Lecture 3

Question 1

what is the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning?

Answer 1

An inductive argument is an argument that it’s conclusion is probable from it’s reasoning.

A deductive argument is one that it’s conclusion is a guarantee from it’s reasoning.

Question 2

What is the difference between internal and external validity?

Answer 2

Internal validity=Did the experiment measure what it set out to do? Did the IV produce the change in the DV?

External validity=Can the findings be generalized to other situations outside the experimental situation?

Question 3

What is the difference between basic and applied research?

Answer 3

• Basic research typically deals with theoretical concepts, has no immediate concern with application, and is conducted primarily for knowledge
• Applied research is done with a specific question or application in mind

Question 4

3 key characteristics of basic research?

Answer 4

• Purpose is to discover new or fundamental knowledge
• Practical application is NOT a goal
– At least not initially
• Usually in highly controlled laboratory settings

Question 5

2 key characteristics of applied research? 3 types of applied research?

Answer 5

• Purpose is to find answers to practical problems
• Inferences or generalizations are made to the intended population

Types
• Evaluation
• R & D
• Action Research
– Similar to applied research but in a local setting
– Focus on local needs, problems, issues
– Very pragmatic and less controlled
– No interest in generalizing findings

Question 6

7 key contrasts between basic and applied research?

Answer 6

Basic vs. applied
⮚Theoretical vs. quick answers
⮚More Invasive vs less invasive
⮚Laboratory Based vs field based
⮚Tightly Controlled vs loosely controlled
⮚Lacks External Validity vs externally valid
⮚Focus on Mechanism vs focus on effect
⮚More Reductionist vs less reductionist

Question 7

What is the difference between field and laboratory research?

Answer 7

• Field research is conducted outside the tightly controlled environment of the laboratory
• Laboratory research is done under more “sterile” conditions, which allows researchers to exert tighter control over an experiment
• Often field research is applied, and laboratory research is basic

Question 8

Differences between quantitative and qualitative research?

Answer 8

Quantitative:
• Hypothesis directed
• Based on empirical evidence
• Measured with numbers
• Analyzed statistically
• Seeking generalizations

Qualitative:
• Descriptive
• Reliance on non-numerical data (i.e. words)
• Often not hypothesis driven
• Variety of methodologies

Question 9

What are 6 key characteristics of experimental research?

Answer 9

– Uses quantitative methods
– Attempts to establish causality
– Control of extraneous variables is vital
– Often uses a control group
– Often uses randomization procedures
– Major limitation is often unnatural environment, thus limiting generalizability

Question 10

What are 2 key characteristics of non-experimental research? What are 3 different types in health?

Answer 10

• Tends to observe, analyze, and describe what exists rather than manipulating the variable under study
• Lack of control is often cited as a limitation

• Various types are common in health:
– Descriptive
– Correlational
– Historical

Question 11

What is the definition of descriptive research? what are 4 key methodologies?

Answer 11

Seeks to describe specific phenomena or characteristics of a particular group of subjects
– Answers the question “what is”
– No manipulation of an independent variable

• Wide range of methodologies
– Surveys
– Observation
- Direct measurement
- Interview

Question 12

What are the 5 types of descriptive research?

Answer 12

• Survey
• Developmental
– Longitudinal, cross-sectional 
• Case Study
– Descriptive, interpretive, evaluative, job analysis
• Correlational
• Observational

Question 13

What is the most popular type of descriptive research? What is the definition of a census?

Answer 13

survey

A survey which obtains responses from the entire population is called a census

Question 14

What are the 2 main approaches to developmental research and what are the differences?

Answer 14

– Longitudinal – same participants over time
• One group followed over several years
– Cross-sectional
– Different participants at each level at this time
– snap shot
• Different participants from various groups (age, ethnicities, levels of study – need a factor)

Question 15

What are 4 pros and 4 cons of the longitudinal method?

Answer 15

• Pros:
– Powerful design (same people)
– Detailed information about subjects
– Developmental changes can be studied in detail
– Eliminates cohort differences

• Cons:
– Expensive & time consuming
– Potential for high attrition
– Differences over time may be due to assessment tools and not age
– Familiarity with testing(May change behaviour)

Question 16

What are 4 pros and 3 cons to the cross-sectional method?

Answer 16

Pros:
– Time efficient
– Inexpensive
– Can be completed quickly
– Low attrition

• Cons:
– Cohort effect; impact of a group bonded by time or common life experience
– Different age groups are not necessarily alike
– Outliers – unrepresentative scores

Question 17

What are 2 key characteristics of a case study?

Answer 17

• Studying a person or event in great detail
– Case can be an individual, organization, program, community, etc.
• Presents detailed picture of phenomena but does not attempt to test or build theoretical models
– May play a role in inductive reasoning used to develop a theory

Question 18

What are the 4 types of case study? What are 3 ways they gather data?

Answer 18

Types
– Descriptive: develops a detailed picture
– Interpretive: uses data to classify or conceptualize
– Evaluative: determines merits of practices or events
– Job analysis:

Gathering and analyzing data
– Interviews, observation, documents

Question 19

What is the definition of correlational research? What is the key limitation? What are 4 key characteristics of correlational research? What are 2 common types of analyses?

Answer 19

• Seeks to determine whether, and to what extent, a relationship exists between two or more variables
– No manipulation of an independent variable
– May be descriptive or predictive in nature
– May be longitudinal or cross-sectional

• Cannot establish causality

• Explores relationships between 2 (or more) variables
• Does not involve manipulation of variables
• Need a rationale for exploring the relationship
– “Look and see” approach not appropriate

• Common analyses
– Simple correlation
– Prediction (regression)

Question 20

What are the 5 key considerations of observational research?

Answer 20

Considerations:
– What behaviours to observe
• Depends on problem statement
• Must be manageable
– Who to observe
• Characteristics and size
– Where to observe
• Natural or unnatural (e.g., lab)
– How many 
• Frequency of observations and number of observers
– When to observe
• Depends on problem statement

Question 21

What are the 4 major ways of getting observations? what are the pros and cons of using cameras? What are 2 limitations of observational research?

Answer 21

• How to score observations
– Narrative (continual recording)
– Tallying (frequency counting)
– Interval method
– Duration method

• Using videotape
– Pros: tape review, multiple participants
– Cons: presence of camera may alter behaviour

Limitations:
• Presence of observer (or filling out a survey) may not depict actual behaviour
• Requires lots of practice

Question 22

What are 4 examples of unobtrusive observational research?

Answer 22

Collecting data when people don’t know – making aassumption based on selected rationalized measure
• Observational
– Examples
• Smoking – collecting butts to show how little outdoor ashtrays are used
• Interest in Christmas – asking children to draw a Santa and the size of their drawing is how excited they are for Christmas
• Magazines – Reviewing recent articles to know what the population is interested in
• Pace of life in cities – how fast people walk

Question 23

What does “FINER” stand for relating to the criteria of a good research topic?

Answer 23

feasible
interesting
novel
ethical
relevant