Research Fundamentals Flashcards
What is the purpose of research?
- To learn important factors that help us make better decisions
- Allows us to to understand variations in community so we can make informed decisions
- To discover new information or trends and patterns in a given area
Purpose of research (ACRONYM)
Researching is the act of advancing knowledge and increasing understanding about specific issues or topics in order to both educate and inform other people.
ACRONYM= AKEII
-Advance Knowledge
-Allows people to increase their level of knowledge and understanding about specific issues or topics
-Educate Others
This information is then used to educate others and improve practice in relation to that area
-Increase Knowledge
(Of how the world works)
-Inform Practice
Helps us make decisions
What is the focus of research?
- To evaluate existing information and
assess what is not known or what has been left out.
A Hypothesis or question=
A theory or statement that research is based on
-Research is conducted to prove or disprove the hypothesis
What is sampling?
The selection process of people in order to represent a group
OR
Taking a smaller portion (sample) of a large group to represent the group researched
What are the 7 sampling methods?
- Hint Acronym: RSCCQSS
R- Random:
S-Systematic
C-Clustered
C- Convenience
Q-Quota
S-Snowball
S- Stratified
What do each of the 7 sampling methods mean?
Acronym: RSCCQSS
Random Sampling:
-Each member of the population has an equal chance of being chosen
Systematic Sampling -
A researcher chooses candidates systematically
e.g: chooses every fifth name on the list
Clustered Sampling:
- subgroups (smaller) groups (clusters) are chosen for the sample (with commonalities)
Convenience Sampling:
- Candidates are chosen because they are easily accessible
Quota Sampling:
Candidates are chosen based on prerequisites
Snowball Sampling: (Referral)– promotion
-group of respondents are chosen and then refer other respondents to the researcher
Stratified Sampling:
Researcher categorises respondents in small groups and then randomly chooses a sample from each group
What is a sample group
A group of individuals used to represent the general population
- Think Group- More than 1 person (collective)
What is a sample size?
- The number of people in the sample
What is a population?
All the people in a defined group
What are the advantages of Random Sampling?
- Every person will have the same probability of being included in the
study
-Unbiased
What are the disadvantages of Random Sampling?
-Can be very expensive and time consuming
- Requires ‘access’ to the whole population in order to be truly random
What are the advantages of Systematic Sampling?
- The sample is evenly spread across the population
- Sometimes easier to apply than simple random sampling.
What are the disadvantages of Systematic Sampling?
A pattern may be present in the population
making the sample biased.
What are the advantages of Clustered Sampling?
Cheaper and more efficient to apply when
dealing with a geographically dispersed
population.
What are the disadvantages of Clustered Sampling?
The sample will be biased if the clusters do
not represent the population.
What are the advantages of convenience Sampling?
Cheap, time saving, and simple to implement.
What are the disadvantages of convenience Sampling?
Often leads to selection bias and thus the
study results may not truly represent the population
What are the advantages of clustered Sampling?
Cheaper and more efficient to apply when
dealing with a geographically dispersed
population.
What are the disadvantages of clustered Sampling?
The sample will be biased if the clusters do
not represent the population.
What are the advantages of Quota Sampling?
- Cheaper, faster and
easier than stratified
sampling because it does
not require random
sampling - Minority groups can be
represented
What are the disadvantages of Quota Sampling?
Can lead to selection
bias and thus may not
truly represent the
population
What are the advantages of Snowball Sampling?
Useful when individuals in the population are
difficult to identify (e.g. drug users).
What are the disadvantages of Snowball Sampling?
Selection bias is possible since the sample is
not selected at random.
● May be slow because it relies on the referral of existing participants to build up the sample.
