Quantitative Research

Question 1

What are the 3 major characteristics that influence the rigor of quantitative research?

Answer 1

Manipulation, control, randomization

Question 2

What are the characteristics of an experimental research design?

Answer 2

o	Randomization 
o	Manipulation 
o	Control 
o	Prospective 
	Participants are followed forward in time

Question 3

What are the characteristics of quasi-experimental research design?

Answer 3

o	Manipulation
o	May or may not have a control group or randomization
o	Change over time 
o	Naturally occurring events 
o	Randomization is impossible, unethical

Question 4

What are the characteristics on non-experimental research design?

Answer 4

o	Lacks randomization, manipulation, and control 
o	Descriptive 
o	Exploring relationships 
	Correlational studies 
o	Retrospective 
	Looking back 
	Gather data from what has happened in the past 
o	Correlational 
o	Precursor to experimental

Question 5

List 5 types of experimental research designs

Answer 5

RCT, pretest-posttest with follow up, posttest only, solomon four group, factorial

Question 6

List 2 types of quasi-experimental research design

Answer 6

Cohort, time-series

Question 7

List 5 types of non-experimental research designs

Answer 7

o Correlational

o Survey
o Quantitative case study (single, multiple)

o Methodological

o Evaluation research

Question 8

Describe considerations when choosing a research design?

Answer 8

• How well does it answer the research question and study purpose?
• Level of theory development
• Level of rigor desired
• Practical considerations

Question 9

Give three examples of types of questions that experimental research designs seek to answer

Answer 9

o Questions related to predicting casual relationships
o Questions that test theory
o Questions related to determining efficacy of an intervention

Question 10

Give two examples of types of questions that quasi-experimental research designs seek to answer

Answer 10

o Questions that lead to ethical issues with randomizing or including a no-treatment group
o Questions that lead to practical issues with randomizing or including a no-treatment group

Question 11

Give three examples of types of questions that non-experimental research designs seek to answer

Answer 11

o Questions related to describing phenomena
o Questions about exploring relationships between variables
o Questions related to new or under-developed theories

Question 12

What are three potential reasons for a study’s finding of group differences?

Answer 12

• Real differences
• Chance
• Systematic bias

Question 13

Describe the relationships between internal and external validity.

Answer 13

• If a study is not internally valid, it will not be externally valid
• If a study is too internally valid (i.e. there is to much control), then it will not be realistic and therefore not externally valid

Question 14

Name various threats to internal validity

Answer 14

•	Maturation
•	Regression to the mean 
•	Selection of participants 
•	Selection by maturation interaction 
•	Mortality/participants attrition 
•	Instrument 
•	Testing of participants 
o	Remedy: 
•	History

Question 15

Describe maturation

Answer 15

o Subjects growth, development, or changes that occur naturally over time, which may influence pretest and posttest measures

Question 16

Describe regression to the mean

Answer 16

o Extreme scores natural regressing towards the mean

Question 17

Describe treatment by maturation interaction

Answer 17

o Treatment and no treatment groups similar at one point, but develop differently, even without treatment

Question 18

Describe how the instrument could threaten internal validity

Answer 18

The participant gains practice using the instrument therefore their results are skewed to be more positive.