Week 1: Introduction to Research Design & Approaches

Question 1

Quantitative Research

Answer 1

The collection of numerical data

Question 2

Qualitative research

Answer 2

The Collection of non-numerical data

Question 3

Variable

Answer 3

A factor that changes and takes on different categories or values

Question 4

Categorical variable

Answer 4

A variable that varies in type or kind, generally relating different groups.

Question 5

Continuous variable

Answer 5

A variable that varies in degree or amount.

Question 6

Independent variable

Answer 6

A variable that presumes to cause change to occur in another variable.

Question 7

Depended variable

Answer 7

A variable that changes because of another variable.

Question 8

Extraneous variable

Answer 8

A variable which can compete with the IV to explain the outcome of the DV.

Question 9

Confounding variable

Answer 9

An “extra” variable that was not accounted for.

An extraneous variable systematically related to the IV in such a way that any change in the DV cannot be directly attributed to the IV or confound exclusively.

Reduces internal validity.

Question 10

Mediating variable

Answer 10

A variable that occurs between two other variables in a causal chain.

e.g. anxiety causes distraction which affects memory.

Question 11

Moderating variable

Answer 11

A variable that affects the relationship between the IV and DV.

Question 12

Causation

Answer 12

A condition in which an event (cause) generates another event (effect).