Lecture 4 Flashcards
what are the 5 types of research methods?
case study, natural observation, surveys, archival research, longitudinal and cross-sectional
define case study
a process or record of research in which detailed consideration is given to the development of a particular person, group, or situation over a period of time.
define natural observation
Observing behaviour in its “natural habitat”
define survey
Lists of questions – answered by research participants.
- data collection tool used to gather information about individuals.
define archival research
research that involves searching for and extracting information and evidence from original archives.
define longitudinal research
repeatedly examining the same individuals to detect any changes that might occur over a period of time.
cross-sectional research
measure a correlations between variables at one single point in time; The researcher can evaluate people of different ages, ethnicities, geographical locations, and social backgrounds.
What is ecological validity?
the realism with which a design of evaluation setup matches the user’s real work context
what type of research is ecological validity highest on?
naturalistic observation
what is observer bias?
when a researcher’s expectations, opinions, or prejudices influence what they perceive or record in a study.
Why do we use case studies?
they can help us gain insight on rare disorders and diseases through in-depth interviews
Define a correlation coefficient
a number between −1 and +1 calculated so as to represent the linear dependence of two variables or sets of data.
What is the third variable problem?
an observed correlation between two variables can actually be explained by a third variable that hasn’t been accounted for.
What are illusory correlations?
when things correlate simply by chance; when we incorrectly believe that two variables have a relationship with each other.
what are the 3 types of correlations?
positive, negative, no relationship
