Introduction to research strategies in quantitative research

Question 1

Research strategy

Answer 1

A plan or approach used to conduct research.
- Outlining the methods, procedures, and techniques to be employed in order to address a research question or hypothesis.

Question 2

Descriptive methods

Answer 2

Research methods focused on
- Describing and documenting the characteristics, behaviours, or phenomena of interest without manipulating variables or establishing causal relationships.

Question 3

Observational research

Answer 3

A type of research method involving
- The systematic observation and recording of behaviours, events, or phenomena as they naturally occur, without interference or manipulation by the researcher.

Question 4

Naturalistic observation

Answer 4

Observing and recording behaviours or phenomena in their natural environment, without intervention or manipulation by the researcher.

Question 5

Laboratory or systematic observation

Answer 5

Observing and recording behaviours or phenomena in a controlled environment, such as a laboratory setting, where conditions can be standardized and controlled by the researcher.

Question 6

Ecological validity

Answer 6

The extent to which the findings of a research study accurately represent real-world situations or behaviours, ensuring that the results are applicable and generalizable to everyday settings.

Question 7

Participant or non-participant observation

Answer 7

In participant observation,
- the researcher actively participates in the activities being observed,
while in non-participant observation,
- the researcher remains an observer without direct involvement in the activities.

Question 8

Undisguised observation

Answer 8

Observing behaviours openly and without concealment, where participants are aware that they are being observed.
- Might alter participant behaviours (reactivity)

Question 9

Reactivity

Answer 9

The phenomenon where participants
- Alter their behaviour or responses due to the awareness of being observed, potentially influencing the validity of observational research.

Question 10

Disguised observation

Answer 10

Concealing the fact that behaviours are being observed in order to minimize reactivity and obtain more naturalistic data.

Question 11

Expectancy effects

Answer 11

The bias or influence that
- Researcher’s expectations or beliefs can have on the behaviour or outcomes of a research study, potentially leading to unintended results.

Question 12

Narrative Records

Answer 12

Are:
- A full descriptive account of everything the researcher observed.
- What participants said or did throughout the interaction.
- In quantitative research, this verbal account can then be coded into numerical form, for statistical analysis.
- Interrater reliability, both in terms of making observations and coding process, is crucial with this data collection method.

Question 13

Checklist

Answer 13

• A way of documenting target behaviours.
• A tally sheet, allowing for the record of frequency of predefined characteristics or behaviours.
• This method is more structured than just describing what is observed, researchers need to be trained in operational definition to accurately record behaviours accurately and consistently.
• Checklists can save time, data is already numerical for statistical analysis.
• Is biased towards the expected behaviours or characteristics.

Question 14

Archival Records

Answer 14

A source of descriptive research,
- Consulting archival records (census data, records collected by other research agencies or health organisations, schools or hospitals, media outlets etc.
- Reactivity is less of a concern with this method as the data is preexisting.
- Accuracy and potential bias of the records and their collection method is important.

Question 15

Interview

Answer 15

Interviews involve:
- Asking people questions either individually or in a group setting.
- They can be structured, unstructured, or semi-structured.
- Structured interviews have pre-determined questions, while unstructured ones are more spontaneous. Semi-structured interviews use a mix of both.

Researchers record verbal responses and note non-verbal cues. Interview data can be transcribed and coded for statistical analysis in quantitative research. It’s commonly used in qualitative research, where responses are kept in verbal form for interpretation.

Question 16

Case study method

Answer 16

A research method involving an in-depth investigation of a single individual, group, or phenomenon, typically using multiple sources of data collection to provide a comprehensive understanding.

Question 17

Survey or questionnaire

Answer 17

Research methods involving collecting descriptive data through:
- Structured sets of questions administered to participants to gather information about their attitudes, beliefs, behaviours, or experiences.

Question 18

Leading question

Answer 18

Contains language that conveys subtle (or not-so-subtle) opinions that can sway responses.

Question 18

Loaded question

Answer 18

Contains an assumption built into it that may or may not be true.
- Can nudge the person to respond in a particular way.

Question 19

Double-barrelled question

Answer 19

Contains two questions in one.
- Respondents may have different opinions about each aspect, leading to confusion in their response.
- Difficulty in providing accurate and meaningful answers.

Question 20

Mail

Answer 20

A survey method in which questionnaires are sent to participants via postal mail, and respondents return their completed surveys through the mail.
- Are more willing to share sensitive information privately when anonymous.
- May give more complete answers at their own pace.
- However a lower response rate
- Participants unable to ask follow-up questions.

