Research Terms

Question 1

Systemic investigations that include inductive, in-depth, studies of individuals, groups, organizations, or communities; Focuses on the why and how of decision making to better understand human behavior.

Answer 1

Qualitative Research

Question 2

This is a factor that can be varied or manipulated in an experiment.

Answer 2

Independent variable

Question 3

The degree to which an instrument measures the characteristic being investigated.

Answer 3

Construct Validity

Question 4

Systematic investigations that include descriptive or inferential statistical analysis.

Answer 4

Quantitative Research

Question 5

Systemic research inquiries made without complete controls.

Answer 5

Quasi-Experimental Research

Question 6

In social research, the concept concerned with the extent to which a procedure is able to measure the quality it is intended to measure.

Answer 6

Validity

Question 7

The phenomenon or reaction to be tested or measured when a new stimulus, condition, or treatment is introduced.

Answer 7

Dependent Variable

Question 8

The extent to which study findings can be generalized beyond the sample used in the study.

Answer 8

External Validity

Question 9

A questionnaire or other data-gathering instrument administered to a subject just before a period of inquiry that provides a baseline for comparison with the end results.

Answer 9

Pretest

Question 10

Research conducted under carefully controlled conditions, in which the subjects being investigated are randomly selected and systematically compared with control groups, with treatment variables being introduced to the experimental group but not the control group, and the use of statistical analysis to determine if significant differences occur between the groups observed.

Answer 10

Experimental Study

Question 11

A research procedure often used in clinical situation to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention; The behavior of an individual client is used as a comparison and a control.

Answer 11

Single-Subject Design

Question 12

The degree to which different people give similar scores for the same observations; refers to the consistency of a measure.

Answer 12

Inter-Rater Reliability

Question 13

The middle score

Answer 13

Median

Question 14

Repeated testing of the same phenomenon or group of subjects over an extended period

Answer 14

Longitudinal Study

Question 15

The extent to which the effects detected in a study are truly caused by the treatment or exposure in the study sample, rather than being due to other biasing effects of extraneous variables.

Answer 15

Internal Validity

Question 16

A type of study design used to explore or gain insights into a phenomenon

Answer 16

Exploratory Study

Question 17

The value that occurs most frequently

Answer 17

Mode

Question 18

The use of chance procedures in psychology experiments to ensure that each participant has the same opportunity to be assigned to any given group.

Answer 18

Random Assignment

Question 19

The process of searching published work to find out what is known about a research topic.

Answer 19

Literature Review

Question 20

The average value or measure of central tendency.

Answer 20

Mean

Question 21

A mutual relation; a pattern of variation between two phenomena in which change in one is associated with change in the other.

Answer 21

Correlation

Question 22

In research, a collection of subjects who are matched and compared with a control group in all relevant respects, except that they are also subject to a specific variable being tested.

Answer 22

Experimental Group

Question 23

A statement that no relationship exists between study variables.

Answer 23

Null Hypothesis

Question 24

A questionnaire or other data-gathering instrument administered to a subject at the end of a specific period of inquiry.

Answer 24

Posttest

Question 25

A procedure for testing and validating a questionnaire or other instrument by administering it to a small group of respondents from the intended test population; The procedure helps determine whether the test items possess the desired qualities or measurement and the ability to discriminate other problems before the instrument is put to widespread use.

Answer 25

Pilot Study