Chapter 3- Research Design Flashcards
assumptions
Untested propositions (usually within a theory).
case study
An in-depth examination of an event or locale, often conducted after (because) something dramatic has happened.
concept
The basic building block of research or theory that abstracts or summarizes a critical characteristic or aspect of a class of events.
context
In research design, the setting in which a study is conducted, important for external validity.
covariation
A statistical relationship between variables, necessary (but not sufficient) to infer causality.
cross-sectional study
A quasi-experimental research design in which data are obtained for one point in time, often from a large sample of subjects.
dependent variable
The variable that is caused or predicted by the independent variable (in regression, the Y variable).
experimental design
A research design that features random assignment of cases to the experimental and control groups.
external validity
The degree to which research findings or results can be generalized to hold true in other populations, settings, or times.
hypothesis
An educated guess or conjecture about the world that can be shown to be either true or false based on data analysis.
independent variable
The variable that causes or predicts the dependent variable (in regression, the X variable).
internal validity
The degree to which research findings or results satisfy all conditions for establishing causality.
mixed research design
Study that combines elements from several research designs.
model
A simplified version of a theory that captures its key components and is amenable to empirical testing.
multiple causation
The social science position that an event or phenomenon can have several causes.
nominal (or conceptual) definition
Defines a concept in terms of other concepts.
nonspuriousness
A criterion for a causal relationship requiring that a covariation or association between two variables or phenomena cannot be explained by a third factor.
operational definition
A definition that specifies how a concept will be measured for purposes of the study in question.
panel study
A type of study in which a series of cross-sectional studies is conducted on the same sample of individuals over time; that is, a group of individuals is surveyed at repeated intervals over time.
quasi-experimental design
Research designs that lack the requirements of experimental designs but are structured in a similar fashion.
random assignment
In research design, a procedure that gives each subject an equal chance of placement in the experimental group or the control group so that no systematic difference exists between the groups prior to administration of the treatment.
research design
A systematic program for empirically testing proposed causal relationships that guides the collection, analysis, and interpretation of the relevant data.
spurious
A relationship between two variables that is caused by a third variable.
theory
An integrated set of propositions intended to explain or account for a given phenomenon.
time order
A criterion for a causal relationship requiring that the independent variable or phenomenon must precede the dependent variable or phenomenon in time.
trend studies
Studies that monitor and attempt to account for shifts over time in various indicators, usually indicators that are highly aggregated (e.g., gross national product).
variable
A measured quantity or characteristic that can take on a variety of values (i.e., it varies).
