Fundamental concepts 2

Question 1

How do you define the term theory?

Answer 1

coherent explanation or interpretation of one or more phenomena

• goes beyond the phenomenon it explains
• includes variables, structures, processes, functions or organizing principles

Question 2

How do you define the term hypothesis?

Answer 2

is a specific prediction about a new phenomenon that should be observed if a particular theory is accurate

Question 3

What are attributes of a good theory?

Answer 3

falsification, parsimony (and productivity)

Question 4

How does a fact serve a theory?

Answer 4

facts are results of research outcomes that add inductive support for theories or fail to support theories

Question 5

What is a construct (in psychology)?

Answer 5

• a psychological construct is a label for a cluster or domain of covarying behaviours
• it is a tool to facilitate understanding of human behaviour
• constructs are not directly observable
  Examples: intelligence, cognitive flexibility

Question 6

What are the 5 main types of sampling?

Answer 6

probability, random, stratified, clustered, non-probability sampling

Question 7

What are 4 subtypes of non-probability sampling?

Answer 7

convenience, purposive, quota, snowball

Question 8

What is probability sampling?

Answer 8

Each member of the population has a defined probability of being selected for the sample.

Question 9

What is random sampling?

Answer 9

Each member has an equal chance of being selected.

Question 10

What is stratified sampling?

Answer 10

The proportion of important features in the population are represented precisely.

Question 11

What is clustered sampling?

Answer 11

The researcher randomly selects a cluster of people all having some features in common.

Question 12

What is non-probability sampling?

Answer 12

Each member of the population does not have a defined probability of being selected for the sample.

Question 13

How can we determine the quality of a measurement? (two factors)

Answer 13

Reliability: the consistency of a measure
Validity: a measure is said to be valid if it measures what it is designed to measure

Question 14

What are three forms of reliability?

Answer 14

Test-retest, Split-half, and inter-rater reliability

Question 15

What are the four main types of validity?

Answer 15

content, face, criterion, and construct validity

Question 16

What are characteristics of the split-half reliability?

Answer 16

• split measure into two halves and compute the correlation
• measures the internal consistency of a test
• is quick and easy to apply
• good if all items measure the same construct and there are many items

Question 17

What are characteristics of the test-retest reliability?

Answer 17

• test-retest reliability measures the consistency of results when you repeat the same test on the same sample at a different point in time
• good for measures that are assumed to be relatively stabile over time

Question 18

What are characteristics of the inter-rater reliability?

Answer 18

• interrater reliability (also called interobserver reliability) measures the degree of agreement between different people observing or assessing the same thing
• assesses the external consistency of a test

Question 19

What concerns the content validity?

Answer 19

Does the content of a measure make sense in terms of the construct being measured

Question 20

What concerns the face validity?

Answer 20

• Concerns whether the measure seems valid
• Not very essential from a measurement perspective
• Sometimes one even wants to avoid it (e.g. implicit measures)

Question 21

What concerns the criterion validity?

Answer 21

Determines whether the measure is related to some behavioural outcome or criterion that has been established by prior research

Question 22

What concerns the construct validity?

Answer 22

• Determines whether a test adequately measures some construct
• Because constructs cannot be observed directly, construct validity has to be established indirectly