Lecture 9 Flashcards
(blank) Variables
– ‘other’ variables that could influence the dependent
– Moderator
A type of variable that cannot be manipulated that affects direction or strength of the relationship between IV and DV
– Mediator
Variable that can help explain the relationship between IV and
DV
extraneous
3 types of questions for a research study?
– Descriptive question
– Relationship question
– Difference question
• Seeks to describe phenomena or characteristics of a particular group of subjects
being studied
• Example
– What are the attitudes of parents of school-aged children toward the removal of vending machines selling coke in the school environment
What kind of research question is this?
descriptive question
• Investigates the degree to which two or more variables are associated with each other
• Example
– Is there an association between drinking coke and behaviour among school-aged children?
What type of research question is this?
relationship question
• Seeks to make comparisons between or within
groups of interest
• Example
– Does replacing coke with water reduce blood
glucose levels?
What type of research question is this?
difference question
Two principles of (blank)
– Less is more
– Simple is better
planning
• Consider special characteristics related to the research
– Demographics
– Training/performance (e.g. sedentary, novice)
– Size (e.g. weight, body fatness)
• What to mention about (blank)
– Number
– Eligibility (inclusion/exclusion) criteria
– How they were selected (e.g. random sample)
participants
- Are the participants appropriate for the research
question? - Are the participants representative of the
population of interest? - How many research participants should be used?
What are these the 3 basic questions of?
participation selection
• Population
– An entire group or aggregate of people or elements
having one or more common characteristics
• Sample
– A small subgroup of a population of interest thought
to be representative of that population
• Sampling
– The process of selecting a subgroup or sample of
the population
• Sampling Frame
– The accessible population from which the sample is
actually drawn
What kind of terms are these?
sampling terms
• Random (blank) – Enables the researcher to generalize the results to a larger population – Sample “representativeness” – Unbiased selection
• Random (blank)
– Enables the researcher to assume that groups are
“equivalent” at the beginning of the study
• Adds control to a study
• Has nothing to do with the selection of the sample
selection
assignment
Every subset of a specified size n from the population has an equal chance of being selected
What type of sampling is this?
simple random sample
The population is divided into two or more groups called
strata, according to some criterion, such as geographic
location, grade level, age, or income, and subsamples
are randomly selected from each strata.
What type of sampling is this?
stratified random sample
• The population is divided into subgroups (clusters) like
families. A simple random sample is taken of the
subgroups and then all members of the cluster selected
are surveyed.
What type of sampling is this?
cluster sample
Every nth member ( e.g., every 5th person) is selected
from a list of all population members.
What type of sampling is this?
systematic sample
– Participants purposively selected because they
possess certain traits that are critical to the study
• Limited generalizability
• E.g., Elite athletes for a biomechanics study
What type of sampling is this?
purposeful/judgement sampling
- Selection of whichever individuals are easiest to reach
- It is done at the “convenience” of the researcher
What type of sampling is this?
- Selection of whichever individuals are easiest to reach
* It is done at the “convenience” of the researcher
Questions to consider in selecting (blank)
– Validity and reliability
– Difficulty of obtaining measures
– Access to and use of equipment or tests
– Participant burden
instruments
• (blank) Approach – Descriptive – Experimental – Quasi-experimental • Pre-test/post-test, repeatedmeasures • Data analysis plan – Analysis and interpretation • Quantitative or qualitative – Type of statistical analysis – Level of significance (if applicable)
research
• Observation – Watch and record relevant information • Direct observation • Indirect observation • Participant observation
• Measurement
– Test / apply a device to measure certain variables
• Questioning
– Ask questions to obtain information
Three basic techniques of what?
data collection
(blank) Observation
• Researcher directly observes research participants
• Participants usually know they are being observed
• Researcher’s presence might change the way the
research participants act
direct
(blank) Observation
• Participants are filmed or videotaped
– Aware they are being observed
• Researcher views tape
indirect
(blank) Observation
• Observer participates in the research setting with
the research participants
– Considerable time often spent in the natural
setting developing field notes
• Qualitative research methodology
participant
Major categories of (blank) include – Physical – Cognitive – Affective Typically pencil/paper self-report scales
• Physical
– e.g., muscular strength, blood pressure, physiological
responses to exercise
• Cognitive
– e.g., knowledge on innumerable topics (physical
activity, nutrition, safe sex practices, etc.)
• Affective
– e.g., opinion, attitude, interest, personality traits,
motivation, self-concept
measures
• (blank) research
– Most common type of descriptive research
– Mailed, researcher administered, online, over phone
– Mixed methods possible – quantitative and qualitative
• Most common formats
– Open-ended questions - respondents answer freely
– Close-ended questions - specific response required
• Ranking (e.g., put in order)
• Scaled items (e.g., 1 – 5)
• Categorical response – only 2 choices (e.g., yes/no)
survey
– Structured • Structured order of questions • Less bias, interviewer may not know about the research – Unstructured • No set format to questions • Allows for follow up to responses • Interviewer usually knowledgeable on the topic – Semi-structured • General order for questions • Allows for follow up questions
What are these 3 types of?
interviews
(blank) Interview • An interview with groups of people • Stimulates free expression …hopefully! • Usually 8-12 participants • Facilitator guides the discussion – Should have knowledge in the area • Limited generalizability • Common characteristic in the group
focus group
(blank) Selection • Thoroughly review the literature • Assess suitability – Reliability - consistency with which it measures – Validity - measures what it is supposed to measure – NEXT CLASS ^ – Objectivity - free from scorer bias – Appropriateness to current study – Ease of administration and scoring
instrument
Instrument (blank)
• If an instrument is found, but it is not quite
acceptable for the current research situation, it
may be modified or revised
• Obtain permission before revising copyrighted
instrument
• If changes are major, may be necessary to
determine new indices of reliability and validity of
the revised instrument
revision
what are the 9 steps of the research proposal
- introduction
- problem statement
- hypothesis
- literature review
- methods
- limitations
- significance
- references
- appendix items
