research Flashcards
Triangulation
multiple data sources
Saturation
no new concepts are arising during data analysis
Hermeneutic
Interpretation of human phenomena
5 criteria for trustworthiness
Credibility: confidence in the “truth” of the data and its interpretations
Dependability: reliability of data over time and conditions
Confirmability: data represent the information participants provided, interpretation is sound
Transferability: extent to which findings can be transferred to other settings/groups
Authenticity: fairly shows a range of realities; reader develops heightened sensitivity
Phenomenology
To describe experience as it is lived; the essence of an experience
The focus is on writing in such a way that the essence of an experience is revealed
A process of reading, reflecting and writing
The writing is often evocative, poetic and is used to evoke understanding
“What is the experience of nurses who are caring for a dying patient?”
Ethology:
Ecologic psychology:
Ethnomethodology:
Symbolic Interaction:
Discourse analysis:
Ethology: study of human behavior as it evolves (Lord of the Flies)
Ecologic psychology: influence of environment on human behavior (Lost)
Ethnomethodology: how people make sense of their everyday activities
Symbolic Interaction: how people make sense of social interactions and interpretations attached to social symbols (hashtags?)
Discourse analysis: rules, mechanisms and structure of conversation/text
Ethnography
Focuses on describing culture or the “cultural scene” (culture can be small group culture too)
Ethnographic work is always contextual
There are many types of ethnography (classical, systematic, interpretive, critical, focused etc….)
Key elements of ethnography:
fieldwork (participant observation; immersion in the field), focus on culture (norms, values, beliefs, practices, rules)
“What are the beliefs and practices around marijuana use among teens?”
Grounded Theory
Explores social or psychological processes/method for the study of phenomena
conceptualization is key for the main concern or problem
Based on symbolic interactionist approach (people behave based on ways they interpret symbols and experiences) Builds a theory about a process Uses inductive and deductive approaches Constant comparative analysis Theoretical sampling
“What is the process of adjustment following heart attack?”
Participatory Action Research
Action Research
Lewin: production of knowledge can be political and used to exert power
PAR researchers work with vulnerable groups
Collaborate to identify areas of research
Use knowledge (findings) to empower
three core principles
Respect for Persons
Concern for Welfare
Justice
Research questions
The specific queries the researcher wants to answer in addressing the research problem
Hypotheses
The researcher’s predictions about relationships among variables
Statement of purpose
Research aims or objectives
The researcher’s summary of the overall study goal
The specific accomplishments to be achieved by conducting the study
paradigm =
4 types
world view of looking at something
post positive - quqntitative
constructivisist - qualitative
transformative - both
pragmatic - both
theories
models
framework
Theories
Abstract generalization that offers a systematic
explanation of something
E.g., theory of planned behaviour, health belief
theory, stress and coping theory
Models
Less formal – haven’t identified relationships
fully (yet)
Frameworks
Overall conceptual underpinnings of study
Theoretical framework
Conceptual framework
3 eg of qualitative studies
Grounded theory: process
questions
Phenomenology: meaning
questions
Ethnography: cultural description
questions
Directional hypothesis
Nondirectional hypothesis
Directional hypothesis
Predicts the direction of a relationship
Nondirectional hypothesis
Predicts the existence of a relationship, not its
direction
Research hypothesis
Statistical or null hypothesis
Research hypothesis
States the actual prediction of a relationship
Statistical or null hypothesis
Expresses the absence of
3 Ethical Principles
Respect for Persons
Informed consent
autonomy
Concern for Welfare
Risks and benefits
Justice
Offered to all
No imbalance of power
5 components of consents
Disclosure Understanding Voluntariness Competence Consent
3 hallmark of experimental design
manipulation
control group
randomization
Quasi-experimental Study Design
Many different designs
No randomization
Often no control group
eg of non experimental study
observational - case study, cohort
descriptive - correlational
cohort study
observational, follow up studies
usually prospective, looking at disease
case study
observational, looking at history and data history
case study design - usually retrospective
non probability sampling
Convenience
Snowball: Potential for bias because of location/access
Quota: Identify strata and determine how many participants from each stratum.
Consecutive: Every person during a specific time frame
Purposive: Choose participants based on characteristics that reflect theoretical foundations of study
Strengths and Weaknesses of non-probability sampling
Convenient and less expensive
Rarely representative, will likely miss out on some members
Emphasis on internal vs. external study validity
probabiblity sampling
Simple random: Create a sampling ‘frame’ (list with numbers assigned to each potential ‘recruit’); Pick random numbers from frame
Stratified random: Enhances representativeness by ensuring that there is a sample from each identified strata
Cluster: Random sample of clusters then random sample of individuals
Systematic: Every “kth” person
Strengths and Weaknesses of Probability Sampling
Stronger than nonprobability sampling
Expensive, may not be practical
May be too narrow – “My patients are the ones where were excluded from the RCT”
