Research Material 1-4

Question 1

Scientific method

Answer 1

an organized series of steps that ensure maximum objectivity and consistency

Question 2

hypothesis

Answer 2

a statement about the expected relationship between or among observable measures of concepts

Question 3

a hypothesis is NOT

Answer 3

a guess or a hunch- it is based on review of other studies

Question 4

a hypothesis compares

Answer 4

2 or more factors called variables

Question 5

variables

Answer 5

measurable trait or characteristic that is subject to change under different conditions (age, gender)

Question 6

a variable must

Answer 6

change, vary, can take more than one value

Question 7

independent variables

Answer 7

associated with causes. (causes predicts another variable)

Question 8

dependent variables

Answer 8

associated with consequences. (its action depends on the influence of the independent variable)

Question 9

validity

Answer 9

the degree to which a measure truly reflects the phenomenon under study

Question 10

reliability

Answer 10

the extent to which a measure provides consistent results

Question 11

quantitative research

Answer 11

“quantity” something you can count numerically to measure (using scientific method and statistics)

Question 12

qualitative research

Answer 12

“quality” uses “thick description” in order to understand the insiders view of other human beings (using interview narrative)

Question 13

mean

Answer 13

average score

Question 14

median

Answer 14

middle score (helpful when data is skewed)

Question 15

mode

Answer 15

most frequently appearing score

Question 16

statistics show us

Answer 16

the probability that this occurred by random chance; weather or not results are meaningful

Question 17

research process

Answer 17

theory construction, theory testing, and theory testing principles

Question 18

theory construction

Answer 18

wonder, conceptualize, and theorize

Question 19

wonder

Answer 19

become curious about something

Question 20

conceptualize

Answer 20

isolate and define key elements

Question 21

theorize

Answer 21

state why and how concepts are related

Question 22

theory testing

Answer 22

operationalize, hypothesize, observe, analyze, and assess

Question 23

operationalize

Answer 23

select valid indicators of concepts

Question 24

hypothesize

Answer 24

deduce observable predictions

Question 25

observe

Answer 25

obtain evidence pertinent to the predictions

Question 26

analyze

Answer 26

systematically compare evidence with predictions

Question 27

assess

Answer 27

reject or adjust theory if predictions fail

Question 28

correlation and causality

Answer 28

just because tow things "move together" does not mean that one caused the other Ex: ice cream causes drownings

Question 29

3 criteria for establishing causality

Answer 29

time order, correlation, and non-spuriousness

Question 30

time order

Answer 30

causes must predict effects

Question 31

correlation

Answer 31

causes and effects must be associated; they must vary in unison

Question 32

correlations can be

Answer 32

weak or strong

Question 33

correlations may be

Answer 33

positive (same direction variation) or negative (different direction variation)

Question 34

non-spuriousness

Answer 34

the relationship between variables must not exist solely because each is correlated with some third variable

Question 35

spurious

Answer 35

a false correlation between proposed cause and its effect

Question 36

contextual effects

Answer 36

when a relationship between variables is conditional upon the social context- you set different results in different social surroundings

Question 37

ethics in research

Answer 37

when dealing with human subjects, stems must be taken to "do no harm"- physically or psychology

Question 38

Informed consent

Answer 38

what human subjects must be told

Question 39

Must be told (1)

Answer 39

purpose of research

Question 40

Must be told (2)

Answer 40

how to contact researcher

Question 41

Must be told (3)

Answer 41

how the info will be used

Question 42

Must be told (4)

Answer 42

how their privacy will be protected

Question 43

Must be told (5)

Answer 43

potential benefits or harm/side effects

Question 44

Must be told (6)

Answer 44

they may withdraw at any time without penalty

Question 45

if deception is involved

Answer 45

they may withdraw at any time without penalty - is especially important