research methods Flashcards
operationalisation
the definition of variables so that they can be accurately manipulated , measured or quantified and replicated
sampling technique
the method used to obtain the participants for a study from the population
opportunity sampling
when participants are chosen because they are available
random sampling
all members of the population are allocated numbers and a fixed amount of these are selected in an unbiased way
volunteer (self-selecting sampling)
participants are invited to participate , through advertisements or via email
inter-rater reliability
the extent to which two researchers interpreting qualitative data responses in a questionnaire/interview will produce the same records for the same raw data
objectivity
an unbiased external viewpoint that is not affected by an individual’s feelings , beliefs or experiences
subjectivity
a personal viewpoint which may be biased by ones feelings , beliefs or expieriences.
naturalistic observation
a study conducted by watching the participants behaviour in their natural environment without interference from the researcher’s in either the social or physical environment.
inter-observer reliability
the consistency between two researchers watching the same event , i.e whether they will produce the same records
generalizability
how widely the findings of a study apply to other settings and populations
objectivity
an unbiased viewpoint that is not affected by an individual’s feelings, beliefs or experiences, so should be consistent between different researchers. This would increase the validity of the study.
subjectivity
this a personal viewpoint which may be biased by one’s feelings, beliefs or experiences and may differ between researchers. Since this is not consistent, it may reduce the validity of the study.
