Quantitative vs Qualitative & Scientific vs Non Scientific.

Question 1

Quantitative Research

Answer 1

Are numbers or categories that can be statistically analysed, readily measured, and compared to other data.

E.g. Would be the number of words recalled correctly from a list or a score on an IQ test.

-Numerical.
-Categories.
-Observations and questionaries can be put into categories.
-Descriptive and inferential.
-Unable to explain choices.

Question 2

Qualitative Research

Answer 2

Describes the changes in quality behaviour and are often expressed in words so therefore are often difficult to statistically analyse or categorise because responses could take a wide variety of forms. It is opinion based.

E.g. Participants description of a film they had just viewed.

-Non-numerical.
-Looks at the natural setting.
-It can look at behaviour, opinion, perception and cultural parts.
-Often small sample sizes.

E.g. Thematic analysis (trying to draw small themes from what people are saying, then drawing them into larger themes).

Question 3

Objective

Answer 3

Is collected under controlled conditions and are easily measured and compared with other data. It is often numerical and can be easily analysed.

E.g. Hair colour, number of houses spent watching TV per day or average height of students in a year 11 class.

Question 4

Subjective

Answer 4

Data is collected through observations of behaviour or information based on participants self reports.

It can often be bias though because they require personal information to be given as attitudes or opinions so they can be difficult to statistically analyse.

E.g. What people see in an inkblot test or descriptions of why people like doing homework.

Question 5

Mean

Answer 5

All of the scores added together and then divided by the total number of pieces of data.

Question 6

Median

Answer 6

The middle number in a data set.

Question 7

Mode

Answer 7

Most recurring number in the data set.

Question 8

Range

Answer 8

Highest number minus the lowest number in the data set.

Question 9

Correlation

Answer 9

Positive: when the dots go upwards.

Negative: when the dots go downwards.

No correlation: when the dots have no pattern.

Question 10

Extraneous Variable

Answer 10

Any variable not being investigated that has the potential to affect the outcome of a research study

Question 11

Confounding Variable

Answer 11

A factor other than the one being studied that is associated both with the dependent variable and with the factor being studied (independent variable).

Question 12

Operationalised Methods

Answer 12

Operationalisation is used to convert abstract concepts into observable and measurable traits.

E.g. The concept of social anxiety is virtually impossible to measure directly, but you can operationalise it in different ways

Question 13

Define Scientific

Answer 13

A systematic approach to research.
-Variables are manipulated.
-Follows scientific method.
-Generates testable hypothesis.
Controlled conditions, cause effect relationships.

Question 14

Define non-scientific

Answer 14

Not based on scientific methods, or principles.
-No manipulation of variables (descriptive research); observations.
-No manipulation of variables.
-No use of group control.