Chapter 7 - Research Design

Question 1

The Research Trinity

Answer 1

Design
Measurement
Analysis

Question 2

Research Design

Answer 2

The “recipe” or “blueprint” for the research project.

The step-by-step plan for obtaining observations to
support sound conclusions about a question of
interest.

Question 3

Purpose of Study

Answer 3

Exploratory
Descriptive
Causal or “cause-probing”*

Question 4

Extent of Researcher Interference

Answer 4

Control

Question 5

____________ is Important for establishing causality

Answer 5

Control

Question 6

Prominent forms of control

Answer 6

• Manipulation (altering the presumed cause/IV)
• Randomization (random assignment to conditions)
• Elimination (make “constant”)
• Inclusion as variable(s) (e.g., study men & women)
• Statistical

Question 7

Two Study Settings

Answer 7

• Contrived
• non-contrived

Question 8

Contrived Study Setting

Answer 8

lab settings

Question 9

non-contrived Study Setting

Answer 9

field settings

Question 10

Examples of Unit of Analysis

Answer 10

• Individual
• Dyad
• Group
• Division
• Organization
• Industry
• Culture
• Country

Question 11

Cross-sectional studies

Answer 11

Data collected on a particular sample at a particular
point in time (snapshot)

Question 12

Longitudinal studies

Answer 12

Data collected on a particular sample at multiple
points in time

• “Repeated measures” is a similar term, especially for studies
  involving two time-periods.

Question 13

Multiple cross-sectional studies

Answer 13

Data collected on different samples at multiple points
in time.

Question 14

Research Strategies

Answer 14

• Experiments
• Quasi-experiments
• Survey research
• Observation
• Case studies
• Grounded theory
• Action research
• Mixed methods
  – Triangulation (looking for converging evidence)

Question 15

Cause-Probing Research Strategies

Answer 15

Experiment
Quasi-experiment

Question 16

Factors of cause-probing Experiment

Answer 16

– Manipulation of IV(s)
– Random assignment of units to conditions
* Control & experimental
– Measure effects on DV(s)
– Control potential
confounds
– Clarification:
* Sometimes researchers will do a pre-test and post-test on the DV
* Pre-testing not a defining feature of an experiment

Question 17

Factors of cause-probing Quasi-experiment

Answer 17

– Very similar to experiment
– Except: No random assignment
* May use intact or selfselected groups instead
– More likely to measure potential confounds
* Statistical control
– Similar to both experimental & relational designs

Question 18

Descriptive Research Strategies

Answer 18

Description/Estimation
Relational

Question 19

Factors of Descriptive Description/Estimation

Answer 19

– Focus on description and estimation
– Various qualitative and quantitative research strategies
* E.g., observation, interviews, focus groups, surveys
– Useful at, but not limited to, exploratory research

Question 20

Factors of Descriptive Relational

Answer 20

– No random assignment
– No manipulation(s)
– Measure variables (at least two)
* May include “predictor” and “criterion” as well as mediator(s), moderator(s), and control variables
– Cause → Effect inferences?
* “Consistent with” language
* A lot of alternative explanations

Question 21

Research design

Answer 21

A blueprint or plan for the collection, measurement, and analysis of data, created to answer your research questions.

Question 22

Survey

Answer 22

A system for collecting information from or about people to
describe, compare, or explain their knowledge, attitudes, and
behavior

Question 23

Ethnography

Answer 23

A research process in which the anthropologist closely observes, records, and engages in the daily life of another culture and then writes accounts of this culture, emphasizing descriptive detail.

Question 24

Case study

Answer 24

Focuses on collecting information about a specific object, event or activity, such as a particular business unit or organization.

Question 25

Noncontrived setting

Answer 25

Research conducted in the natural environment where activities take place in the normal manner (i.e., the field setting).

Question 26

Contrived setting

Answer 26

An artificially created or “lab” environment in which research is conducted.

Question 27

Field study

Answer 27

A study conducted in the natural setting with a minimal amount of researcher interference in the flow of events in the situation

Question 28

Field experiment

Answer 28

An experiment done to detect cause‐and‐effect relationships in the natural environment in which events normally occur.

Question 29

Lab experiment

Answer 29

An experimental design set up in an artificially contrived setting where controls and manipulations are introduced to establish cause‐and‐effect relationships among variables of interest to the researcher.

Question 30

Unit of analysis

Answer 30

The level of aggregation of the data collected during data analysis.

Question 31

Cross‐sectional study

Answer 31

A research study for which data are gathered just once (stretched though it may be over a period of days, weeks, or months) to answer the research question.

Question 32

Longitudinal study

Answer 32

A research study for which data are gathered at several points in time to answer a research question.