Research Strategies Flashcards
**Independent Variable vs Dependent Variable
IV is the predictor variable and it causes the change in behaviors
DV is the predicted variable and is the behavior changed by IV
**Scales of measurement
nominal/categorical scale- names, labels, categories like ID numbers
ordinal scale- ranks observations like education level
interval scale- uses equal intervals between scales like the SAT score
ratio scale- equal intervals and an absolute zero-like height
**Main effect vs interaction effect
effects of each IV on the DV
vs
effects of one IV on the DV are different for different levels of the other IV
**Comparative vs developmental research
measure the behavior of two or more types of subjects at once and describe them
vs
measure changes in behavior over time (cross-sectional, longitudinal, semi-longitudinal)
**Bivalent vs Multivalent
two values/levels of the IV
vs
three or more values/levels of the IV
**Correlation
measures strength of relationship between two variables, possible predictive value, association but not causation
**Quantitative vs Qualitative research
observations can be measured, results can be presented with quantities or numbers, the formal and systematic process used as evidence to test theories
vs
observatory research, interview, narrative and case-study
**Cross-sectional vs longitudinal vs semi-longitudinal
select subjects from various age groups like 2 yrs vs 3yrs vs 4yrs
vs
follow same subjects over time like the same subjects at 2, 3, and 4 yrs
vs
break into age groups and follow same subjects throughout an age range like the same subjects at 2, 3, and 4 yrs and another group at 5,6,7 yrs
Extraneous Variable vs Controlled Variables
can change unintentionally with the manipulation of the IV like age, gender, SES
vs
a constant and controlled variable like time of day
Active Variables vs Attribute/participate variable
can be manipulated by you, researcher like drug dose
vs
character of participants like age
**Continuous vs categorical variables
measured along a continuum, values change smoothly from one value to another like height
vs
take on set values like gender
Descriptive vs Experimental Research
refers to research that describes a phenomenon or else a group under study
vs
refers to research where the researcher manipulates the variable to arrive at conclusions or else to come across findings
