research methods lec 1 Flashcards
define
theory
systematic way of organising and explaining observations
different schools of thought promote diff theories
define
hypothesis
the doubtful belief about the way one variable interacts/impacts another
purposes of research _
4
for the sake of it = understanding, curiosity
predicting outcomes = health
solving problems
improving standards of living
good research is grounded in __
theory
___ provides a framework for a __
theory
hypothesis
define
variable =
an event/behaviour that has at least 2 values
2 types of variables
continuous and categorical
__ types of variables and define =
2
1= categorical 2 = continuous
categorical = fixed values continuous = continum of values
define population
entire group of elements that share a set of specific common characteristics that are pre-defined by the researcher and to which a piece of research is meant to generlise
define sample
a subset of the pop. who are supposed to be representative of the population they were selected from
define
sampling frame/accessible population
teh actual group of individuals from which the researcher is able yo select a sample
this may not always be the exact same as the intended target pop
In order for a sample to be valid is must = __
be representative
__ types of sampling methods
2
1 = probability sampling 2= nonprobability sampling
subsets of probability sampling + define
= every element has an equal chance of being selected into sample
3
simple random
cluster
stratified
subsets of non probability sampling + define
= uneqal chance of being selected
4
convenience (haphazard) sampling
purposive
quota
snowball
define
generlisability
whether the research results ( from sample) can be applied to the entire pop of interest and requires
IV and EV
Generalisability requires =
Internal validity = are procedures flawed
external validity= does experimental situation resemble that found in real world
characteristics of a good physiological research =
theoretical framework= hypothesis flows from theory
procedure same for all subjects unless variation is introduced to test hypothesis
Inductive VS deductive reasoning =
induction = data pool => theory
deduction = theory => data pool
theory=> data pool
deduction
data pool => theory
induction
inductive VS deductive __
2
1 = reasoning = data pool + theory
2= thinking = quantitative, qualitative and mixed-method research
Deductive VS inductive thinking =
3 types
1 = quantitative research 2= qualitative research 3= mixed-method research
in practice which type of thinking research method is used
blend of inductive and deductive thinking
define
quantitative research
= focus on numbers
tends to favour deductive reasoning ( testing pre-formulated hypotheses about world)
define
qualitative research
= in-depth analysis of interview, observational or case-study data
tends to favour inductive reasoning ( data to help formulate theories/hypotheses)
define
mixed-method research
integration and analysis of both quantitative and qualitative research data in one study
_ types of research methods
3
1= descriptive designs ( Qualitative)
2= correlational designs ( quantitative)
3= experimental designs ( quantitative)
