Keywords Flashcards
Define abstract
A brief review of the literature so that the reader has an idea of the basic features to the article. The abstract summarises the major elements
What is the advocacy and participatory worldview aka transformative worldview
A paradigm that aligns with politics that creates an action agenda for reform that can change participant’s experiences and life. Specific issues are addressed and often involves collaboration in the study
What are case studies?
These are a type of qualitative methodology, that explores in depth individuals, events which are bounded by time and activity. Case studies’ data collection occurs over a prolonged period of time
Define central question
This is used in qualitative studies to explore a central phenomena
What is coding?
This involves processing and organising material into chunks or segments of texts to develop a greater meaning of each segment
Define concurrent embedded strategy
Strategy of mixed methods that is used to use both qual and quant at the same time. Unlike triangulation strategy- quant is embedded within qual and qual is embedded within quant
Define concurrent mixed methods
Whereby both data collection and data analysis of both qual and quant occurs simultaneously. Merging of quant and qual data to provide a comprehensive analysis of research problem
Define concurrent transformative
Approach whereby quant and qual data is collected concurrently
Define concurrent triangulation
Both quant and qual data collection and analysis happens at the same time, at the end, the two databases are then compared to determine if there’s convergence, differences or combination
Define confidence interval
An estimate in quantitative research for the range of upper and lower statistical values that are consistent to the observed data and likely to contain the actual population within the mean
Define construct validity
When investigators use adequate definitions and measures of validity
What is descriptive analysis?
When describing the results through means, standard deviations and ranges
What is a directional hypothesis?
Used in quantitative research, when the researcher make a prediction about the expected direction or outcome of the study
What is effect size?
Identifies the strengths of the conclusions. Greater the effect size, greater the relationship between variables
What is embedding?
Used in mixed methods, when a secondary form of data is lodged into a larger study with a different form of data (this being the primary database)
What is ethnography?
A paradigm (worldview) when a researcher studies an intact cultural group over a prolonged period of time, in their own environment. Collecting primary observational data
What is an experimental design?
Type of quantitative research that can either be true (randomised) or quasi (non-randomised)
What are external validity threats?
Provide examples
When the data is misinterpreted and incorrect inferences are made from sample data to other persons, other settings and future situations
Examples include: not being able to generalise the findings to the population, as they may not be in the same setting, the results are time-bound and cannot represent the past or future
What are gatekeepers?
Individuals at research sites that coordinate a qualitative research study to be permitted at their site
What is grounded theory?
A type of qualitative methodology, that seeks to derive a general, abstract theory from views that are grounded/embedded amongst participants in a study
What are inferential questions or hypotheses?
Compare groups in terms of variables so that inferences can be drawn from the sample to the population
What is informed consent?
When participants sign a form, that acknowledges that they are engaging in this research, they are fully aware of the process and repercussions of the research
What is interceder agreement?
This is cross-checking between the codes generated, through employment of secondary coder, checking to see if they would code the same passage with the same code
What are internal validity threats
Experimental procedures, treatment or experiences of participants that threaten the researchers ability to draw inferences from the data
Examples include: attrition rates, maturation of participants, compensatory rivalry, familiarity with the testing and change of equipment
What is interpretation?
Allows for the researcher to draw meanings from the findings of the data analysis
What is interview protocol?
Form used by the researcher for recording and writing down information obtained during the interview
What does “matching participants” mean?
Whereby the researcher will assign participants with certain traits are matched and then randomly assigned to either control or experimental group
What is mixed methods research?
An approach to an enquiry that combines both qual and quant together, involving both philosophical assumptions
What is narrative research?
This is a type of qualitative methodology, that involves the researcher styling the lives of individuals, to provide stories about their life. The researcher then retells the story
What are nondirectional hypotheses?
A type of quantitative hypotheses, whereby the researcher states a prediction but is unsure of the exact form of the prediction, whether it’s improved, decline etc
What his a null hypothesis?
