Lesson 4

Question 1

refers to the plan, structure, and strategy of research; the blueprint that will guide the research process.

Answer 1

Research Design

Question 2

Research Design may be developed

Answer 2

-to find out the nature of phenomenon,
-to generate a hypothesis of relationship, or
-to test a hypothesis

Question 3

The test for the quality of the studies research design is the study’s _____

Answer 3

conclusion validity

Question 4

refers to the extent of researcher’s ability to draw accurate conclusions from the research.

Answer 4

CONCLUSION VALIDITY

Question 5

correctness of conclusions regarding the relationships among variables examined.

Answer 5

Internal Validity

Question 6

Generalizability of the findings to the intended/appropriate population/setting

Answer 6

External Validity

Question 7

Guiding principle for effective control of variances (and, thus, effective research design) is:

Answer 7

THE MAXMINCON PRINCIPLE
MAXmize systematic variance
MINimize error variance
CONtrol variance of Nuisance/Extraneous/Exogenous/Confounding variables

Question 8

simulates absence of X

Answer 8

CONTROL GROUP

Question 9

GENERAL METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION:

Answer 9

Review of Documents
Query
Observation

Question 10

This means getting the true value or measurement.

Answer 10

Accuracy

Question 11

ability of the data collection tool to measure what it is supposed to measure

Answer 11

Validity

Question 12

capacity to pick up or label positive those who have the disease.

Answer 12

sensitivity

Question 13

capacity of the test to exclude or label negative those who do not have the disease.

Answer 13

specificity

Question 14

the chance than a positive result is truly indicative of
the presence of the disease or condition.

Answer 14

positive predictive value

Question 15

ability of the tool to give the same or identical results when the test is done on the same subject by different observers. It eliminates observer bias

Answer 15

Objective

Question 16

Ability of the measuring device to give consistent results. Standard deviation or variance measures precision; the greater its value the lower is the
precision

Answer 16

Precision, Repeatability or Reliability

Question 17

MAXIMIZING SYSTEMATIC VARIANCE:

Answer 17

IN EXPERIMENTS: (where the researcher actually manipulates the independent variable and measures its impact on the dependent variable):
IN NON-EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES: (where independent and dependent variables are measured simultaneously and the relationship between them are examined):

Question 18

MINIMIZING ERROR VARIANCE (MEASUREMENT ERROR):

Answer 18

Increase validity and reliability of measurement instruments.
Measure variables under as ideal conditions as possible

Question 19

Sources of error variance:

Answer 19

Poorly designed measurement instruments (instrumentation error).
Error emanating from study subjects (e.g., response error).
Contextual factors that reduce a sound/accurate measurement instrument’s capacity to measure accurately.

Question 20

HOW TO CONTROL FOR CONFOUNDING/ NUISANCE VARIABLES:

Answer 20

In Experimental Settings:
Conducting the experiment in a controlled environment (e.g., laboratory).
Subject selection (e.g., matching subjects in experiments).
Random assignment of subjects (variations of confounding variables are evenly distributed between the experimental control groups)

In Survey Research:
Sample selection (e.g., including only subjects with appropriate characteristics-using male college graduates as subjects will control for potential confounding effects of gender and education)

Question 21

Effective research design is a function of?

Answer 21

✓ Adequate (full range of) variability in values of research variables,
✓ Precise and accurate measurement,
✓ Identifying and controlling the effects of confounding variables, and
✓ Appropriate subject selection

Question 22

Experimental Designs

Answer 22

True Experimental Studies

Question 23

Non-Experimental Designs

Answer 23

Expost Facto/Correlational Studies

Question 24

One of the simplest experimental designs is the

Answer 24

ONE GROUP PRETEST-POSTTEST DESIGN-EXAMPLE

Question 25

be aware of the _______ (it tends to prejudice the results especially in medical research).
SOLUTION: _______ (neither the subjects nor the experimenter knows who is getting the placebo/drug).

Answer 25

Experimenter Effect…Double Blind Experiments

Question 26

potential confounding fact in experimental studies:

Answer 26

Hawthorne Effect
History: Biasing events that occur between pretest and post-test
Maturation: Physical/biological/psychological changes in the subjects
Testing: Exposure to pretest influences scores on post test
Instrumentation: Flaws in measurement instrument/procedure

Question 27

(regression toward the mean)?
Subjects selected based on extreme pretest values
Discovered by in 1877

Answer 27

Statistical Regression

Question 28

Differential drop-out of subjects from experimental and control groups during the study

Answer 28

Experimental Mortality

Question 29

Important Features of True Experimental Designs

Answer 29

1. PRESENCE OF A COMPARISON GROUP
2. RANDOMIZATION
3. BLINDING
4. PROGNOSTIC STRATIFICATION

Question 29

Important Features of True Experimental Designs

Answer 29

1. PRESENCE OF A COMPARISON GROUP
2. RANDOMIZATION
3. BLINDING
4. PROGNOSTIC STRATIFICATION

Question 30

At Least Four Other Possible Interpretations/Reasons For Correlations Between Two Variables:

Answer 30

Both variables are effects of a common cause
Both var. alternative indicators of same concept
Both parts of a common “system” or “complex;” tend to come as a package
Fortuitous–Coincidental correlation, no logical relationship

Question 31

John Stuart Mill’s Rules for Inferring Causal Links

Answer 31

• Covariation Rule (X and Y must be correlated) - Necessary but not sufficient condition.
• Temporal Precedence Rule (If X is the cause, Y should not occur until after X).
• Internal Validity Rule (Alternative plausible explanations of Y and X-Y relationships should be ruled out (i.e., eliminate other possible causes).

Question 32

STEPS IN PLANNING FOR DATA COLLECTION:

Answer 32

1.Identify the data to be collected
2.Determine the possible sources of data
3.Choose the method appropriate for the study
4.Prepare the tools of data collection
5.Establish the time-frame of data collection, considering the number of subjects, the time needed to collect the data per subject, and the number of personnel for the work.

Question 33

The plan of data collection includes:

Answer 33

✓The data or information to be collected.
✔How information are to be collected including the tools to be used.
✔How quality control is to be ensured and the different forms of bias are to be eliminated. ✓Time table for data collection including how this is estimated.

Question 34

GENERAL METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION:

Answer 34

Review of Documents
Query
Observation

Question 35

TOOLS OF DATA COLLECTION:

Answer 35

1. Questionnaire is essential for asking questions.
2. Devices and tests are needed in the assessment of the outcome of process.

Question 36

CRITERIA FOR CHOOSING THE METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION:

Answer 36

✓Accuracy of the information generated by the method.
✓ Practicability of the method