Research Methods & Stats Flashcards
This kind of variable affects the direction and/or strength of the relationship between independent and dependent variables
moderator
This kind of variable explains the relationship between independent and dependent variables
mediaator
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
extraneous variables
Variables divide people into unordered categories
nominal
variables divide people into categories that are ordered in terms of magnitude
ordinal
Think ranks 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc
Variables measured assign people to ordered categories with the difference between adjacent categories being equal
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.
Variables assign people to ordered categories with the difference between adjacent categories being equal and the scale having an absolute zero point
Ratio
Think weight, yearly income
These graphs are used for nominal and ordinal data
bar graphs
nominal and ordinal data listed on x axis; numbers or percentages on y axis
These graphs are used for interval and ratio data
histograms
scores listed on x axis and numbers or percentages listed on y axis
Line graphs are also called
frequency polygons
used for interval and ratio data
In a negatively skewed distribution what has the highest value
mode has highest value
median has middle and mean has lowest
In a positively skewed distribution what has the highest value
the mean
median has middle value and mode has the lowest
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?
Grounded Theory ; interviews and observation
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?
Phenomenology ; In-depth interviews
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?
Ethnography ; participant observation
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?
Thematic analysis ; in depth interviews and focus groups
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
Qualitative Research
This type of research is used to identify and study differences in the amount of bx and produces data that’s numerically expressed
Quantitative research
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?
triangulation ; qualitative research (but also used in quantitative and mixed methods research)
Has 4 different types: methodological, data, investigator, theory
This type of triangulation involves using the same method to obtain data at different times, in different settings, and from different people
Data triangulation
This type of triangulation involves using 2 or more investigators to collect and analyze data
investigator triangulation
This type of triangulation involves interpreting data using multiple theories, hypotheses, or perspectives
Theory triangulation
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)
Methodological triangulation
This type of quantitative research is conducted to measure and describe a variable or set of variables as they exist naturally
descriptive research
This type of research is used to determine the magnitude and direction of a relationship between 2 or more variables
correlational research
the data collected in correlational research are often used to conduct what type of analyses
regression analysis or multiple regression analysis
This type of research is conducted to determine if there’s a causal relationship between independent and dependent variables
experimental research
what is the most important aspect of control for true experimental research
random assignment (of subjects to different levels of the independent variable)
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
internal validity
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
External validity
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)
History
Best way to control for this is to include more than one group and random assignment
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
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
This threat to internal validity occurs when groups differ at the beginning of the study due to how they were assigned
Differential selection
Best way to control for this is random assignment
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
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
This threat to internal validity occurs when taking a pretest affects how participants respond on the postest
Testing
Controlled by not administering pretest or using the Solomon 4 group design
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
Instrumentation
Control this by ensuring that instruments don’t change over time, if not possible, consider potential effects in interpreting results
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
Differential Attrition
This is hard to control for
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)
Reactivity
Control for use by using unobtrusive measures, deception, or single or double blind techniques
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
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
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)
Selection treatment interaction
This is best controlled by random selection from the population
This threat to external validity occurs when taking a pretest affects how participants respond to the IC
Pre-test treatment interaction.
This is best controlled by Solomon 4 group designW
