Mid-term Prep Flashcards
Experimental Research
manipulated variables
Non-experimental Research
observational recording of data
Ex Post Facto Research
(After the Fact) causal-comparative: looks to the past for causes of current observations
Causal-Comparative Research
Ex Post Facto: looks to the past for causes of current observations
TRUE experiment is indicated by…
Random Assignment in experimental studies
_________ signifies experimental conditions
use of TREATMENTS
What is required in order to draw a cause and effect relationship?
Experiment
Independent variables
manipulations done by experimenter
Dependent Variables
Outcomes or results
Hypothesis
prediction of the outcome of the study/what you think will happen
Type 1 Error
Rejecting the Null Hypothesis when the Null Hypothesis is true
Type 2 Error
Rejecting the Research Hypothesis when the Research Hypothesis in True
Alpha
p = .05 or p = .01
chances of results being purely randomly caused
Power
rejecting the Null Hypothesis and accepting the Research Hypothesis when the research hypothesis is the true hypothesis
How to Maximize Power
- design powerful study
- increase the significance level
- Increase the sample size
- Employ powerful statistics
Two ways of designing powerful study
- manualize treatment
2. use vastly different treatments for comparison
Most powerful statistics are…
Parametric statistics
Levels of statistics
- Nominal
- Ordinal
- Interval
- Ratio
What are Descriptive Statistics?
mathematical procedures for: 1. organizing 2. summarizing 3. describing characteristics of a sample of data
What are Inferential Statistics?
mathematical procedures for deciding whether a sample relationship represents a relationship that actually exists in the population
What is Effect Size?
how consistently differences in the dependent scores (outcome scores) are caused by changes in the Independent Variable (IV)
What is Coefficient of Determination?
variance in the Dependent Variable (DV) that can be accounted for by variance in the Independent Variable (IV)
Definition of THEORY
a unified explanation for discrete observations that might otherwise be viewed as unrelated or contradictory
Two Functions of Research in Relation to Theory
- To test hypothesis derived from an existing theory
2. To provide observations and conclusions on which researchers can INDUCE theory
Three ways to test hypotheses derived from an existing theory
- researchers DEDUCE hypotheses that are consistent with the theory
- IF hypothesis is confirmed, it lends support to the theory
- IF hypothesis is NOT confirmed, it calls into question the theory (or parts of it)
IF a theory is called into question, what do the theorists do?
Theorists consider reformulating the theory to account for the discrepancy
Grounded Theory is…
- INDUCTIVE Method of analysis that can lead to theories of behavior.
- Found in Qualitative Analysis
- Evolutionary
No theory of human behavior is universal therefore…. (2)
- researchers usually examine trends across groups in order to test or develop theories
- Examine individuals or subgroups who do not perform as predicted
Quantitative Planning…
- Deductive approach
2. Review Lit leads to hypothesis
Qualitative Planning…
- Inductive approach
2. Observations/interviews lead to decisions on what further data is needed
Quantitative Measures produce…
numerical data
Qualitative Measures produce…
words
In Quantitative, can you adjust instruments during the study?
NO
In Qualitative, can you adjust instruments during the study?
YES
Quantitative participants…
large sample sizes
Qualitative participants…
small sample sizes
Quantitative Sampling method…
Random
Qualitative Sampling method…
purposive
Quantitative Data analysis…
statistics summarize all participants
Qualitative Data analysis…
Cite individual reponses
Quantitative Results…
generalized to one or more populations
Qualitative Results…
limits conclusions to only individuals directly studied
Quantitative Studies strive for…
objectivity
Qualitative Studies believe…
all observational processes are inherently subjective and open to interpretation
Quantitative vs. Qualitative major difference…
Numbers vs. discussion of themes/trends in words
Q vs. Q
Nature of the Question…
Quant: numbers easily collected about it
Qual: words describe it best
Q vs. Q
Little Known about topic…
Quant: Not preferred
Qual: Preferred
Q vs. Q
Participants belong to closed culture…
Quant: not preferred
Qual: Preferred
Q vs. Q
Participants available for limited time
Quant: preferred
Qual: NOT preferred
Q vs. Q
Time and funds limited
Quant: preferred
Qual: NOT preferred