Descriptive Research Flashcards
What does descriptive research do?
- Describes a phenomena
- Provides characteristics of a group at one point in time
- Attempts to gather data
What does descriptive research NOT do?
- No experimental manipulation
- No cause and effect
What kind of data is collected?
Attitudes, thoughts, behaviors, physical attributes, etc.
What are the different experimental variables and give examples.
- Demographic Variables
a. Age, gender, ethnicity - Anthropometric Variables
a. Height, weight, BMI - Physiological Variables
a. Strength, power, amount of physical activity - Psychological
a. Depression, anxiety
What are the different types of descriptive research?
- Survey
- Correlational
- Case Study
- Developmental
- Observational
What are the two types of survey research?
Questionnaires and interviews
What kind of information does survey research provide?
Information about knowledge, activities, attitudes and behaviors
Describe questionnaires.
- series of (usually) close-ended questions
- Administered to many participants at one time
- Preferred if an already valid and reliable questionnaire is used
What needs to be considered when developing a questionnaire?
- Consider your population (age, education, reading level)
- Order of questions (ease the in)
- Only use necessary questions
What are the pros and cons of an open-ended questionnaire?
Pros: easy to write, can find themes
Cons: difficult to analyze, lower response rate
What are the pros and cons of an closed-ended questionnaire?
Pros: Easy to analyze, higher response rate
Cons: Difficult to write
What are Likert Scales?
Closed-ended questions that have an answer continuum.
What are even numbered likert scales also called?
Forced choice
True or False?
Longer questionnaire have higher response rates.
False.
What is the ideal questionnaire time?
About 10 minutes.
What is a Pilot Study?
A trial study used to revise the questionnaire.
How many Pilot Studies should you do and why?
- Two trials
- one with experts for content validity and one with a small sample of population for understanding
What is a cover letter/email used for?
To convince the audience to complete the survey
What does a cover letter/email need?
- Who you are
- Questionnaire purpose
- Informed consent
- Assurance of autonomy and confidentiality
- A return date
- Estimate of how long the questionnaire takes
Why do researchers use follow-up procedures?
- Increase response rates
- Reminder to complete survey
Describe interviews.
- used for more detailed information
- Administered to one or few participants
- Open-ended questions
- Can be (semi) structured
What is the purpose of correlational research.
- Describe relationships between variables
- Know the magnitude (how much one affects the other) and direction (inversely or directly related)
True or False?
Correlation does not mean causation.
True.
What is the purpose of case studies.
- Usually has a lot of information about a single person or situation
- Used often in AT, PT, and OT
- Common with rare conditions
What is the purpose of developmental research?
- Looks at changes in behavior over time
- Shows the effects of growth, maturation and environment
- IV is usually age
What are the common designs of developmental research?
- Longitudinal (Cohort)
- Cross-sectional
Describe developmental longitudinal research.
Lasts over a long period of time
Describe developmental cross-sectional research.
- Study several age groups at one time
- Less time needed
What is the main issue with developmental cross-sectional studies?
History because the same factors may not be affecting the different ages the same.
Describe observational research.
- Researcher observes participants behaviors
- Researcher documents behaviors
What is the best way to be accurate when doing observational research?
Observations must be systematic
1. Define the behavior
2. Observe specific points in time
3. Observe from specific locations
What are some concerns about observational research?
- The hawthorn effect (people act differently when they know they’re being watched)
- Objectivity (training the observers if there is more than one)
