Lecture 2

Question 1

what are the key steps in quantitative research

Answer 1

1. begin with an interest
2. establish immediate goal (description/explanation) and an end goal
3. create a research question (and sometimes a hypothesis)
4. choose an appropriate research design and research tool
5. establish population and sample
6. conceptualization
7. operationalization variables
8. observe / collect data
9. data processing
10. data analysis
11. report findings

Question 2

What is included in step 1?
(begin with an interest)

Answer 2

Consider what phenomena you are interested in and what groups of people, and a specific place and time if necessary

Question 3

what is included in step 2(a)?
(establish a goal)

Answer 3

this includes a description and explanation

Question 4

description

Answer 4

you want to know something specific about a population and a social phenomenon

Question 5

why do you want to discover explanations

Answer 5

you want to discover explanations for phenomena in the form of relationships

Question 6

what is included in step 2(b)?
(what is the end goal of your research)

Answer 6

possible end goals:
- to understand social phenomenon for a research paper
- to identify community needs
- to evaluate a program or policy

Question 7

what is progressive quantitative research

Answer 7

the use of quantitative research methods and statistics to promote structural change and social reform

Question 8

how do we create a research question

Answer 8

ensure it is clear and focused, feasible/realistic and relevant

Question 9

what are the research designs

Answer 9

• cross sectional
• longitudinal
• comparative
• experimental

Question 10

what is the cross-sectional research design

Answer 10

collects data at one point in time from participants. it provides a snapshot of relationships between social phenomenon (variables)

Question 11

what is the longitudinal research design

Answer 11

collects data from the same participants over a longer period of time. it tracks changes and developments in social phenomenon

Question 12

what is the comparative research design

Answer 12

compares two + groups, societies, or cultures to understand differences and similarities in social phenomena

Question 13

what is the experimental research design

Answer 13

involves manipulating one variable to observe its effect on another, often with a control group for comparison

Question 14

surveys and questionnaires

Answer 14

set of fixed questions and closed or open responses, delivered to a sample of a population

Question 15

statistical software

Answer 15

computer program used to describe and analyze social phenomenon (variables) using numeric representations; visualizes this data with tables, graphs, and charts

Question 16

what are the types of research tools we can choose

Answer 16

• surveys
• questionnaires
• statistical software

Question 17

population

Answer 17

the entire collection of units (people or objects) about which we want information

Question 18

sample

Answer 18

the collection of units (people or objects) we actually measure/acquire information about

Question 19

representative sample

Answer 19

a subset of a population that is included in your research study; it should ‘reflect’ the characteristics of the population of actual student population should be reflected in the sample

Question 20

how large does a sample have to be in order to create a representative sample from which we can generalize

Answer 20

the answer depends on how much natural variability exists within a population, it also depends how much variability there is within a subgroup

Question 21

what is conceptualization

Answer 21

the mental process whereby fuzzy and imprecise notions are converted into specific and precise variables

Question 22

what does conceptualization produce

Answer 22

conceptualization produces a specific, agreed-on meaning of a concept for the purposes of research

Question 23

what is a variable

Answer 23

variables are a characteristic/experience/attribute that changes from one person to another

Question 24

when can you construct your variables

Answer 24

once you have a working definition of the phenomenon you want to study you can construct your variables

Question 25

what is operationalization

Answer 25

the development of a specific tool to measure/capture the variable that will result in an empirical observation and it is often helpful to start with an indicator of the variables presence

Question 26

do we need to consider attributes to the variable

Answer 26

yes, depending on the variable we might need to determine its attributes (the levels to the variable)