Chapter 8: Introduction to Quantitative Research

Question 1

bias

Answer 1

a distortion in the data-analysis results

Question 2

constancy

Answer 2

methods and procedures of data collection are the same for all subjects

Question 3

control

Answer 3

measures used to hold uniform or constant the conditions under which an investigation occurs

Question 4

control group

Answer 4

the group in a experimental investigation that does not receive an intervention or treatment; the comparison group

Question 5

dependent variable

Answer 5

in experimental studies, the presumed effect of the independent or experimental variable on the outcome

Question 6

experimental group

Answer 6

the group in an experimental investigation that receives an intervention or treatment

Question 7

external validity

Answer 7

the degree to which findings of a study can be generated to other populations or environments

Question 8

extraneous or mediating variable

Answer 8

variable that interferes with the operations of the phenomena being studied

Question 9

generalizability (generalize)

Answer 9

the inferences that the data are representative of similar phenomena in a population beyond the studied sample

Question 10

history

Answer 10

the internal validity threat that refers to events outside of the experimental setting that may affect the dependent variable

Question 11

homogeneity (internal consistency)

Answer 11

similarity of conditions

Question 12

independent variable

Answer 12

the antecedent or the variable that has the presumed effect on the dependent variable

Question 13

instrumentation

Answer 13

changes in the measurement of the variables that may account for changes in the obtained measurement

Question 14

internal validity

Answer 14

the degree to which it can be inferred that the experimental treatment, rather than an uncontrolled condition, resulted in the observed effects

Question 15

intervening variable

Answer 15

a variable that occurs during an experimental or quasi-experimental study that affects the dependent variable

Question 16

intervention fidelity

Answer 16

the process of enhancing the study’s internal validity by ensuring that the intervention is delivered systematically to all subjects

Question 17

maturation

Answer 17

developmental, biological, or psychological processes that operate within an individual as a function of time and are external to the events of the investigation

Question 18

measurement effects

Answer 18

administration of a pretest in a study that affects the generalizability of the findings to the other populations

Question 19

mortality

Answer 19

the loss of subjects from time 1 data collection to time 2 data collection

Question 20

pilot study

Answer 20

a small, simple study conducted as a prelude to a larger-scale study that is often called the “parent study”

Question 21

randomization

Answer 21

a selection process in which each element of the population has an equal and independent chance of being included in the sample

Question 22

reactivity

Answer 22

the distortion created when those who are being observed change their behavior because they know that they are being observed

Question 23

selection

Answer 23

the generalizability of the results to other populations

Question 24

selection bias

Answer 24

the internal validity threat that arises when pretreatment differences between the experimental group and the control group are present

Question 25

testing

Answer 25

the effects of taking a pretest on the scores of a posttest