Chapter 2 Flashcards

(24 cards)

1
Q

Selection of a Research Problem

A

involves reading, discussing, and conceptualizing. A process of successive approximations to the problem as factors related to the problem are considered.

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2
Q

Statement of the Research Problem

A

concise and should identify the key factors (variables) of the research study.

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3
Q

constant

A

a characteristic or condition that is the same for all individuals in a study

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4
Q

variable

A

a characteristic that takes on different values or conditions for different individuals

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5
Q

dependent variable

A

“value of dependent variable depends on the independent variable”

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6
Q

dependent variables

A

aka outcome variables, are the values we calculate stastics with

Ex: study of the effect of teacher praise on reading achievement of second graders, the dependent variable is reading achievement

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7
Q

independent variables

A

“may affect the dependent variables”

Ex: study of the effect of teacher praise on reading achievement of second-graders, independent variable is kind of praise

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8
Q

manipulated independent variable

A

Ex: amount and kind of praise is manipulated by researcher

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9
Q

classifying independent variable

A

variable which cannot be manipulated

Ex: gender

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10
Q

control variable

A
  • an independent variable other than the independent variable of primary interest whose effects are determined by the researcher

It is known to account for some/additional variation in the outcome of interest

Therefore, it’s effects are determined (or “controlled”) by the researcher in the design

It is included in analysis to get a clearer picture of the effects of the PRIMARY independent variable.

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11
Q

moderator variable

A

a variable that may or may not be controlled but has an effect in the researcg situation

Ex: grade level

Has many levels that can be combined with the levels of the independent variable of primary interest to produce different effects.

It affects the direction and/or strength of the relationship between primary independent and dependent variables

Can be qualitative (e.g., sex, class, race) or quantitative (e.g., levels of achievement)

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12
Q

confounding variable

A

variables operating in a specific situation such that their effects cannot be separated.

Ex: reading comprehension being a function of both passage length and grade level, cannot tell how much of the effect were due to each variable.

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13
Q

Difference uses of “Student Prior Achievement” in a study of teaching techniques

A

As a Control Variable: Study focuses on high achievers

As a Moderating Variable: Sort students as ”over, at, & below” grade level –different techniques

**Confounding Variable: Known to influence, but not included in the research design

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14
Q

operational definition

A

define how or by what means we are going to measure the variable

Ex: Ability to learn: score on the LM Form of SBI Scale

Science Achievement: Score on science subtest

Concept attainment performance: time to solve 5 problems

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15
Q

Types of operational definitions

A

1. Constructed in terms of how the particular object or thing operates:
Motivation: persistent attendance of students in school as measured by number of days attended

2. Constructed in terms of what an object or phenomenon looks like
Team teaching: utilization of two or more teachers to develop lesson plans and teach in one or more subject areas for a fixed set of students

3. Constructed in terms of operations performed to cause the phenomenon to occur:
Conflict: a state produce by placing two or more individuals in a situation where each has the same goal but only one can obtain it.

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16
Q

hypothesis

A

a guess at the solution to a problem, the status of the situation, or relationship of two or more variables

17
Q

substantive hypothesis

A

aka research hypothesis

  • tentative statements about the expected outcomes for the variables of the research study

Ex : “As punitive, disciplinary methods are increased in an elementary school, student achievement will decrease.”

18
Q

statistical hypothesis

A
  • given in statistical terms
  • statement about one or more parameters that are measures of the populations under study

Ex: The mean reading achievement of the population of third grade students taught by Method A equals the mean reading achievement of the population taught by Method B.”

19
Q

null hypothesis

A

no difference or relationship is hypothesized

20
Q

alternative hypothesis

A

indicates the situation corresponding to when the null hypothesis is not true

21
Q

non directional research hypothesis

A

does not state a direction

Ex: Equals/ does not equal

22
Q

directional research hypothesis

A

states a direction

Ex: is less than/ is greater than

23
Q

foreshadowed problems

A

specific research problems, possibly stated in question form, that provide a focus for the research

24
Q

What is research?

A

Empirical

Informed by a particular theory and current knowledge

Conducted in a systematic process (5 steps)

Reliable [consistent in execution]

Valid [internally and externally]

Informed by a particular methodological approach