Module 1 - Heppner (Chapters 1 and 5) Flashcards
Five step process of selecting a research topic and developing the idea into a testable hypothesis:
- Identifying research topic
- Specifying research questions and hypotheses
- Formulating operational definitions
- Identifying research variables
- Collecting and analyzing data
When identifying a research topic, the task is to identify some general topic that may contribute to the professions _______________ in a meaningful way and simultaneously stimulate and motivate students to __________________________________
knowledge base, explore and learn more about the topic
Most inexperienced researchers in counseling need to learn more about the _________________________ and ______________ of current research efforts
body of knowledge, direction
Strategies for identifying research topics
- General review of counseling topics
- Read literature review articles and handbooks
- Explore topics through funding agency websites
- Talk with faculty and peers about topics
- Attend conference presentations
- Consult with advisor
- Take notes of observations, reflections, and ideas
- Critique existing lines of research
- Consider own interest, values, and motivation
A necessary first step in identifying possible research topics is to start collecting ____________ about previous research
information
While reading and thinking about previous research in counseling, it is important to keep in mind at least four issues
- The utility of research in answering real-life applied questions that address important societal needs
- Your particular interests
- A way to build on previous research
- The role of theory
One of the most basic reasons for conducting research is to develop ______________________ that in one way or another can help people by addressing pressing societal needs
knowledge bases
In order for the counseling profession to be of value to the larger society, our research must address ________________________ in society
important issues and problems
A great deal of research in counseling involves extending the _______________ of previous research
results
It is essential to focus on investigating a few constructs only, and not to try to do too much in developing an ___________________
“original contribution”
Testing theory can be an important contribution to the counseling field because it helps ________ our theories, especially because many theories have not been tested on _____________________
refine, diverse populations
A great deal of research has examined the persuasion or _________________________ process within counseling
social influence
Another theoretical perspective that is influencing counseling research is the ____________ model of psychotherapy
contextual
Sometimes a new model or theory is developed by _____________ different bodies of research
integrating
Sometimes research will test and extend competing theories or different _______________________________ phenomena.
conceptualizations of the same
Sometimes theory and research from one topic can be extended to __________________
another topic
Another strategy in identifying research topics is to examine any theories, whether they are found within the _________________ or outside the _______________, that might be helpful to the work of counselors
the counseling literature, the counseling literature
It is often useful for students to use a ______________ of strategies as they enter the world of research
combination
The purpose of research is to…
- Answer questions
- Address presenting societal problems
- Refine theories of interest to counseling
- Add to the existing knowledge in the field
After identifying a possible research topic, it is important that you become _______________ about the previous research on that topic
knowledgeable
When examining previous studies, pay particular attention to the ____________ section in those studies
discussion
After reading multiple articles, attend more closely to the _____________ that have been used in the previous research
constructs
___________________ are key elements in developing a topic area and in essence are questions that explore the relations among or between constructs
Research questions
A research hypothesis is more specific than a research question because it states the ____________ relationship between the constructs
expected
Research questions and hypotheses are often deduced from ____________
theory
Researchers can make serious errors by proceeding to select participants and assessment instruments without ever ___________ their research questions or hypotheses and exactly what they are looking for in their research
clarifying
Three general categories of research questions or hypotheses
- Descriptive
- Difference
- Relationship
_______________ questions describe the variables of interest with questions such as how much, how often, what percentage, what is, etc.
Descriptive
____________ questions compare between groups of people or within individual participants
Difference
_____________ questions examine how two or more constructs are associated with each other
Relationship
A research question asks a question about the ______________ between two or more constructs that can be measured in some way.
relationships
The function of a testable research question or hypothesis not only identifies the topic but also specific ____________ of interest within that topic
constructs
After the initial development of the research question or hypothesis, it is crucial that all __________ or constructs in the question be defined concretely so that the research idea can be empirically tested
terms
Each construct must be operationally defined, which means specifying the activities or ___________ necessary to measure it in this particular experiment.
operations
Relationship questions tend to use ________________ statistics or more complex regression analyses
correlational
Different operational definitions sometimes lead to very different ______________
results
_________________ definitions often undergo revision as knowledge accumulates and researchers become more sophisticated
Operational
The ____________ variable is the variable that is manipulated or controlled in a study
independent
The ___________ variable is caused by the manipulation of the independent variable
dependent
Usually an experiment involves two of more levels of the independent variable, sometimes referred to as _____________
conditions
To examine the effects of the ____________ of the independent variable, concomitant changes in another variable, the dependent variable, are observed
manipulation
In an experimental study, changes in the ___________ variable are supposed to depend on or be influenced by changes or variations in the independent variable
dependent
In a true experimental design we infer that a change (if one exists) in the dependent variable was caused by the ____________ of the independent variable
manipulation
The terms independent variable and dependent variable have __________ implications
causal
The ___________ variables in a regression equation are sometimes referred to as independent variables
predictor
The ___________ variable is sometimes referred to as a dependent variable
criterion
Once the constructs referenced in the research question or hypothesis have been operationally defined and the design of the study determined, the researcher collects ________
data
Steps in data collection process
- Defining the target population
- Creating a participant pool
- Selecting participants
- Determining the number of participants
Data collection decisions also depend on the ____________ of the experiment
design
Once the data are collected, sense must be made of them. Data usually consists of numbers that _________ characteristics of the participants.
index
The data is summarized and analyzed with the express purpose of ____________ the research question or hypothesis
testing
The data are examined to determine whether the hypothesized ____________ indeed exists
relationship
Always think about how various alternative methods will affect your ability to shed light on the original question. Will a course of action _________ or _________ the original research question
obscure, clarify
A research hypothesis should be _________, well-defined, and clearly articulated.
specific
All research studies have ____________ of one kind or another
limitations
The __________ hypothesis suggests that all research studies have some type of flaw or weakness
bubble
Most often our knowledge bases in counseling are increased by adding ______ or ______ more pieces of information per study, with each study building on the previous research in some relatively small way.
one, two
