Original Research studies Flashcards
Original research studies provide data in an attempt to…
answer specific research questions
Survey research
can provide useful info regarding trends and practices or evaluate perceptions
Correlational studies
look at relationships between different variables
True experimental study
the only way to draw conclusions regarding causation
Experimental studies can be
either group design or single subject design
Group design involves
random selection of participants and a random assignment to the different experimental groups
Quasi-experimental
when researchers can’t truly randomize the groups
Single subject design
participants are used as their on controls and do not require large sample sizes
Single subject design
Begin with a baseline phase (A) followed by a treatment phase (B)
ABAB design
baseline data collected, then intervention implemented, wait to achieve a stable baseline a second time and then intervention implemented again
Meta-analysis
systemic review plus quantitative syntheses of a group of studies that examined the same variable or variables
Researcher examines
original research studies on a certain topic and results from individual studies are quantified using a common metric so results can be compared.
Narrative reviews
gathers research articles about a topic and summarizes the results
Internal validity
the extent the results of a study can be attributed to differences in the independent variable in the study
Threats to internal validity
History
Maturation
Testing
Instrumentation
Statistical regression
Selection
Mortality attrition
Selection interactions
External validity
The extent to which results from one study will generalize to other settings.
In order for results to be useful, the must generalize beyond the experimental setting of the research study.
The more similar the participants ae to the individuals in the general population one wishes to know more about, the more likely the results will generalize
Randomly select participants from the population you ae studying and ensure methods of the study are similar to the setting in which you wish to generalize
Construct validity
The extent to which factors considered not to be a part of the intervention interfere with the interpretation of the intervention
To reduce threats to construct validity
use double-blind placebo control designs
Program evaluation
Program evaluation involves the evaluation of social intervention programs
A major component is the idea of accountability at the systems level.
Internal evaluations vs. external evaluations
Needs assessment
Main question- Is there a problem? Evaluator must clearly define the problem?
Might conduct interviews and review available data
Once the need has been identified specific goals and objectives are developed
Once the program is implemented, data should be collected to help determine whether the program is being implemented as intended and whether the program outcomes are positive