Question 20

Response bias

Answer 20

Systematic errors or inaccuracies in participants’ responses to survey or questionnaire items, often influenced by factors such as social desirability or cognitive biases.

Question 21

Online

Answer 21

A method of conducting survey research through digital platforms, such as websites or email, where participants respond to questions electronically.
- Are more willing to share sensitive information privately when anonymous.
- May give more complete answers at their own pace.
- However a lower response rate
- Participants unable to ask follow-up questions.

Question 22

Phone interviews/ In-person interviews

Answer 22

A survey method where the interviewer and respondent interact face-to-face, either individually or in a group setting, to collect data through structured or unstructured questioning.
- More expensive and time consuming.
- Allow for follow up questions and clarification.
- Good for sensitive matters to provide support.
- Interview bias.
- May give more socially desirable responses.

Question 23

Socially desirable responses

Answer 23

Participants’ tendency to provide answers that are perceived favourably by others or conform to social norms, rather than reflecting their true beliefs or behaviours.

Question 24

Interviewer bias

Answer 24

Interviewer bias
The distortion of survey responses caused by the interviewer’s behaviour, tone, or non-verbal cues, which may influence participants to respond in a particular way.

Question 25

Correlational research

Answer 25

Research method aimed at:
- Examining the relationship between two or more variables
- without manipulating them,
- often using statistical techniques to assess the strength and direction of associations.

Question 26

Correlation coefficient

Answer 26

A statistical measure that indicates the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables, ranging from -1 to +1.

Question 27

Scatterplot

Answer 27

A graphical representation of data points plotted on a two-dimensional graph, typically used to visualize the relationship between two continuous variables in correlational research.

Question 28

Positive relationship

Answer 28

A correlation where increases in one variable are associated with increases in another variable, or decreases in one variable are associated with decreases in another variable.

Question 29

Directionality problem

Answer 29

The inability to determine the causal relationship between two variables in correlational research, as it is unclear which variable influences the other.

Question 30

Negative relationship

Answer 30

A correlation where increases in one variable are associated with decreases in another variable, or vice versa.

Question 31

The third variable problem

Answer 31

A potential confounding factor in correlational research where the observed relationship between two variables may be influenced by a third variable that is not accounted for in the analysis.

Question 32

Experimental strategy

Answer 32

Research method involving the manipulation of one or more independent variables to observe their effect on dependent variables, allowing for the establishment of cause-and-effect relationships.

Question 33

Systematically manipulating a variable

Answer 33

Intentionally altering the levels or conditions of an independent variable in an experimental study to observe its effect on the dependent variable.

Question 34

Cause-and-effect relationships

Answer 34

Relationships between variables where changes in one variable directly cause changes in another variable, as established through experimental research.

Question 35

Control group

Answer 35

In experimental research, a group of participants who do not receive the experimental treatment or intervention, serving as a comparison to the experimental group.

Question 36

Experimental groups

Answer 36

Groups of participants who receive the experimental treatment or intervention in an experimental study, allowing researchers to compare their outcomes with those of the control group.

Question 37

Explanation

Answer 37

In the context of research,
- providing interpretations or theories to explain the findings or results obtained from a study, often drawing on existing literature or theoretical frameworks.

Question 38

Control or limit extraneous variables.

Answer 38

In experimental research, efforts made to minimize the influence of factors other than the independent variable that could affect the dependent variable, ensuring that any observed effects are due to the manipulation of the independent variable.

Question 38

Non-experimental research

Answer 38

Research methods that do not involve the manipulation of independent variables or the establishment of cause-and-effect relationships, such as correlational studies or descriptive research.

Question 39

Cross-sectional design

Answer 39

A research design that collects data from
- a single point in time to compare different groups or variables, providing a snapshot of a population or phenomenon at a specific moment.

Question 40

Quasi-experimental design

Answer 40

Research designs that resemble experimental designs but lack random assignment of participants to conditions or groups, limiting the ability to establish causal relationships.

Question 40

Longitudinal designs

Answer 40

Research designs that collect data from the same participants over an extended period of time, allowing researchers to track changes and developments over time.

Question 41

Indirectly manipulating the variable

Answer 41

In quasi-experimental research, altering or selecting groups based on existing characteristics or conditions rather than directly manipulating the independent variable.

Question 42

Confound

Answer 42

A variable other than the independent variable that systematically varies with the independent variable and could influence the dependent variable, potentially leading to erroneous conclusions in research findings.