class test 1 (weeks 1-4) Flashcards
what are some types of qual research?
- basic interpretative qual study
- grounded theory
- phenomenology
- case study
- ethnography
what does quant research focus on?
translating abstract theory into answerable questions and observable hypothesis
what are stats used to describe in quant research?
escribe aggregated data and draw inferences
what are stats used to describe in quant research?
escribe aggregated data and draw inferences
what are some qual data collection methods?
- observation
- in depth/focus group interview
- documents and record analysis
- nominal group techniques
- key informants
- case studies
- written questionnaire (open-ended questions)
what are types of research designs?
Experimental and quasi-experimental Single subject studies Field studies and naturalistic observations Surveys (focus of unit) Psychometric sturdies
what is the basic characteristic of experimental design?
investigator manipulates independent variable expected to produce effect on DV
what is the aim of experimental design?
to control as much as possible the extraneous influence that may leas to incorrect conclusion
what does quasi-experimental research designs lack?
same degree of rigour in true experiments (eg. Single group or participants act as own control group)
what are single subject studies?
examine impact of intervention on single subject (own controls)
what do single subject studies often involve?
gathering baseline data and then throughout alternating periods where experimental condition is present or withdrawn
what does field studies and naturalistic observations study?
- takes place in real life setting
- study events as they happen in natural enviro
what are field studies and naturalistic observations largely used in?
qual contexts
what are survey studies undertaken to investigate?
characteristics of defined group/pop
vv
what are psychometric studies designed to investigate?
- properties of clinical assessment tools or data collection tools
- reliability and validity of instruments
what are the three underlying purposes of research?
Basic
Applied
Transformative
what is basic research?
- includes investigation undertaken for purpose of generating evidence about phenomena or testing theory
- undertaken for sake of generating new knowledge without direct concern for its applicability or practical significance
what is applied research seeking to solve?
practical problem or generate info specifically to inform practice
what is transformative research designed to bring about?
change in some practical situation or specific context
what does transformative research emphasise?
on transforming social realities so lives are improved
what does transformative research foster?
self-reflection, mutual learning, participation and empowerment
what three factors can research design by analysed based on?
Purpose
Timing of data collection
Extent to which researcher manipulates participants
what is a variable ?
some characteristic that takes different forms in study
what are two types of variables?
independent and dependent
what is the independent variable?
presumed cause of dependent
what is the retrospective timing of research?
esearcher uses data collected before research question was formulated
what is the prospective timing of research?
researcher completes data collection after research question was developed
what does the experimental level of manipulation involve?
controlled manipulation of participants
what does the non-experimental level of manipulation involve?
does not involve manipulation of participants
what are types of controls applied to variables?
- implementation of IV
- participant selection and assignment
- extraneous variables related to setting/participants
- measurement of DV
- info given to participants and research
what are surveys designed to obtain?
- info about prevalence, distribution and interrelations of variables within pop
- gather info regarding beliefs, activities, preferences and attitudes, usually by asking sample of direct questions
what do surveys investigate links or associations between?
variables, known as correlational research
what are surveys used for?
- part of research study/service evaluation/audit
- for quality assurance activities
- for marketing studies
- used as a research tool in many contexts including health, gov
- measures opinions, knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, behaviours, reactions, and attitudes in response t specific questions
what are some advantages of surveys?
- can be applied to different topics
- can be applied to Dif pops or groups
- can be broad or narrow and breadth of topic covered
- economical
- snapshot of an issue
- can be done anonymously
- data is easy to compare and analyse
what are some disadvantages of surveys?
- wording can bias responses
- impersonal
- don’t always get full story
- not conducive to some participant groups to complete
what are some qualities of good survey research?
- measurement accuracy (reliable, valid, sensitive, responsive)
- reproducibility
- generalisability
- accessibility
- readability/understandable
- comprehensive
what are some types of surveys?
Self-completion questionnaire Interviewer-administered Telephone Group administered Mail/post Web-based
what are some positives of self-completed questionnaires?
- low cost
- potential coverage of widely dispersed pop
- avoids interviewer bias
what are some negatives of self-completed questionnaires?
-potential low response rate
-requires certain literacy level
v
chat are some benefits of interviewer-administered interviews?
- collect more detailed/complex data
- able to deal with sensitive/personal topics
- more suitable to elicit story or personal narrative
what is a negative of interviewer-administered interviews?
- costly and resource intensive
- interviewer needs to travel to respondents
- interviewers need to be trained to ensure consistency
- personal characteristics of interviewer can impact on response rate and nature of responses
what are some benefits of telephone interview surveys?
- can cover large pop quickly at low cost
- can provide clarity on questions
what are some disadvantages of telephone interview surveys?
