Research Design Part 1

Question 1

What is a research design?

Answer 1

A research design is a framework or blueprint for conducting a research project. It details the procedures that are necessary for obtaining the right information needed to structure and/or solve the research problem

Question 2

What is the importance of research design?

Answer 2

Smooth operation
research is efficient
blueprint for planning
precautions reduced
reliability is dependent on the design

Question 3

What makes a good research design?

Answer 3

Specifies sources and information needed
roadmap for collecting and analysing data
timeline and cost
clear statement of the problem procedures and techniques
range of processes

Question 4

What are the key criteria of research design?

Answer 4

reliability, replication, validity (measurement, internal, external, ecological)

Question 5

What are variables?

Answer 5

They are the main focus of the research and can vary, they are also unique
e.g. temperature

Question 6

How can variables be described?

Answer 6

Continuous - scale is continuous e.g. temperature
Discrete - certain discrete values within the range e.g. number of symptoms of illness
Categorical - Categories e.g. ethnicity

Question 7

What are the 4 levels of measurement?

Answer 7

1. Interval scale - scores in some sort of order of magnitude equal intervals e.g. temperature
2. Ratio scale- absolute zero point e.g. weight
3. Nominal scale- Attributes are named e.g. ethnicity
4. Ordinal scale - Attributes are only ordered e.g. birth order

Question 8

What are extraneous variables?

Answer 8

Variables that might have an impact on the other variables we are interested in , may fail to take these into account

Question 9

What are confounding variables?

Answer 9

Specific type of extraneous variable that is related to both main variables we are interested in