SES - Quantitative Research Flashcards
What are the 2 types of scientific process and data that exist?
- ) Quantitative research
2. ) Qualitative research
Quantitative research?
Uses numbers to systematically Investigate observable phenomena via statistical, mathematical or computational techniques.
Qualitative research?
Uses words to understand observable or underlying phenomena through focus groups, individual interviews, and participation or observation.
What defines the specific objective of the study/experiment and what type of research?
Research question.
How is the research question developed?
Through reading and synthesising the previous scientific research and theory to identify the next step in research.
Through observation of the real-world.
What does a literature review involve?
Searching for, collating, reading, and synthesising all of the literature on your question.
What does a new question have to do?
Build on previous discoveries in science.
Hypothesis/Hypotheses?
Set of predictions, propositions or expectations to win a test in a study/experiment, created from somewhat limited evidence.
How are hypothesis/hypotheses developed?
Through reading and synthesising previous scientific research in order to predict what will be found.
2 steps to collecting data to test your question?
You need to decide:
- What to measure.
- How to measure it.
Variables?
Factors which are measured and can change/vary.
How can most hypothesis be stated?
In terms of 2 variables, a proposed:
- Cause.
- Outcome.
What are known to be the cause of some effect?
Independent variables.
What denotes a variable the researcher has deliberately manipulated?
Independent variable.
Predictor variable?
Independent variable.
What is measured as an outcome that is affected by changes in the independent variable?
Dependent variable.
Outcome variable?
Response accuracy, response time.
What refers to one other than the manipulated independent variables that potentially effects the dependent variable?
Confounding variable.
Example of a confounding variable?
Different tennis skill level of participants.
What relates to the outside factors that could possibly influence the result of the experiment that are deliberately kept out of or tested in the study?
Control.
What does sampling involve?
Selecting a sub-group of people from a population.
Why should samples normally be randomly selected?
So samples are representative of the population.
Sham/stimulated intervention that can produce perceived or actual improvement and is used as a control condition?
Placebo.
A measure of consistency of the dependent variable ensuring it is consistent or repeatable when measured more than once under the same conditions?
Reliability.
Validity?
A check that the experiment measures what is purports to measure.
Internal validity?
Relates to the conditions or design of the study ensuring that your experimental results are due to the independent variables manipulated.
How should threats to internal validity be dealt with by a scientist?
Remove/minimise their impact through a sound experimental design.
External validity?
Addresses the generalisation of the findings outside of the experiment setting.
Examples of why there is often a conflict between internal validity and external validity?
E.g. lab-based experimental findings may not be applicable outside.
E.g. studies in non-lab settings with high external but low internal validity.
Involves observation and measurement of what naturally occurs in the real-world without any attempt at interference?
Descriptive study.
Experimental study?
Systematically manipulating one or more independent variables under controlled circumstances and measuring the effects on the dependent variable.
2 types of descriptive study?
Cross-sectional.
Longitudinal.
Cross-sectional studies?
Observation and measurement of what naturally occurs in the real-world without interference.
Has 2 or more samples that differ on a variable(s) at a specific time point (Age, IQ, Health).
Longitudinal studies?
Observation and measurement of what naturally occurs in the real-world without interference.
Several dependent variables are measured across extended time periods.
Correlational study?
Observation and measurement of what naturally occurs in the real-world without interference, but to establish the strength of a relationship between 2 variables.
Repeated measures study?
Measuring the same participants in same conditions 2+ times usually surrounding an intervention.
Case study?
Single subject measured before and after an intervention.
Cross-over design study?
2 conditions/treatments and half participants receive real treatment first, the other half control first.
Randomised-control trial?
Participants are assigned randomly to experimental and control groups or treatments.
Casual comparative study?
Participants are in groups that differ on a critical variable, but are otherwise similar.
Single-blind control trial?
Where the experimenter is aware of the conditions, participants are not.
Double-blind trial>
Where the experimenter nor the participants are aware of the conditions.
