Week 3 Flashcards
a good quantitative design is one that: (4)
- appropriately tests the hypothesis or answers the research questions (design matches the question)
- lacks bias (random selection)
- controls extraneous or confounding variables (any interval that can interfere w the IV effect on the DV)
- has sufficient ability to detect statistically signif. findings (is the sample large enough?)
what is the importance of sampling (2)
- the key to external validity
- considers the degree to which the sample being studied is representative of the population from which it was drawn
describe what plays a role in sampling (4)
- carefully define the population to which you wish to generalize the results (theoretical population)
- define the population to which you have access (accessible population)–> compare and contrast it to the theoretical population
- describe the method used to access the population
- identify a method of selecting & accessing individuals from the population of potential subjects available
what are 2 types of sampling strategies
- probability sampling
- nonprobability sampling
what is probability sampling
- Probability sampling is a sampling technique, in which the subjects of the population get an equal opportunity to be selected as a representative sample.
what is nonprobability sampling? when is it useful?
- involves the intentional selection of certain participants in order to gather information about members of a specific group or people with specific insight into a particular area.
- useful in conditions where you may not have access to an entire population to conduct random sampling or if the researchers are interested in participants who have a certain area of knowledge or expertise
- specifies inclusion and exclusion criteria
what are 4 examples of probability sampling
- random sampling
- stratified random sampling
- cluster sampling
- systematic sampling
what is random sampling
- gold standard
- every potential participant has an equal chance of being selected
what is stratified random sampling
- involves dividing your population into different known subgroups proportionately by categories such as hair color or eye color and then taking a single random sample from each subgroup
what is cluster sampling
- similar to stratified random sampling, in cluster sampling, the researchers divide the total population into subgroups
- rather than selecting members of categorically organized groups, researchers choose entire subgroups of non-organized people to be the participants
what is systematic sampling
- select every __th case from a list
what are 3 types of nonprobability sampling
- convenience sampling
- consecutive sampling
- snowball sampling
what is convenience sampling
- select the most conveniently available people
- includes minimal inclusion/exclusion criteria
ex. go to the wall and ask people
what is snowball sampling
- subjects are asked to recommend other potential subjects
- “word of mouth” recruitment
what is calculated to indicate how many subjects are needed
- sample size estimates –> power analysis
what happens if you have too small of a sample? too large?
- too small = can lead to committing an error in the results
- too large = needless expense, ethical issues,
what are 2 main ways to collect quantitative data
- existing data (hospital records, charts, systematic reviews)
- new data/research
what are 4 types of quantitative data
- self-report
- pt reported outcomes
- direct observation
- biophysiological measures (ex. BP, T, HR, RR)
what are 2 examples of structured self-reports
- interview schedule
- questionnaire
describe the differenve between an interview schedule and questionnaire
- interview = questions pre-specified but asked orally, either face-to-face or telephone
- questionnaire = questions pre-specified but in written form, and independently completed by respondents
what are 2 types of questions in a structured instrument
- close-ended
- open-ended
describe close-ended questions (4)
- fixed-alternative questions (quantitative)
- pre-specified response alternatives
- delivered in the same order w the same response options for every participant
- numerically scored
what are 5 types of closed-ended questions
- dichotomous (2 options, yes/no, fixed responses)
- multiple choice
- rank order questions (ex. rank order of importance)
- forced-choice question (ex. do you prefer tea, hot chocolate, or coffee?)
- rating question (0-10 scale)
define: scale
- a device that assigns a numeric score to people along a continuum
- used to make fine quantitative discriminations among people w different attitudes, perceptions, traits, etc.
what is the likert scale
- consists of several declarative statements (items) expressing viewpoints
- responses are on an agree/disagree continuum
- responses to items are summed to compute a total scale score
what is a visual analog scale
- used to measure subjective experiences (ex. pain, nausea)
- measurements are on a straight line measuring 100 mm
- participants are asked to place an X on the line (or some mark) that reflects where they’re at
what are 3 main biases that can distort measurement
- social desirability bias
- extreme response set bias
- acquiescence response set bias
what is the social desirability bias
- when there is the bias to answer in ways acceptable to societ
what is the extreme response set bias
- a tendency to always answer in the extreme
ex. always select strongly option