Used in quantitative research, to state that there is no relationship or no significant difference between the independent and the dependent variable
What is observational protocol?
a form used by the researcher, in qualitative work to record and write down information, whilst observing
What is phenomenological research?
This is a type of qualitative methodology, whereby the researcher identifies the essence of human experience, immerses themselves into this phenomena (puts own beliefs aside) and studies often individuals
Define positivism
Postivism is a deterministic philosophy, in which causes probably determine effects or outcomes. Studies cause: effect relationships
What is pragmatism?
A worldview/philosophy that arises out of actions, situations and consequences rather than antecedent conditions. Often problem-entered. Works with the belief that “truth is what works at the time”
What is a purpose statement?
Is put into a research proposal that sets the objectives, the intent and the major idea for the study
What does it mean by “purposefully select”?
Whereby participants, in qualitative research, select individuals that best help them understand the research problem and the research questions
What did qualitative audio and visual materials play a role in?
These are a form of qualitative data collection methods, which take the form of either photos, audiotapes or videotapes
What are qualitative documents?
A form of qualitative data collection methods
What are qualitative generalisations?
Is a term that is used in a limited way in qualitative research, often referred to as “particularity”
What is qualitative reliability?
Indicates that a particular approach is consistent across different researchers and different projects
What is qualitative research?
The means of exploring and understanding the meaning individuals or groups ascribe to a social or human problem. The process of research involves emerging questions and procedures; collecting data in the participants’ setting; analysing the data inductively, building from particulars to general themes; and making interpretations of the meaning of data. The final written report has a flexible writing structure
What is qualitative validity?
Means the researcher checks for accuracy of the findings by employing certain procedures
What is a quantitative hypotheses?
A prediction that a researcher makes about the expected relationships among variables
What is quantitative research?
A means for testing objective theories by examining the relationship among variables. These variables can be measure typically on instruments that give numerical data that can then be analysed using statistical procedures
What is a quasi-experiment?
A quantitative experimental design, with individuals that are not randomly assigned
What is random sampling?
Procedure in quantitative research for selection of participants. Meaning that all participants have an equal chance of being selected from the population, ensuring that the sample will be representative of the population
What is reflexivity?
When the researcher reflects upon the biases, values and personal background, such as gender, history, culture and socio-economic status, which may shape their interpretations formed in the study
What is reliability?
Refers to whether the scores to items on an instrument are internally consistent
What are research designs?
This refers to plans and procedures for research, that span the decisions from broad assumptions to detailed methods of data collection and analysis. Involving the intersection of philosophical assumptions, strategies of enquiry and specific methods
What are research methods?
This involves the forms of data collection, analysis and interpretation that researchers propose for their studies
What is response bias?
The effect that non-responses have on the survey
What are sequential explanatory strategy?
This is used in mixed methods research, follows the structure of quantitative data collection and analysis in the first phase, followed by qualitative data collection and analysis in the second phase, which builds from the initial phase
What is sequential explanatory strategy?
This is used in mixed methods research, and follows the structure of qualitative analysis occurring in the initial stage, followed by quantitative data collection and analysis
What is sequential transformative strategy?
Mix of both sequential explanatory and exploratory
What is a single-subject design? (N of 1)
Observing the behaviour of a single individual (or a small number of individuals) over time
What is constructivism?
A worldview, that is under the assumption that individuals seek understanding of the world in which they live and work, with individuals developing subjective meanings of their own experiences
What is statistical conclusion validity?
Is the degree to which conclusions about the relationship among variables based on the data are accurate
What are strategies of inquiry?
Also known as methodology, whereby types of qual, quant and mixed methods designs or models provide specific direction for procedures in a research design
What is a survey design?
This provides a plan for a quantitative or numeric description of trends, attitudes, or opinions of a population by studying a sample of that population
What does the term “theoretical lens or perspective” mean in qualitative research?
Means an overall orientating lens that is used to study questions of gender, class and race. This lens becomes an advocacy perspective that shapes the questions asked, informs how data are collected and analysed and calls about an action for change
What do theories do?
They provide an overarching perspective, and are using in conjunction with strategies of inquiry
What are theories known as in quantitative research?
