Chapter 1- Research Methods Flashcards
aim
a statement outlining the purpose of the investigation
hypothesis
a testable prediction of the relationship between two or more variables (events or characteristics)
independent variable
the variable that is manipulated in order to measure its effect on the dependent variable
dependent variable
the variable that the researcher uses to observe and measure the effects of the independent variable
population
refers to the entire group of research interest from which a sample is drawn and to which the researcher will seek to generalise the results of the investigation
sample
a subject or part of of the population that is selected for research purposes
representative sample
a sample that closely resembles the population from which it is drawn in key characteristics
biased sample
a sample that does not adequately represent the key characteristics of its population
random sample
a sampling technique that ensures every member of the population of research interest has an equal chance of being selected to be a part of the sample
stratified sample
the process of selected a sample from a population comprised of various subgroups in such a way that each subgroup is represented
primary data
information collected directly from the source by the researcher for their own purpose
secondary data
information that was not collected directly by the current researcher but at an earlier time by someone else
qualitative data
non numerical information involving the participants experience of what is being studied
quantitative data
numerical information about the “quantity” or amount of what is being studied
internal validity
the extend to which an investigation actually investigated what it set out to investigate and/or claims to have investigated
