Quantitative and Qualitative Research Flashcards
Naturalistic observation
Behaviour is observed In the setting where it naturally occurs
- Can provide detailed info about nature, frequency and context of naturally occurring behaviours
- Can’t establish cause and affect
- Observer could effect behaviours
Temporal Precedence
Experimenter manipulates a variable – so the experimenter decides which one comes first
Covariation
The experimenter measures whether a change in one variable is associated with a change in another
Elimination of other possible explanations
experimenter controls extraneous factors that might influence the outcomes
Correlational
Relationship between two variables, looking at how strong the relationship is, researcher manipulates the independent variable through selection of the subject variables. Whether race/gender is associated with a specific attitude. You can’t say one causes the other, you can say race/gender is ASSOCIATED with the attitude.
- Measures one variable (x) then measures second variable (y) and statistically determines whether x and y are related
What makes a good experiment? (N.B.)
- Random assignment
- Large sample size
- Careful planning
Experimental Research Study
Used to test hypothesis, there is direct manipulation, X causes Y, cause and effect relationship. Establishes causality
Confounding Variables
Confounding variables: things that might effect dependent variable – things other than the dependent and independent.
subject variables
Age, gender, race
Situational Variables
Variables that have to do with the environmental side of things. (noise, temperature, lighting, time of day) – environment in which you are doing your study
Experimenter Effect
Subtle and unintentional ways which researchers influence their participants to respond in a manner that is consistent with the researchers hypothesis. Researcher’s bias. Like telling your participants the aims of your study.
Experimenter bias
Their perceived outcome, incorrectly do things to match their thought outcomes.
Hawthorne Effect
Also referred to as the observer effect - is a type of reactivity in which individuals modify or improve an aspect of their behavior in response to their awareness of being observed.
Perceived demand effect
Participants act in line to what they think the experimenter is trying to get them to do
Sequence Effect
Confounding influences in experiments where subjects are exposed to multiple conditions. Sequence effects refer to potential interactions among conditions of an experiment based on the sequences these treatments are presented.
Repeated measures design – if you have various types of tests to give them – you must get the sequence in an order but the sequence of the test may be a confounding variable itself
Placebo effect
People receiving treatment show a change in their behaviour due to the expectations but not actually due to the treatment having had any affect on them
Participants beliefs of a certain thing and how it should do a certain thing – makes them change to fit that belief.
Random sampling vs. Random Assigning
Random sampling – picking out random people from a class Random assigning – randomly assigning people to certain groups of the experiment
Quantitative Research Methods
Draws on logical positivist paradigm and is interested in predication and causation (analysis of numbers)
Researches know exactly what they are looking for
Very large samples
Hypothesis
A specific prediction about some phenomenon or other “if - then”
Operational Definition
Defines a variable in terms of the specific procedures used to produce or measure it
Case study
In depth analysis of an individual, group or event
Descriptive research
Seeks to identify how humans and other animals behave particularly in natural settings
The 4 Ethical principles in research
- Competence (high levels of training)
- Responsibility (performing professional duties with the utmost care)
- Integrity (being honest and accurate)
- Respect (respecting people’s dignity and rights to confidentiality)
Correlational research: Bi-directionality (two-way causality) problem
We must consider the possibility that variable X has caused Y and that Y has caused X, or that both have had an influence on one another
Correlational research: Third-Variable problem
Association between the two variables may not be genuine. A third variable Z, may be the cause of the relation between X and Y
Correlational coefficient
A statistic that indicates the direction and strength of the relation between two variables
Positive correlation
Higher scores on one variable are associated with higher scores on a second variable