More so referred to as hypotheses, that specify a relationship among variables (typically in terms of magnitude and direction)
What is a true experiment?
Whereby participants are randomised
What is validity in quantitative research?
Refers to whether one can draw meaningful and useful inferences from scores on particular instruments, and that the data collection tool measures what it is set out to measure
Provide some examples of validity strategies in qualitative research
Member checking, triangulating data sources and cross-checking these are things that researchers use to demonstrate thew accuracy of their data
Define worldview
“a basic set of beliefs that guide action” Guba, 1990
Define ontology
Referred to as “what is reality?”
Define epistemology
“how can reality be measured?”
What are the five strategies of enquiry in qualitative research?
Narrative, ethnography, phenomenological, case study, grounded theory
What are the two strategies of enquiry for quantitative research?
Experimental and survey
What are the three strategies of enquiry for mixed methods?
Sequential, concurrent and transformative
What are the two types of surveys?
Longitudinal and cross sectional
What are the two types of experimental strategies of enquiry?
Randomised (true experiment) and non-randomised (quasi-experiment)
What does temporal order mean?
One variable precedes another in time. One variable causes and/or effects another variable
What does mediating variable mean?
A variable that stands between the independent and dependent variable (all the other factors between students doing well on an exam)
What is a moderating variable?
A new variable constructed by the researcher, taking one variable and multiplying it with another ti determine the joint impact of them
What is a confounding variable?
Something that ins’t measured in the study, but can operate in a way that can influence results
What are the types of sample design?
Single stage: where researcher has access to names in a population so can sample the people directly
Multi stage (clustering): whereby it is impossible for the researcher to compile a list of the whole population and researcher identifies individuals within clusters then samples them
What are the different types of sampling?
Non probability and probability sampling
What does one standard deviation show?
68% of data
What does two standard deviations show?
95% of data
What do three standard deviations show?
99.7% of the data
What is a nominal measurement?
Is the lowest form of measuring, whereby categories are assigned to a simple numerical code e.g. male = 1 female = 2
What is an ordinal measurement?
Whereby data is sorted into a ranking system, into an order, the difference between them isn’t quantifiable, like good = 2, average = 1, bad =0
What are interval measurements?
Is the rank ordering of data, whereby there is a quantifiable difference between data sets, e.g. temperature
What are ratio measurements?
Have no absolute zero, but they can make comparisons i.e. 10% scored will be 1/10 of scoring 100%
What are the probability sampling methods?
Simple random sampling, systematic random sampling, stratified random sampling and cluster random sampling
What is simple sampling?
When each participant is allocated a number and numbers are selected randomly, with each number having an equal chance of being selected
What is systematic random sampling?
Participants are chosen at intervals from a list; for example every tenth person
What is stratified random sampling?
When the target population is divided into strata or divisions according to predetermined characteristics before implementing simple or systemic random sampling
What is cluster random sampling?
When the population is organised into clusters/groups
What are the types of non-probability sampling?
Convenience, snowball, quota and purposive sampling
What is convenience sampling?
When participants are chosen due to easy access to them and known to the researcher
What is snowball sampling?
Type of convenience sampling where participants recommend others that they think are suitable
What is quota sampling?
Similar to that of stratified, whereby certain characteristics are sought
What is purposive sampling?
Relies on the researchers belief that they know the population and suitability for inclusion, there is a degree of subjectivity which may alter the rigour of findings
What is content validity?
Refers to whether the data collection tool looks as if it measures the construct under question
What is criterion-related validity?
Relates to how well a new instrument compares with other tried and tested measures
What is construct validity?
Referred often as the measurement validity, looking at, for example, whether questionnaires yield results that confirm a statistical relationship
What is does knowing-that mean?
Theoretical knowledge found in books
What is knowing-how?
Practical knowledge gained
What is knowing-why?
A deeper understanding of a situation
What is knowing-who?
Personal knowledge of other people
What is tacit-knowledge?
Knowledge that cannot easily be expressed in words
