Research Methodology Flashcards
Research
A scientific process that involves the careful collection of data
Scientific Method
A systematic and dynamic procedure of observing and measuring phenomena, used to achieve the goals of description, prediction, control, and explanation
Involves an interaction among research, theories, and hypotheses
Theory
A model of interconnected ideas or concepts that explains what is observed and makes predictions about future events
Based on empirical evidence
Hypothesis
A specific, testable predictionc narrower than the theory it is based on
Replication
Repetition of a research study to confirm the results
Variable
Something in the woerld that can vary and that a researcher can manipulate (change), measure (evaluate), or both
Independent Variable
The variable that gets manipulated in a research study
Dependent Variable
The variable that gets measured in a research study
Operational Definition
A definition that qualifies (describes) and quantifies (measures) a variable so the variable can be understood objectively
Descriptive Research
Research methods that involve observing behavior to describe that behavior objectively and systematically
Case Study
A descriptive research method that involves the intensive examination of an unusual person or organization
Participant Observation
A type of descriptive study in which the researcher is involved in the situation
Naturalistic Observation
A type of descriptive study in which the researcher is a passive observer, separated from the situation and nmaking no attempt to change or alter ongoing behavior
Reactivity
The phenomenon that occurs when knowledge that one is being observed alters the behavior being observed
Observer Bias
Systematic errors in observation that occur because of an observer’s expectations
Experimenter Expectancy Effect
Actual change in the behavior of the people or nonhuman animals being observed that is due to the expectations of the observer
Data
Measurable outcomes of research studies
Self-Report Methods
Methods of data collection in which people are asked to provide information about themselves, such as in surveys or questionnaires
Correlational Studies
A research method that describes and predicts how variables are naturally related in the real world, without any attempt by the researcher to alter them or assign causation between them
Positive Correlation
A relationship between two variables in which both variables either increase or decrease together
Negative Correlation
A relationship between two variables in which one variable increases when the other decreases
Zero Correlation
A relationship between two variables in which one variable is not predictably related to the other
Directionality Problem
A problem in correlational studies when the researchers find a relationship between two variables but cannot determine which variable may have caused changes in the other variable
Third Variable Problem
A problem that occurs when the researcher cannot directly manipulate variables and as a result cannot be confident that another unmeasured variable is not the actual cause of differences in the variable of interest
Experiment
A research method that tests causal hypotheses by manipulating and measuring variables
Experimental Group
The participants in an experiment who receive the treatment
Control Group
The participants in an experiment who receive no intervention or who receive an intervention that is unrelated to the independent variable being tested
Confound
Anything that affects a dependent variable and that may unintentionally vary between the experimental conditions of a study
Population
Everyone in the group the experimenter is interested in
Sample
A subset of a population
Random Assignment
Placing research participants into the conditions of an experiment in such a way that each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to any level of the independent variable
Selection Bias
In an experiment, unintended differences between the participants in different groups
Culturally Sensitive Research
Studies that take into account the role that culture plays in determining thoughts, feelings, and actions
Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)
Groups of people responsible for reviewing proposed research to ensure that it meets the accepted standards of science and provides for the physical and emotional well-being of research participants
Construct Validity
The extent to which variables measure what they are supposed to measure
External Validity
The degree to which the findings of a study can be generalized to other people, settings, or situations
Internal Validity
The degree to which the effects observed in an experiment are due to the independent variable and not confounds
Reliability
The degree to which a measure is stable and consistent over time
Accuracy
The degree to which an experimental measure is free from error
Descriptive Statistics
Statistics that summarize the data collected in a study
Central Tendency
A measure that represents the typical response of the behavior of a group as a whole
Mean
A measure of central tendency that is the arithmetic average of a set of numbers
Median
A measure of central tendency that is the value in a set of numbers that falls exactly halfway between the lowest and highest values
Mode
A measure of central tendency that is the most frequent score or value in a set of numbers
Variability
In a set of numbers, how widely dispersed the values are from each other and from the mean
Standard Deviation
A statistical measure of how far away each value is, on average, from the mean
Scatterplot
A graphical depiction of the relationship between two variables
Correlation Coefficient
A descriptive statistic that indicates the strength of the relationship between two variables
Inferential Statistics
A set of assumptions and procedures used to evaluate the likelihood that an observed effect is present in the population from which the sample was drawn
Meta-Analysis
A “study of studies” that combines the findings of multiple studies to arrive at a conclusion
