

Validity: How do we know we are measuring the concept?

Answer 13

1. Face
2. Content
3. Criterion (predictive, concurrent and known groups validity)
4. Construct (convergent and divergent validity)

Question 14

Reliability:

Answer 14

• Degree of consistency in measurement
• Degree of repeatability of measurement
• Degree of agreement between different observers, raters or judges