Chapter 2 Understanding Key Concepts & Steps in Quantitative & Qualitative Research

Question 1

Study

Answer 1

Addressing a research question

Question 2

Study subject or participant

Answer 2

People being studied or cooperating in quantitative study

Question 3

Informants

Answer 3

People cooperating in qualitative study

Question 4

Researchers or investigators

Answer 4

Person who conducts the research

Question 5

Study Site

Answer 5

The overall location for a study

Question 6

Multisite Studies

Answer 6

Tend to yield more diverse group of study participants, potentially enhancing generalizability of
findings

Question 7

Concepts

Answer 7

Abstractions of particular aspects of human behavior or characteristics in quantitative studies

Question 8

Phenomena

Answer 8

Abstracts in qualitative studies

Question 9

Constructs

Answer 9

Slightly more complex abstractions

Question 10

Theories

Answer 10

Knit concepts into a coherent system that purports to explain phenomena

Question 11

Variable

Answer 11

Characteristic/quality that takes on different values that is, that varies from one person to the next associated with quantitative studies

Question 12

In which type of research is the term “variable” used almost exclusively in?

Answer 12

Quantitative research

Question 13

Independent Variable

Answer 13

The presumed cause (of a dependent variable)

Question 14

Dependent Variable

Answer 14

The presumed effect (of an independent variable)

Also referred to as the outcome variable or outcome

Question 15

Conceptual Definition

Answer 15

Abstract/theoretical meaning of a concept being studied

Question 16

Operational Definition

Answer 16

Operations (measurements) a researcher must perform to measure the concept & collect the desired information

Question 17

Example os Conceptual Definition

Answer 17

What is the definition of pain?

Question 18

Example of Operational Definition

Answer 18

Assessing pain via numeric pain score

Question 19

Data (singular: datum)

Answer 19

Pieces of info researchers collect in a study

Question 20

Causal Relationship

Answer 20

AKA Cause & Effect

Question 21

Example of Causal Relationship

Answer 21

Cigarette smoking & lung cancer

Question 22

Associative (functional) Relationship

Answer 22

Looks at correlations versus cause and effect

Question 23

Example of Functional Relationship

Answer 23

Gender & life expectancy

Question 24

Qualitative Study of Pattern

Answer 24

Qualitative researchers may
seek patterns of association as a way of illuminating the
underlying meaning and dimensionality of phenomena of interest

Question 25

Experimental Research

Answer 25

Researchers actively introduce an intervention/treatment most often to address therapy questions

Question 26

Medical Research Term for Experimental Research

Answer 26

Researchers actively introduce an intervention or treatment most often to address therapy questions

Question 27

What type of relationships is are tested in experimental research?

Answer 27

Tests causal relationships

Question 28

Nonexperimental Research

Answer 28

Researchers collect data without intervening or introducing treatments

Question 29

Medical Research Term for Nonexperimental Research

Answer 29

Observational Studies

Question 30

Grounded Theory Research

Answer 30

Seeks to understand key social psychological processes that are grounded in reality

Question 31

Phenomenological Research

Answer 31

Focuses on the lived experiences of humans

Question 32

Ethnographic Research

Answer 32

Focuses on the patterns and lifestyles of a cultural group and strives to learn from members of a cultural group to understand their worldview and to describe their customs and norms

Question 33

Phases in a Quantitative Study

Answer 33

1) Conceptual Phase 2) Design & Planning Phase 3) Empirical Phase 4) Analytic Phase 5) Dissemination Phase