Research Design (via G-money's Study Guide) Flashcards
What are the 4 variables that take on MANY values?
- Independent Variable
- Dependent Variable
- Confounding Variable
- Quasi-Independent Variable
what variable is manipulated by the researcher?
Independent Variable (its the presumed agent of change….. you should know this)
what variable is MEASURED by the researcher?
Dependent variable
DV determines if IV has an effect… duh
what variable reduces internal validity?
confounding variable
this variable is an extraneous variable. It varies systematically with the IV
An experiment that uses existing groups (rather than random assignment) to determine condition, is an example of what kind of variable?
quasi-independent variable
What are the 4 measurement scales?
- nominal variable
- ordinal variable
- interval variable
- ratio variable
What is the definition of a nominal variable?
a label or category (e.g. political party)
what is an ordinal variable?
data that is ranked or possess order (e.g. Class rank)
What is an interval variable?
ranked, meaningful differences between values (e.g. Fahrenheit temp scale)
what is a ratio variable?
ranked, meaningful differences between values AND the values of 0 signifies absence of what is measured (e.g. Kelvin temp scale)
Effect size measures determine WHAT?
practical significance rather than statistical significance:
“is the effect large enough to matter?” vs “does effect exist?”
what are 2 things we gotta know about Effect Size?
- used in meta-analysis to combine findings from multiple research studies (due to independence from sample sizes)
- “Specific Effect Size measure” varies by CONTEXT
Proportion of variation in one variable accounted for by the linear relationship with another is called………. ?
Correlation: r squared
difference between two group means in terms of standard deviation (control group or pooled) is called…….. ??
T-test: Cohen’s D
proportion of variation in the DV accounted for by the IV is an……..?
ANOVA: eta-squared, omega-squared
What are 2 things ya gotta know about Mixed-Method Design?
- Its both Qualitative and Quantitative data
2. Addresses limitations of one type with strengths of the other
what kind of design can have a narrowed focus of quantitative data complemented by “big picture” of qualitative data?
Mixed-Method Design
what kind of design allows for a larger, more representative sample, AND adjusting for extraneous variables?
Mixed-Methods Design
limited generalizability of qualitative data covered by external validity of quantitative data
What is a Solomon Four-Group Design?
Its a design that controls for practice effects BY randomly assigning participants to 4 groups
What are 5 things we gotta know about a Solomon-four group design?
- Experimental groups take a post test and receive intervention (and take a pretest if applicable)
- control groups do not receive intervention but take a post test (and pretest if applicable)
- may determine whether practice effects exist by searching for differences across testing levels
- rich results from replicating experimental and control conditions
- requires extra time and money for more groups
What does a correlational (or observational) study examine?
the relationships between unmanipulated variables
What kind of study measures association and does NOT establish cause and effect?
(ex: x may cause y, y may cause x, OR a third variable Z drives both)
correlational (or observational) study
What happens in a double-blind design?
Participants and experimenters are blind (i.e. naive) to experimental condition
What are 4 things that happen in a double-blind design?
- experimenters may unconsciously influence participant behavior to fit research hypotheses
- subtle cues such as tone of voice or posture may bias research results to fit expectations
- an experimenter ignorant of experimental condition should be unable to influence in a manner of fitting expectations
- Variations
In what kind of study is the Participant is naive to condition and the experimenter is not?
single-blind study
in what kind of study is the experimenter, participant AND others involved in research naive to condition?
triple- blind study
the extent to which research findings may be extended to the people, places and situations is called what?
External Validity
Developmental Research assesses changes over a period of time and consist of WHAT 3 designs?
- Longitudinal
- Cross-sectional
- Cross Sequential
What are the 4 main threats to a Longitudinal study?
- lengthy time requirement
- subject morality due to numbers of factors (illness, relocation etc)
- lack of randomization
- history primary threat to external validity
What kind of design has groups at each level measured at the same time?
Cross-sectional
What is a Cross Sequential Design?
combination of longitudinal and cross-sectional designs
what is 1 pro for a longitudinal study?
can provide valuable qualitative and quantitive data
What are 3 things you gotta know about a Cross-sectional design?
- requires much less time than a longitudinal study
- assumes difference reflect natural development
- differences may be due to cohort effect