Lesson 4 - Quantitative research strategies

Question 1

What paradigm is closely associated with Quants?

Answer 1

Positivism

Question 2

Describe the goal of cross-sectional research designs

Answer 2

To establish that a relationship exists between two variables and DESCRIBE the nature of the relationship (not explain)
*no attempt to manipulate/control/interfere with variables

Question 3

What is the goal of experimental research?

Answer 3

• to demonstrate a cause-and-effect relationship between two variables

Question 4

A correlation coefficient measures and describes…..

Answer 4

…the relationship between two variables

Question 5

What 3 characteristics are given by the correlation coefficient?

Answer 5

• direction
• form
• consistency/strength

Question 6

Name and briefly describe the 3 applications of a correlation coefficient

Answer 6

Prediction - use knowledge about one variable (predictor) to help predict or explain the second variable (criterion).

Regression - using one var (predictor) to predict the other (criterion) - find most accurate equation

Reliability and Validity - a measure of this

Question 7

Give 3 strength of correlational research

Answer 7

1. Describes relationship between variable
2. Non-intrusive
3. High external validity

Question 8

Give 4 weaknesses of correlational research

Answer 8

1. Cannot assess causality
2. Third-variable problem
3. Directionality problem
4. Low internal validity

Question 9

Multiple regression is a statistical procedure for….

Answer 9

….studying multivariate relationships

Question 10

How does experimental research go about establish cause-and-effect relationships between two variables?

Answer 10

• manipulation of the one variable, while isolating the two variable being examined from the influence of other variables
• want to show that consistent differences in the dependent variable and caused by the the independent variable

Question 11

What are the 4 basic characteristics of experimental procedures

Answer 11

• Manipulation of one variable
• Measurement of a second variable
• Comparison of scores between
  treatments
• Control of all other variables

Question 12

Participants background is an example of an…… (if it influences the dependent variable)

Answer 12

extraneous variable

Question 13

List and briefly describe 3 ways in which one can control for extraneous variable

Answer 13

1. Holding a variable constant (parts. observed @ same time in same room by some researcher)
2. Matching values across the treatment conditions (e.g. average age)
3. Randomization - disrupts any systematic relations between ext. vars. and the independent variable (stops ext. vars. from becoming confounding vars.) - achieved through RA

Question 14

What are 3 ways one can can bring about control in an experiment

Answer 14

1. Control group - provides a standard of normal behaviour/ a baseline
2. Placebos
3. Manipulation checks - include assessing how parts. received and interpreted the manipulation etc

Question 15

Randomization can be used to control both….and….

Answer 15

• environmental variables
• extraneous variable

Question 16

Statistical significant differences between the two groups must be big enough to rule out …..

Answer 16

• difference due to sampling variability (random fluctuations)

Question 17

What 3 things must be precisely describe in the research procedure write-up

Answer 17

1. how the vars. were manipulated, regulated and measured
2. How many indis were involved
3. How the parts. will process through the course of the study

Question 18

Threats to validity of a study are any factor that….

Answer 18

….generates doubts about the accuracy of the results, or raises questions about the interpretation of the results

Question 19

It is important to always be mindful of a studies ……., and not always take their conclusions at face value

Answer 19

threats to validity

Question 20

List 5 threats to generalization across participants

Answer 20

1. selection bias
2. over-reliance on college students
3. volunteer bais
4. participant characteristics
5. cross-species generalizations

Question 21

Briefly outline the difference between within-subjects and between-subjects design

Answer 21

• Within-subjects design
• Different sets of scores are obtained from the same group
  of participants.
• Between-subjects design
• Each set of scores is obtained from different groups of
  participants

Question 22

A two-factor design has two….

Answer 22

independent variables

Question 23

What 3 criteria determine the selection of a research strategy

Answer 23

• the object of the research (availability of enough info to establish relationship? Can the variables be manipulated/controlled)
• the aim of the research (do you want correlational or causal results)
• the nature of the data to be collected (how capable/sophisticated are the techniques for data collection?)

Question 24

What has positivism been criticized for?

Answer 24

• it’s prioritization of quantitative data and focus of observable phenomena at expense of subjective experiences

*despite this, it continues to be an influential philosophical approach to understanding the world