Chapter 3: Understanding Research Methods & Variables

Question 1

applied research

Answer 1

as direct application to healthcare practices.

Question 2

basic research

Answer 2

are used to investigate fundamental questions that are directed at a better understanding of individual concepts.

Question 3

categorical variable

Answer 3

a research sample comprised of children with autism is not a variable, but if you compare girls and boys with autism gender is a variable, and research categorical variables could be assigned a number and compared.

Question 4

continuous variable

Answer 4

ones where the numbers have meaning in relation to one another.

Question 5

control group

Answer 5

does not receive an intervention.

Question 6

control variable

Answer 6

variables that remain constant.

Question 7

correlational studies

Answer 7

seeks to determine if there is a relationship that exists between two constructs and if it does, assessing the strength of our relationship.

Question 8

cross-sectional research

Answer 8

Data are collected at a single point in time.

Question 9

dependent variables

Answer 9

observed and are intended to measure the result of the manipulation.

Question 10

directional hypothesis

Answer 10

indicates that the researcher has an assumption or belief about a particular outcome.

Question 11

efficacy studies

Answer 11

seeks to know if an intervention results in a positive outcome for the client.

Question 12

experimental research

Answer 12

the type of research that is very important for evidence-based practitioners, which examines cause-and-effect relationships.

Question 13

extraneous variable

Answer 13

are tracked, and then later, examined to determine their influence.

Question 14

factorial design

Answer 14

when more than one independent variable is included in a study; the interaction or impact of both independent variables can be examined simultaneously.

Question 15

hypothesis

Answer 15

it’s based on prior knowledge that informs an idea or question to be answered.

Question 16

independent variable

Answer 16

variables that are manipulated or compared in a study.

Question 17

intervention studies

Answer 17

seeks to determine if an intervention was effective.

Question 18

longitudinal research

Answer 18

requires data to be collected over a long period of time.

Question 19

nondirectional hypothesis

Answer 19

suggests that the researcher does not have a prior notion about what the study results may be, but may assume that a difference or relationship exists.

Question 20

nonexperimental research

Answer 20

cannot determine causal relationships; includes research that can answer, descriptive relationships, and qualitative questions using methods such as service interviews observation of behavior, standardized measures, and existing data for medical records.

Question 21

null hypothesis

Answer 21

States that there is no difference or no relationship and it is an important concept for statistical analysis.

Question 22

observational studies

Answer 22

naturally occurring circumstances which I studied as opposed to assigning individuals to an intervention as a research condition.

Question 23

pre-experimental research

Answer 23

when a single group is compared before and after an intervention; also known as a pretest/posttest design without a control.

Question 24

qualitative research

Answer 24

search for answers to questions through experience.

Question 25

quantitative research

Answer 25

research that uses statistics and describes how it comes in terms of numbers.

Question 26

quasi experimental study

Answer 26

designed to answer cause-and-effect questions, but participants are not randomly assigned into groups.

Question 27

randomized controlled trial

Answer 27

research design that compares at least two groups with participants randomly assigned to a group.

Question 28

research design

Answer 28

a specific plan for our study is organized.

Question 29

research hypothesis

Answer 29

the prediction, the researcher makes about the outcomes of a study.

Question 30

third variable problem

Answer 30

found in correlation studies which presents a potential alternative. An example is that two constructs may be related, but a third variable could account for that relationship or influence the relationship.

Question 31

translational research

Answer 31

when findings from the laboratory are used to generate clinical research.

Question 32

true experiment

Answer 32

a randomized control trial.

Question 33

Type I error

Answer 33

occurs when the hypothesis is accepted, but the hypothesis is actually false.

Question 34

Type II error

Answer 34

when a hypothesis is rejected, but the hypothesis is true.

Answer 35

Variable: characteristics of people, activities, situations, or environments that are identifiable, and/or measured in a study, and have more than one value.