Research Methods & Stats

Question 1

This kind of variable affects the direction and/or strength of the relationship between independent and dependent variables

Answer 1

moderator

Question 2

This kind of variable explains the relationship between independent and dependent variables

Answer 2

mediaator

Question 3

These are not intentional parts of a research study, but affect the relationship between the study’s independent and dependent variables and make it difficult to determine if an apparent effect on an independent variable on a dependent variable is actually due to the independent variable

Answer 3

extraneous variables

Question 4

Variables divide people into unordered categories

Answer 4

nominal

Question 5

variables divide people into categories that are ordered in terms of magnitude

Answer 5

ordinal

Think ranks 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc

Question 6

Variables measured assign people to ordered categories with the difference between adjacent categories being equal

Answer 6

Interval

Exp: IQ scores. Even if someone got a score of 0 that doesn’t mean they have zero intelligence. There is no absolute zero.

Question 7

Variables assign people to ordered categories with the difference between adjacent categories being equal and the scale having an absolute zero point

Answer 7

Ratio

Think weight, yearly income

Question 8

These graphs are used for nominal and ordinal data

Answer 8

bar graphs

nominal and ordinal data listed on x axis; numbers or percentages on y axis

Question 9

These graphs are used for interval and ratio data

Answer 9

histograms

scores listed on x axis and numbers or percentages listed on y axis

Question 10

Line graphs are also called

Answer 10

frequency polygons

used for interval and ratio data

Question 11

In a negatively skewed distribution what has the highest value

Answer 11

mode has highest value

median has middle and mean has lowest

Question 12

In a positively skewed distribution what has the highest value

Answer 12

the mean

median has middle value and mode has the lowest

Question 13

The primary goal of this type of research is to derive a general, abstract theory of a process, action, or interaction based on the views of participants.
What is the primary data collection method?

Answer 13

Grounded Theory ; interviews and observation

Question 14

The purpose of this research is to gain an in-depth understanding of the “lived experience” of participants. What is the primary source of information?

Answer 14

Phenomenology ; In-depth interviews

Question 15

This kind of research involves studying participants in their natural culture or setting in their naturally occurring activities. What is the primary data collection method?

Answer 15

Ethnography ; participant observation

Question 16

This is a method of identifying, analyzing, and reporting patterns (themes) within data. It is a standalone method but can be a starting point for other method. What is the primary data method?

Answer 16

Thematic analysis ; in depth interviews and focus groups

Question 17

This type of research is used to study the kind and quality of bx; it produces info that’s interpreted and summarized in a narrative description

Answer 17

Qualitative Research

Question 18

This type of research is used to identify and study differences in the amount of bx and produces data that’s numerically expressed

Answer 18

Quantitative research

Question 19

This is the research practice of comparing and combining different sources of evidence in order to reach a better understanding of the research topic. What type of research is it most associated with?

Answer 19

triangulation ; qualitative research (but also used in quantitative and mixed methods research)

Has 4 different types: methodological, data, investigator, theory

Question 20

This type of triangulation involves using the same method to obtain data at different times, in different settings, and from different people

Answer 20

Data triangulation

Question 21

This type of triangulation involves using 2 or more investigators to collect and analyze data

Answer 21

investigator triangulation

Question 22

This type of triangulation involves interpreting data using multiple theories, hypotheses, or perspectives

Answer 22

Theory triangulation

Question 23

This type of triangulation is the most commonly used type and involve using multiple methods to obtain data (e.g. interviews, focus groups, observations, questionnaires, documents)

Answer 23

Methodological triangulation

Question 24

This type of quantitative research is conducted to measure and describe a variable or set of variables as they exist naturally

Answer 24

descriptive research

Question 25

This type of research is used to determine the magnitude and direction of a relationship between 2 or more variables

Answer 25

correlational research

Question 26

the data collected in correlational research are often used to conduct what type of analyses

Answer 26

regression analysis or multiple regression analysis

Question 27

This type of research is conducted to determine if there’s a causal relationship between independent and dependent variables

Answer 27

experimental research

Question 28

what is the most important aspect of control for true experimental research

Answer 28

random assignment (of subjects to different levels of the independent variable)

Question 29

This type of validity is the extent to which it’s possible to derive an accurate conclusion about the cause-effect relationship between a study’s independent and dependent variable

Answer 29

internal validity

Question 30

This type of validity is the extent to which it is possible to generalize the conclusion about the cause and effect relationship between the independent and dependent variable

Answer 30

External validity

Question 31

This threat to internal validity refers to events that occur during the course of the study that are not apart of the study but affect its results (such as unintended events like a power outage)

Answer 31

History

Best way to control for this is to include more than one group and random assignment

Question 32

This threat to internal validity refers to physical, cognitive, and emotional changes that occur within subjects during the course of the study that are due to the passage of time and affect the study’s results

Answer 32

Maturation

The longer the study, the more likely it’s results will be threatened by maturation

Best way to control for this is to include more than one group and random assignment

Question 33

This threat to internal validity occurs when groups differ at the beginning of the study due to how they were assigned

Answer 33

Differential selection

Best way to control for this is random assignment

Question 34

This threat to internal validity occurs when participants are selected for inclusion in the study because of their extreme scores on a pretest. It occurs because many characteristics are not entirely stable over time and many measuring instruments are not perfectly reliable

Answer 34

Statistical Regression

Controlled by not including only extreme scorers in the study or by having more than one group that are equivalent in terms of extreme scores

Question 35

This threat to internal validity occurs when taking a pretest affects how participants respond on the postest

Answer 35

Testing

Controlled by not administering pretest or using the Solomon 4 group design

Question 36

This threat to internal validity occurs when the instrument used to measure the DV changes over time. For example, raters who get more accurate at rating over the course of the study

Answer 36

Instrumentation

Control this by ensuring that instruments don’t change over time, if not possible, consider potential effects in interpreting results

Question 37

This threat to internal validity occurs when participants drop out for different reasons than participants in other groups. So, the composition of the group is altered in a way that affects the results

Answer 37

Differential Attrition

This is hard to control for

Question 38

This threat to external validity occurs when participants respond differently to the IV due to receiving cues that inform what is expected of them (demand characteristics) or when the experimenter biases the results such as saying “good” for particular answers or not recording responses accurately (experimenter expectancy)

Answer 38

Reactivity

Control for use by using unobtrusive measures, deception, or single or double blind techniques

Question 39

This threat to external validity may occur when a within subjects research design is used and participants receive more than one level of the IV. This can cause carryover effects

Answer 39

Multiple treatment interference

This is controlled by counterbalancing; having different groups receive different levels of the IV in different orders. The Latin square is a type of counterbalanced design

Question 40

This threat to external validity occurs when research participants different from individuals in the population, and this affects how they respond to the IV (exp: self elected participants may be more motivated)

Answer 40

Selection treatment interaction

This is best controlled by random selection from the population

Question 41

This threat to external validity occurs when taking a pretest affects how participants respond to the IC

Answer 41

Pre-test treatment interaction.

This is best controlled by Solomon 4 group designW