Research Methods

Question 1

What is an experiment?

Answer 1

An action or a series of action that are variants of each other in order to
answer a question.

Question 2

What is applied research?

Answer 2

Corresponds to finding solution to immediate problem facing a society or a business organization.

Question 3

What is fundamental research?

Answer 3

Corresponds to methods leading to generalization and formulation of theories.

Question 4

What is conceptual research?

Answer 4

Corresponds to some abstract ideas or theory. It is generally used by philosophers and thinkers to develop new concepts or to reinterpret existing ones.

Question 5

What is empirical research?

Answer 5

Relies on experience or observation alone, often without due regard for system and theory. It is data-based research, coming up with conclusions which are capable of being verified by
observation or experiment.

Question 6

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 6

A conjectural statement (an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of
incomplete information) or tentative proposition (prediction) about
relations among variables.

Question 7

Attributes of a hypothesis

Answer 7

1. Falsifiable (can be tested)
2. Precise (clearly defined components)
3. Rational (consistent with what is known)

Question 8

What are the four levels of measurement?

Answer 8

• Nominal
• Ordinal
• Interval
• Ratio

Question 9

Systematic error

Answer 9

consistent and predictable errors or biases in research or measurement that systematically affect the results in a particular direction. Unlike

Question 10

What is construct validity?

Answer 10

The extent to which our measure actually coincides with the construct

Question 11

What are the objectives of research?

Answer 11

• To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it
• To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or a group
• To determine the frequency with which some behavioural changes occurs, which is associated with some substances or events or something else
• e.g., whether smokers are more likely to be diagnosed with depression?) * To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables

Question 12

What is descriptive research?

Answer 12

Researcher has no control over the
variables, he can only report what has happened or what is happening.

Question 13

What is analytical research?

Answer 13

Researcher has to use facts or information already available and analyze these to make a critical evaluation

Question 14

What is the principle of replication?

Answer 14

According to the Principle of Replication, the experiment should be repeated more than once. Thus, each treatment is applied in many experimental units instead of one. By doing so the statistical accuracy of
the experiments is increased.

Question 15

What is the principle of randomization?

Answer 15

refers to the practice of randomly assigning participants to different groups or conditions in an experiment. This principle is crucial for ensuring that the groups being compared are equivalent at the start of the study, which helps to minimize the influence of confounding variables and increase the internal validity of the research.

Question 16

What is the principle of local control?

Answer 16

refers to the idea of controlling for potential confounding variables within the context of an experiment. It involves ensuring that any variables, other than the independent variable being studied, are kept constant or controlled for in order to isolate the effects of the independent variable on the dependent variable.

Question 17

What is research methodology?

Answer 17

a way to systematically solve the research problem.

Question 18

What is research?

Answer 18

Can be termed as an inquiry into the nature of phenomena, and the
consequences of any particular set of circumstances, whether these circumstances are experimentally controlled or recorded just as they occur.

Question 19

What is the scientific method?

Answer 19

• implies an objective, logical and systematic method, i.e., a method
  free from personal bias or prejudice, a method to ascertain demonstrable qualities of a phenomenon capable of being verified, a method wherein the researcher is guided by the rules of logical reasoning, a method wherein the investigation proceeds in an orderly manner and a method that implies internal consistency
• A set of rules with assumptions, attributes, goals, and
  procedures for asking and answering questions

Question 20

What is a construct?

Answer 20

abstract term, which is a proposed
attribute of a person/system that often cannot be measured
directly.

Question 21

What is a variable?

Answer 21

measurable aspect of construct; can take on different values

Question 22

What is operationalization?

Answer 22

the process of “translating” a construct into one or more variables.

Question 23

What is random error?

Answer 23

Extraneous variable wherein random error typically occurs during one administration.

Question 24

What are the sources of error?

Answer 24

1. Instrument (e.g., instrument poorly constructed)
2. Participant (e.g., fatigue, misunderstandings)
3. Researcher (e.g., entry errors, inconsistent instructions)
4. Environment (e.g., distractions)

Question 25

What are scales of measurement?

Answer 25

Refer to ways in which variables/numbers are defined and categorized.

Question 26

What is nominal measurement?

Answer 26

Numbers are arbitrary: they indicate categories
Used for labeling: one option is not better than
another

Question 27

What is ordinal measurement?

Answer 27

• Numbers indicate ranks
• Used for ordering
• Distance between ranks unknown

Question 28

What is interval measurement?

Answer 28

Numbers indicate quantity or amount
“Equal” distance between numbers
Arbitrary zero (add/subtract possible)
Allows for most statistical procedures to be
performed

Question 29

What is ratio measurement?

Answer 29

Numbers indicate quantity
Equidistant intervals
Absolute zero (add/subtract, multiply/divide possible)

Question 30

What does an experiment comprise of?

Answer 30

defining and re.defining problems
* formulating hypothesis (or suggested solutions);
* collecting, organizing and evaluating data
* making deductions and reaching conclusions;
* carefully testing the conclusions to determine whether they fit the formulating hypothesis.

Question 31

What are research methods?

Answer 31

refer to the methods the researchers use in
performing research operations.

Question 32

What are the attributes of the scientific method?

Answer 32

Empirical
* use of observation/experimentation to know
* data-driven
Systematic
* clear definitions
Parsimonious: simplicity preferred; eliminate the redundant
Objective: * Bias-free (confirmatory bias- the tendency to favor information that confirms one’s preexisting beliefs)
* Replicable