Research and Assessment Flashcards
(131 cards)
What are the three types of research?
1) Qualitative Research
2) Quantitative Research
3) Mixed Methods Research
What is qualitative research?
This type of research looks at characteristics of a population that are not number based, such as culture and social science issues. It can be a written as flexible report, talking about emerging themes.
It’s based on data, interviews, outreach, firsthand observations, and general themes (inductive).
What is inductive reasoning?
This type of reasoning seeks to form a theory based on observations and findings.
It takes specific observations to create a general theory.
(E.g., All tests have been easy so far. Therefore, the next test will be easy.)
What is deductive reasoning?
This form of reasoning seeks to test existing theories or hypothesis to prove it valid/invalid.
It takes a general theory and makes a specific inference from it.
(E.g., All girls like blue. –> Kim is a girl. —> So she likes blue). If this is proven false, the theory is wrong.
What is quantitative research?
This type of research is number-based. It is written in a structured report.
Numerical data is analyzed to explore relationships between variables using statistical procedures (deductive).
What is mixed methods research?
Combines qualitative and quantitative research for a more holistic analysis than using one method alone. Looks as both philosophical and theoretical frameworks.
What is a Case Study Method? Is it qualitative or quantitative?
This research method looks at a specific instance/project/initiative for a detailed examination of it. It can be used as an illustrative example, but it is not used to compare two groups together.
Qualitative
What is a Comparative Analysis? Is it qualitative or quantitative?
This research method compares different variables within the same setting/time frame to see how they are similar/different.
Qualitative
What is a Discourse Analysis? Is it qualitative or quantitative?
This qualitative research method examines verbal, communicative, language, gestures, and written language, and any significant semiotic (signs/symbols) events. It studies how interpretations of the world/society/events/psyche are created based on language/communication.
What are three forms of Discourse Analysis and what are they?
1) Semiotics - studies meaning of symbols
2) Deconstruction - studies relationship between text and meaning
3) Narrative Analysis - Studies stories/interviews/journals to understand chain of events/viewpoints
What is e-Research? Is it qualitative or quantitative?
This form of research examines social interaction in the e-infrastructure. It uses of information technology to support existing and new forms of research.
Qualitative
What is Ethnography? Is it qualitative or quantitative?
This qualitative research methods examines people in their natural setting (think Jane Jacobs). It’s based on firsthand observations of day-to-day activities, interviews, interactions, and exploration within the study area’s natural setting. It examines how things are normally occurring.
What is Field Research? Is it qualitative or quantitative?
This research method requires the person to go into the study area and evaluate their surroundings on a typical day/existing conditions.
Qualitative
What is Grounded Theory? Is it qualitative or quantitative?
This is an inductive reasoning which uses specific data collection and analysis together to create theories based on findings.
Qualitative
What are three steps of Statistical Process?
(1) collect data (e.g., surveys)
(2) describe and summarize the distribution of the values in the data set
(3) interpret through inferential statistics and statistical modeling (i.e., draw general conclusions for the population on the basis of the sample.)
What is NOIR?
NOIR ranks the level of measurement of data types:
Nominal
Ordinal
Interval
Ratio
What is nominal data? Is it qualitative or quantitative?
This data type is categorical (think NAME). Lowest level of measurement.
- Exclusive categories
- Order doesn’t matter
- Qualitative, not numerical (they can be assigned #s but they are only labels)
- Can be categorical or dichotomous (only two values)
- Only central tendency analysis that makes sense is mode
- Can assess frequency and range
Qualitative
What is ordinal data? Is it qualitative or quantitative?
This data type is categorical but has numeric ranking value (think ORDER).
- Difference between categories is unknown, just the order matters
- Zero is arbitrary
- Used to measure attitudes and perceptions
- Likert Scale
- Can be counted and ordered, but not measured
- Can use all nominal data analysis, as well as median, percentile, rank order of coefficients
(e.g., satisfaction level survey ranks 1 to 5, the difference between a level 4 and 5 is not exactly known and may be different to people, we just know that a 5 is more satisfied than 4.)
Qualitative
What is interval data? Is it qualitative or quantitative?
This data type is categorical AND has equal distance between each value (think has a known interval aka distance).
- Difference between values are measurable and equal
- Zero is arbitrary (zero does not mean no value)
- Interval means “space in between”
- Can be negative distance
- All ordinal tests, as well as mean, standard deviation, add/subtract (can’t multiply and divide).
(e.g., temperature, test scores, time, elevation)
Quantitative
What is ratio data? Is it qualitative or quantitative?
This data type is the highest measurement of data (think ratio ends in 0 so there is a zero)
- Zero is absolute, it means none (can multiply/divide)
- The differences are equal and measurable
- All statistical tests are possible
Quantitative
What are qualitative variables?
This type of variable does not have a numeric value. (e.g., household income, level of a pollutant in a river)
What is a quantitative variable?
This type of variable has a numeric value/meaning.
What is a continuous variable?
This type of variable has endless number of values, positive or negative, and can become specific with decimal places.
What is a discrete variable?
This type of variable has a finite number of values, are whole numbers (integers), and cannot be negative. (e.g., number of events, number of people)