Introduction To Quantitative Research Flashcards
Why do quantitative research?
To investigate human behaviour using numerical data
To test a hypothesis
To test cause and effect relationships
Generate causal laws, which are generalisable
What is the quantitative approach to research?
Associated with a positivist approach
Natural, objective reality exists and can be measured
Reality is independent of social context
Focus on prediction and hypothesis testing
Deductive reasoning
Quantitive approach to research continued:
Makes causal statements
Values reliability, generalisability
Sources of error in observation viewed negatively
Researcher is independent and without bias
What do you include when writing quantitative research questions?
Make causal statements
Make predictions
State hypothesis
What does quantitative research include?
Hypothetico-deductive method
Observation and data collection
Development of explanatory theory
Development of hypothesis (deductive)
Test of hypothesis (research prediction)
Conclusion: evidence support or challenges theory
What methods do quantitative studies use?
Empiricism - observation, measurement, and numerical results
Methods of data collection - questionnaire survey, experiments, quasi-experiment
What experimental design structure do quantitative studies use?
Aim: to isolate cause and effect and eliminate alternative explanations for observed relationships
Method: manipulation of the IV to observe effect on the DV whilst controlling extraneous and confounding variables e.g. Randomisation
What are the different types of experimental designs?
True experiment
Quasi-experiment
What are some examples of questionnaire surveys?
Eurobarometer
European social survey
World values survey
World database of happiness
What is the different between experimental study designs and correlational study designs?
Experimental manipulate variables to enable researchers to identify cause and effect relationships
Correlational measure but do not manipulate variables and cannot identify cause and effect relationships
What are key concepts of quantitative research?
Samples, populations
Constructs, variables, operational definitions
Levels of measurement
Reliability and validity
What is a sample?
People you are actually collecting data from
What is a population?
A wider group you are trying to generalise your results to
What is important about samples and populations?
Your sample needs to be representative of your population of interest
What is external validity?
Can you generalise from your sample (specific time, people, place) to your population of research interest
What is a problem of external validity?
Non-representative samples
How do you choose a sample?
Random probability sample Random with stratification Convenience (non random) Snowballing Critical cases
What is a construct?
A broad concept of research interest
Concept we are interested in
What is a variable?
The thing that varies (usually a score)
Score on our measure
What is the definition of operational?
A valid method for measuring the construct of interest: often a test
(Measure or test used)
What are some lists of measurement?
Nominal/categorical
Ordinal
Interval
Ratio
What are the levels of nominal and ordinal measurement?
Nominal/categorical: numbers are only labels for categories e.g. Female: 1 Male: 2
Ordinal: numbers are labels for categories and these categories can be ordered e.g. Positions in a running race
What are different levels of measurement?
Interval: each unit on a scale represents an equal change in the variable measured e.g. Height measured in cm
Ratio: interval scale with a meaningful absolute zero e.g. Temperature measured in Fahrenheit
What is reliability?
Talking about the consistency of measurement
What is validity?
Does this test measure what it claims to?
What are the different ways to describe your data?
Mean - the average
Median - the middle number when ordered
Mode - the most common number
How does my data vary?
Standard deviation
Variance
What are the strengths of quantitative research?
Large samples, extrapolation to populations of interest
Can make claims to reliability and validity
Able to make and test predictions
Objective measurement of behaviour
What are limitations of quantitative research?
Loses complexity of real life; variability is ‘error’
Neglects ‘whole person’
Difficult to investigate things that can’t be easily measured
Ignores function of talk, ignores of meaning changes with context
What makes good quantitative research?
Reliability and validity of the measures used
Internal validity - particularly for experimental designs
External validity and generalisability
Extent to which study method and findings are replicable
What is the key criteria for evaluating quality in experimental research?
Is there a control group?
Are the groups randomly assigned?
Is the control group given an alternative treatment?
Outcome measure; reliability, validity, multidimensional
What causes drop out?
What are the exclusion criteria?
