Chapter 4 Understanding observational analysis Flashcards
observer bias
can occur when preconceived ideas held by the researcher effect the nature of the observation made
naturalistic observation
descriptive research method in which behaviour of people or animals are studied as it occurs in the natural environment
participant observation
Descriptive research method in which the behaviour of people is studied as it occurs in the natural environment, researcher becomes a part of the group being observed
behaviour checklists
Lists of behaviors with predefined operational definitions that researchers are trained to use in an observational study
time sampling
A procedure in observational research in which behavior is sampled during predefined times only e.g (every ten minutes)
Event sampling
A procedure in which only certain types of behavior occurring under precisely defined conditions are sampled
unobtrusive measures
A measure of behavior that can be recorded without participants knowing their behavior has been observed
(reduces reactivity)
Interobserver reliability
The extent of agreement among observers about what is being observed- purpose is to reduce observer bias
survey
A structured set of questions or statements given to a group of people to measure their attitudes, beliefs, values or tendencies to act
Representative sample
A sample with characteristics that match those attributes as they exist in the population
biased sampling
sampling that is not representative of the population
self-selection bias
In surveys, when the sample is composed of only those who voluntarily choose to respond, the result can be a biased sample `
simple random sample
A probability sample in which each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected as a member of the sample
stratified sample
A probability sample that is random, with the restriction that important subgroups are proportionately represented within it
cluster sampling
Randomly selects clusters of people having some feature in common, and tests all people within the selected cluster
Convenience sampling
A non-probability sample in which the researcher requests volunteers from a group of people who meet the general requirements from the study
purposive sampling
A non-probability sample in which the researcher targets a particular group of individuals
quota sampling
A non-probability sample in which the proportions of some subgroups in the sample are the same as those subgroup proportions in the population
snowball sampling
A non-probability sample in which a member of a particular group, already surveyed, helps recruit additional group members through a network of friends- often occurs for surveys of a relatively small group or group that generally wishes to remain hidden
interview surveying
A survey method in which the researcher interviews the participant face-to face, allows for more in depth surveying
phone surveying
researchers interview over the phone
sugging
selling under the guise of a survey
electronic surveying
survey research conducted over the internet
non-response bias
Occurs in survey research when those who return surveys differ systematically from those who don’t respond
social-desirability bias
A type of response bias in survey research, occurs when people respond to a question by trying to put themselves in a favorable light
close-ended questions
yes/no responses
open-ended questions
requires response beyond yes or no
response-acquiscience
A response that set in which a participant tends to respond positively to survey questions, all else being equal
DK Alternative
alternative that means don’t know in a survey
demographic information
Basic data that identifies survey respondent
double-barreled question
A survey item that asks or states two things in a single item
leading question
A questions asked in such a way that the answer desired by the questioner is clear
sample frame
List of individuals from whom a sample will be drawn: with cluster sampling, a list of groups from which a sample of groups will be selected
