Chapter_5_Formulating a Research Question Flashcards
Week 4
1
Q
Formulating Research Hypotheses
A
- Establishing a Background
- Choosing a Topic
- Formulating the Question
- Reviewing the Literature
- Formulating Hypotheses
- Designing the Study
- Writing the Research Proposal
2
Q
Establishing a Background
A
- Informal background consists of life experiences
- Formal background consists of the sum of your education and training in behavioral science
3
Q
Choosing a Topic
A
- Interest
- personal and professional backgrounds
- uninteresting should be carefully weighed against any expected benefits - Feasibility
- resources
- special populations
- special equipment
4
Q
Formulating the Question
A
Refining a Topic Into a Question
- narrow the topic down to which data can be collected
5
Q
Characteristics of a Good Research Question
A
- How well GROUNDED the question is in the current knowledge base
- researcher’s background - How RESEARCHABLE it is
- clear operational definitions
- clear hypotheses - IMPORTANCE
- The more information that the answer to a research question can provide
6
Q
Testing Several Competing Theories
A
- Multiple theories
- which theory correctly predicts the outcome—can tell us which is more valid - One theory
- test a hypothesis derived from a proposition that is important to the theory
7
Q
Theory Map
A
- History of the theory
- Information about why the theory is important
- Evidence supporting or refuting the theory
- (if applicable) similar and competing theories
8
Q
Boundary Conditions
A
The conditions under which the effect operates
9
Q
Literature Review
A
The process of collecting theoretical, empirical, and methodological information on a topic
10
Q
3 Purposes of the Literature Review
A
- Provide a scientific CONTEXT
for the research -> good research question? - Avoid Duplication of effort
- Identify potential PROBLEMS
11
Q
Types of Information Looking for during Literature Review
A
- Relevant theories
- comparison
- alternative explanations
- broader context - previous research question
- method
- data analysis
12
Q
Criteria for Evaluating Research Reports
A
- Formulating hypotheses
- Internal validity
- Construct validity
- validity
- reliability - Statistical validity
- Interpreting Results
- research strategy used support the conclusions
- alternative interpretations - Generalization
13
Q
What does it mean that publication is biased toward significant results?
A
Type I error
- Leading to stronger effect that it really is
14
Q
Formulating Hypotheses
A
- Research Hypotheses
- Statistical Hypotheses
15
Q
Research Hypotheses
A
An expectation about the relationship between two variables
16
Q
Statistical Hypotheses
A
Transforms the research hypothesis into a statement about the expected result of a statistical test
17
Q
Designing the Study
A
- How: strategy and a specific design
- What: operational definitions for the hypothetical constructs
- Where
- Who: sampling technique
- When: times of the day, cross sectional, or longitudinal
18
Q
3 Forms of Replication Research
A
- Direct Replication
- Conceptual Replication
- Replication and Extension
19
Q
Direct Replication
A
Recreate a study as closely as possible
- except samples
20
Q
3 Functions of Direct Replication
A
- Controlling for CHANCE results
- Controlling for SITUATIONAL influences on results
- GENERALIZING results to a different population
21
Q
Conceptual Replication
A
- different SETTING
- different set of operational DEFINITIONS
- different participant POPULATION
- to investigate the EXTERNAL VALIDITY
22
Q
Replication and Extension
A
- adds independent or dependent variables
- makes other additions to the original research that expand its scope
23
Q
Critical Replications
A
Test an alternative explanation for the effect found in a previous study
24
Q
Successful Replication: Direct
A
- Increases support for the principle
- Type I error is less likely
- Increases the validity of the methods
25
Unsuccessful Replication: Direct
- Weakens support for the principle:
- Type I error is a possibility
- questions the validity of the methods
- Type II error is a possibility, especially if sample size is small
26
Successful Replication: Conceptual
- Increases support for the principle
- Type I error is less likely
- Extends the scope
- Increases the validity of the methods
27
Unsuccessful Replication: Conceptual
- Weakens support for the principle:
- Type I error is a possibility
- Limits the scope
- Questions the validity of the methods
- Type II error is a possibility, especially if sample size is small
- Possibility of moderators
28
Considerations in Conducting Replication Research
1. The Hypothesis
- importance of new information
- contradiction between a new research and the theory
- generalizability
2. Avoiding Over-Duplication
3. Research Methods
29
Replication & Systematic Research
1. Direct replications: reproducible
2. Critical replications: validity
3. Conceptual replications: generalizability
4. Failures to replicate: moderator
5. Replication and extension studies
- generalizability
- boundary conditions
- mediator and moderator
- connect the theory being developed to other relevant theories
30
Knowledge Utilization
two criteria to determine if the findings are usable
1. Truth test
2. Utility test
31
Truth Test
Practitioner’s perception of the validity of the research
1. Research quality
- proper methods?
2. Conformity to user expectations
- practitioner’s experience, knowledge, and values?
32
Utility Test
Practitioner’s perception of the usefulness of the research
results for guiding action, either through direct intervention or by providing alternative approaches to problems
1. action orientation
- realistic change
2. challenge to the status quo
- challenge current philosophy, program, or practice
- offer new perspectives
33
Policy Variables
Factors over which practitioners or decision makers in the applied setting
- can control and manipulate by changing policies or procedures
34
Estimator Variables
- cannot or do not control them
- cannot manipulate them
- to understand and predict ( or estimate the level of) the behaviors they influence
35
Bias in the Formulation of Research Questions
1. Personal Values
- overlook or give less weight to contrary evidence
2. interpret the results in an overly positive light
3. less likely to test alternative explanations or limits or boundary conditions
36
Biased Assumptions
- One group is more important than research on other groups
- general problem can be identified through research based on only one group
- views prevalent in their societies
37
Avoiding Bias
1. Expecting over wanting
2. Explicitly state the theoretical reasoning underlying your hypothesis
3. Create competing hypotheses
4. Adversarial collaboration:, researchers with differing perspectives
38
WEIRD
- Western
- educated
- industrialized
- rich
- democratic societies