> time consuming
> need access to telephone numbers
> trained interviewers
> have over-abundance of telemarketers
> issue of sampling bias and generalisability
> may not be suitable for some groups
what are some advantages of mailed surveys?
> efficient for volume of info > likely to provide honest info > all receive same questions in same way > larger samples > cheaper than interviews > respondent does in own time
what are some disadvantages of mailed surveys?
> low response rate
> must be simple and easy to read
> need accurate mailing lists
> costs of posting
> privacy, confidentiality and anonymity must be assured
> results may be misleading if do not follow up with non respondents
> generalisability may be limited if respondents are self-selected
> handwriting may not be legible
what are some advantages of group administer surveys?
> high response rate
easy to clarify items
provides greatest sense of anonymity
inexpensive
what are some disadvantages of group administer surveys?
> may require cooperation of others
reach only those in attendance
group dynamics may influence responses
opportunity for researcher to potentially influence responses or answering items
what are some advantages of web based surveys?
> nearly complete elimination of paper, post, and data entry costs
time for implementation of survey can be reduced
once system is developed cost of additional respondents is less
reminders and follow ups general says
display of respondents data can be simultaneous with completion of surveys
currently several good quality online systems
what are some disadvantages of web based surveys?
> not everyone on web
surveys may not be conducive online
not all are equally computer literate
sampling of email address can be difficult
decision not to respond is likely to be more quickly made
what is random sampling?
precise selection where individuals in defined pop have an equal chance of inclusion
what is convenience sampling based on?
participants available
v
what could be a negative of convenience sampling?
open to bias and subjectivity
what is snowball sampling?
-one member asked to suggest to others who could be involved
what is quota sampling?
different groups need to be represented in proportion in their size within overall pops
what is proportional sampling?
portion or percentage of specified group are sampled
what is positivism as a research paradigm?
single, objective reality exists, independent of our experiences
what is positivism as a research paradigm?
single, objective reality exists, independent of our experiences
what is the aim of positivism research paradigms?
explain, predict or control reality
-generates and tests hypothesis
what is constructivism as a research paradigm?
- multiple realities exist
- reality is individually and socially constructed
what is the aim of constructivism as a research of paradigm?
understand, describe and interpret
what are key features of qual research?
- gains participants or insiders (emit) view
- occurs in natural settings
- provides contextual understanding
- rich and deep data in form of words, diagrams, photos and objects
what are types go sampling methods for qual research?
> purposive > convenience > snowball > theoretical > maximum variation
what ways is data commonly collected in qualitative research?
> interviews > observations > focus groups > documents > objects
what does grounded theory involve?
xplore social processes/actions
what are key features of grounded theory?
> simultaneous data collection/analysis
constant comparison
memo writing
theoretical sensitivity/saturation/sampling
what does narrative inquiry involve?
explores action, event or experience over time in story form
-help make sense of events/identity
what does phenomenology explore?
lived experience of phenomena
what does ethnography study?
groups of people who shared social and cultural characteristics, thought of themselves as a group, shared common language, geographical location and identity
what is the aim of ethnography?
understand social world by gaining insight of views on shared culture systems
what are data collection methods for ethnography?
> participant observation
> field notes
> key informants interviews
> artefacts or documents
what did participatory action research methodology emerge from nerd for?
oppressed pops to empower themselves and improve lives by acting to address contextual issues
what is the aim of participatory action research?
understand particular context to develop actions and outcomes relevant to interest
what is the aim of participatory action research?
understand particular context to develop actions and outcomes relevant to interest
what do case studies explore?
real-life, contemporary bounded system (case) or multiple bounded systems (cases) over time
what do case studies explore?
real-life, contemporary bounded system (case) or multiple bounded systems (cases) over time
what are the outcomes of case studies?
case description, case themes
what context are case studies studied in?
eal world life contemporary context/settings
why is rigorous research important?
- trustworthiness
- can rely on findings
- rules, procedures, or techniques relevant to research design
what are the types of info gained through surveys?
- knowledge
- beliefs/attitudes/opinions
- behaviour
- attributes
- aspirations
what are some things to remember when constructing a survey?
- be specific
- clear wording
- include required info
- avoid too precise questions
- phrase personal or incriminating questions in less objectionable way
- use mutually exclusive categories
- avoid making assumptions
what are some things to remember when constructing a survey?
- be specific
- clear wording
- include required info
- avoid too precise questions
- phrase personal or incriminating questions in less objectionable way
- use mutually exclusive categories
- avoid making assumptions
what is reliability?
-refers to how well data collected by using a questionnaire can be reproduced
what are some types of reliability?
> test-retest
> internal consistency
> intra/inter-rater reliability
what is validity?
-refers to how well items measure what they are intended to