Lecture 9: Quantitative Methods, Measurements and Sampling 2

Question 1

what is the only way you can talk about causal relationships?

Answer 1

in the context of a true experiment

Question 2

what does a true experiment require?

Answer 2

• at least two groups
• there is a randomization of participants to each of the two groups
• a control condition (one of the two groups is a control condition)

Question 3

what’s the difference because “cause and effect” and “correlation”

Answer 3

cause and effect: there’s a factor that causing things to happen
correlation: two things are happening at the same time

Question 4

what is a Quasi-Experimental Research Design?

Answer 4

• studies that are “sort of” experimental in design
• no randomization to groups
• low on internal validity but often higher in external validity

Question 5

what is the ‘‘basic formula’’ for a quasi-experimental study?

Answer 5

• people are studied in real-world settings
• an independent variable is introduced or manipulated
• there is a dependent variable (the effect) that is measured

Question 6

when is a pre-experimental research design used?

Answer 6

when true experiments and quasi-experimental designs are not possible

Question 7

what does a pre-experimental design do?

Answer 7

• often used as a prequel or pre-cursor to randomized control trials
• pre-experimental designs pose challenges to internal and external validity

Question 8

feasibility and pilot studies can be conducted to?

Answer 8

improve the chances of conducting a high-quality RCT

Question 9

what is a feasibility study?

Answer 9

used to assess whether a planned main study can be done, and the practicality of the study elements

Question 10

what is a pilot study?

Answer 10

a type of feasibility study that is a small-scald and -scope preliminary test of whether the critical elements of the main study will be feasible

Question 11

what is construct validity?

Answer 11

are you actually measuring what you think you’re measuring

Question 12

what characterizes a non-experimental research design?

Answer 12

• no randomization to groups
• no groups to randomize to
• no manipulation of the independent variable

Question 13

what is a non-experimental research design used for?

Answer 13

to report correlations among variables of interest

Question 14

how can data collected in quantitative studies be described as?

Answer 14

• discrete
• continuous
• nominal
• ordinal
• interval
• ratio

Question 15

what is discrete data?

Answer 15

a count involving integers
ex. 206 people in a class

Question 16

what is continuous data?

Answer 16

data that is continuously being taken
ex. heart beat

Question 17

what is nominal data?

Answer 17

type of discrete data, describes a category
ex. sex, blood type, eye colour

Question 18

what is ordinal data?

Answer 18

type of discrete data, values that provide a classification
ex. placement for a race or weight status category (overweight, underweight, etc.)

Question 19

what is interval data?

Answer 19

a type of continuous data, spacing between numbers, the amount of change between numbers is the same no matter what the numbers are
ex. temperature (5-10 degrees is the same at 80-85 degrees difference)

Question 20

what is ratio data?

Answer 20

a type of continuous data, classification using an ordered continuum with equal intervals and a true zero
ex. height, weight

Question 21

what are the data collection methods?

Answer 21

1. observation (watch)
2. measurement (assess)
3. questioning (ask)

Question 22

what are the observation (watch) techniques?

Answer 22

1. direct- participant is aware of researcher’s presence
2. indirect- film or videotape is used
3. participant- research is part of the research situation

Question 23

what are the measurement (assessing) techniques?

Answer 23

1. physical measures (ex. BMI)
2. cognitive measures (paper and pencil tests)
3. affective measures (opinions, attitudes, emotions) (ex. perception of risk COVID-19)

Question 24

what are the questioning (asking) techniques?

Answer 24

1. structured / unstructured questionnaire (ex. 24-hour movement behaviors)
2. checklist (ex. dietary intake)
3. structured / unstructured interview (ex. interview guide / scripted questions and prompts)
4. Delphi Technique = consensus view of subject experts