Research Ideas and Measurement Flashcards
what are the primary ways to come up with a research topic
- personal interests and curiosities
- casual observation of behaviour and stuff
- reports of other’s observations
- practical problems or questions
- finding a gap in already existing research
involves studies that are intended to solve theoretical issues
basic research
directed toward solving practical problems
applied research
integrates basic and applied research to test and develop treatments and interventions
translational research
behavioural theories
testing predictions that are part of a theory
the mass of published information worldwide
the literature
what are the two basic goals of a literature search
- gaining general familiarity with the current research
- finding a small set of studies to serve as the basis for your idea
firsthand reports in which the authors describe their own observations
primary sources
secondhand reports in which the authors discuss someone else’s observations
secondary sources
A set of statements that describe general principles about how variables relate
theory
______ guides systematic steps of thinking and solving a problem
theory
a good hypothesis is:
- logical
- testable
- refutable
- positive
what does it mean that a good hypothesis must be positive
nothing exists until proven that it does. it must make a positive statement about the existence of something
textbooks are an example of what kind of source
secondary sources
Hypothetical entities created from theory and speculation
constructs
what are operational definitions
methods of defining and measuring constructs -> variables that cannot be observed or measured directly
true or false: an operational definition cannot be the construct
true it cant be the construct itself
what is face validity
whether a measure appears superficially to measure what it claims to
what is concurrent validity
scores obtained from a new measure
Scores obtained from a measure accurately predict behavior according to a theory
predictive validity
Scores obtained from a measurement behave exactly the same as the variable itself
construct validity
what is convergent validity
strong relationship between scores obtained from two or more different methods of measuring the same construct
Showing little or no relationship between the measurements of two different constructs
divergent validity
The individual who makes the measurements can introduce simple human error
observer error
compares scores of two successive measurements of the same individuals and correlates the scores
test-retest reliability
agreement between two observers who
simultaneously record measurements of the behaviors
inter-rater reliability
splits the test in half, computing a separate score for each half, and then calculates the degree of consistency between the two
scores for a group of participants
split half reliability
The process of assigning values meaningfully to
behaviour, people, attributes, etc.
measurement
each number has a unique meaning
identity
numbers have inherent order
magnitude
difference between units is the same anywhere on the scale
equal intervals
zero on the scale is actually zero
true zero
whats the difference between nominal and ordinal
nominal = categories, ordinal = numbers (in a ranking)
Involves having people tell you about themselves
self report
Involves the direct observation of behavior
observational measures
Involves measuring a bodily process
physiological measures
a hypothetical entity that exist from theory and speculation
constructs
what are operational definitons
definitions that exist for the operation that is ongoing
what causes environmental error
you can’t attain the perfect circumstances
participant error
the participant may change
a measurement that is not sensitive enough to detect a difference
range effect
what is the ceiling effect
clustering of scores at the high end of a measurement scale
what is the floor effect
clustering of scores at the low end of a measurement scale
a nonnatural feature accidentally introduced into something being observed
artifact
The research study is conducted on a participant who does not know the
expected results
single blind study
Neither the experimenter nor the participants know the expected results of
the study
double blind procedure
what are demand characteristics
any of the potential cues or features
of a study that:
– suggest to the participants the purpose and hypothesis of the study, and
– influence the participants to respond or behave in a certain way
Participants modify their natural behavior in response to knowing they are in a study
reactivity
what is the good subject role
supports the experimenters hypothesis
what is the negativistic subject role
acts contrary to the hypothesis
presents self in a “good light” as a participant
apprehensive subject role
the ideal participant who follows instructions to the letter
faithful subject role
