Research Methods

Question 1

Population

Answer 1

group to generalize to

Question 2

Sample

Answer 2

subset of the population

Question 3

Dependent Variable

Answer 3

the fact researcher is interested in explaining

Question 4

Independent Variable

Answer 4

variable used to explain the one dependent or causally prior to dependent variable

Question 5

Manipulation

Answer 5

when experimenter can intentionally create variation in independent variable (ie amount of funding)

Question 6

Confounding Variable

Answer 6

Rival explanations for behavior of dependent variable

Question 7

Subjects

Answer 7

units observations are made (regions, municipalities, etc.)

Question 8

Control

Answer 8

set of data with which treatment group is compared

Question 9

Randomization

Answer 9

subjects have equal chance of being assigned to treatment group or control group, purely by chance

Question 10

Internal Validity

Answer 10

program rather than other factor caused results

Question 11

External Validity

Answer 11

can the effect be excepted under similar conditions in other settings

Question 12

Non-probability Sampling

Answer 12

convenience sampling - those accessible; volunteer sampling - volunteers. OK for descriptive results, may be bias, not representative of population.

Question 13

Simple random (probability sampling)

Answer 13

Individual has equal chance of being selected for sampling

Question 14

Systematic (probability sampling)

Answer 14

every Xth individual selected from list, starting at a random starting point

Question 15

Stratified (probability sampling)

Answer 15

population may have two or more groups in study - provides best results. Ensures even coverage of population. Maintains random selection probabilities

Question 16

Cluster (probability sampling)

Answer 16

used when stratified or simple random sampling would be difficult and/or expensive

Question 17

Sample size

Answer 17

As ___ increases, standard error decreases