Research Strategies And Methodology

Question 0

What is a sample?

Answer 0

A sample is a subset of the population selected to participate in a study.

Question 1

Scientific method consists of what five characteristics?

Answer 1

1) defining a research problem
2) proposing a hypothesis and making predictions
3) designing and conducting a research study
4) analyzing the data
5) communicating the results and building theories of behavior

Question 2

What is a random sample?

Answer 2

It is a sample in which every member of the population being studied that has an equal chance of being picked for inclusion in the study.

Question 3

What is a biased sample?

Answer 3

A biased sample occurs when every member of the population does not have an equal chance of being chosen.

Question 4

Independent variable

Answer 4

The variable that is manipulated

Question 5

Dependent variable

Answer 5

The variable which is measured after manipulation

Question 6

Experimental group

Answer 6

The group that is exposed to the manipulation of the independent variable

Question 7

Field experiment

Answer 7

A study that was conducted in the participants natural setting rather than a laboratory.

Question 8

What is correlational research?

Answer 8

Correlational research involves measuring two or more variables in order to determine if they are related.

Question 9

Positive correlation

Answer 9

Positive correlation occurs if the value of one variable increases in value as the other also increases in value.

Question 10

Negative correlation

Answer 10

Occurs when there is an inverse relationship between the variables measured. As the value of one increases the value of the other decreases.

Question 11

Correlation coefficient

Answer 11

A number that represents the strength of the relationship between the variables measured.

Question 12

What research methods are used to obtain accurate records of behavior without manipulating or controlling any variables?

Answer 12

Descriptive or observational research

Question 13

Interobserver reliability

Answer 13

The amount of agreement between two or more observers who simultaneously observe the same event.

Question 14

What is a descriptive research method that is an in-depth study of a single subject. It can include interviews, observations, and test results?

Answer 14

Case study

Question 15

List the types of Developmental research methods

Answer 15

Cross-sectional, longitudinal, sequential research designs

Question 16

Cross-sectional research design

Answer 16

Used to determine differences between different aged subjects at one point in time

Question 17

Longitudinal research design

Answer 17

Measures changes on a variable of interest in the same group of participants at several points in their lives

Question 18

Sequential research design

Answer 18

Combines the cross-sectional and longitudinal designs to examine cohort differences. Was created recently by Schaie to examine developmental changes in intelligence in adult

Question 19

Experiment

Answer 19

Strengths: can make cause-and-effect relationships. Researcher has control.

Weaknesses: sampling errors. Often hard to generalize to the real world

Question 20

Correlation

Answer 20

Strengths: can study real world behavior. To determine relationships.

Weaknesses: cannot determine cause-and-effect

Question 21

Naturalistic observation

Answer 21

Strengths: can gather information and it’s usual setting as it naturally occurs

Weaknesses: cannot determine cause-and-effect. Observer bias possible

Question 22

Cross-sectional research design

Answer 22

Strengths: show data differences between different age people at one point in time. Relatively quick inexpensive

Weaknesses: cannot show changes that occur with age. Findings may be subject to birth cohort effects

Question 23

Longitudinal study designs

Answer 23

Strengths: data show how a sample of people change as they age

Weaknesses: time-consuming and expensive. May not be able to generalize the findings to other birth cohort. May have a problem of subject drop out

Question 24

Sequential research method

Answer 24

Strengths: has the strength of both the cross-sectional and longitudinal methods and can also measure birth cohort effects

Weaknesses: time-consuming and expensive. May have the problem of subject drop out