Research Methods Flashcards
Inductive Research/theory
1.) Make an Observation
2.) Choose Methods
3.) Gather Data
4.) Analyze Data
5.) Literature review
6.) Results
-Naturalistic
-There is order at all points-human interaction has patterns
-data to theory/data up/bottom up
-theory is not your friend
Deductive Research/theory
1.) Make an observation
2.) Literature Review
3.) Form Hypothesis
4.) Methods
5.)Gather Data
6.) Analyze data
7.) Write Results
-Formal Procedure
ex: lab experiments
-Predicts Behavior
-Theory to data approach/ top down (theory Down)
-Previous literature is good
-Focuses on quantitative analysis
Pros and Cons of Inductive Research
Advantages
- Go with the flow
-could have many results
-preserves data’s integrity
analyzes behavior includes raw data
Disadvantages
-might not study planned topic
Pros and Cons of deductive research
Advantages
- More control on what is being studied
-structured process
-stats
Disadvantages
- not studying right things
-lab experiments might not be realistic
Major Questions of research methods today?
1.)Media
2.) Technology
3.) Relationships
4.) Identity
What counts as data?
naturalistic data
- video, audio, transcripts
-ethnographic field notes
Contrived data
-data from experiments
-survey data
What do you do with your data?
-Code it or data reduction (Talley marks)
-Stats
-use your data directly
Independent vs dependent variables
Independent Variable will influence change on other variables
Dependent variables are changed by other variables
Research question vs research hypothesis
Hypothesis- will be a statement that ends with a period. Draw Conclusions based on other studies
Research questions- will be phased in question formate that end in a question mark. Not much is know or very broad
Primary vs secondary research reports
Primary Research report are first reporting of studies
Secondary Reports will include second hand account of the primary reports like a text book.
Nominal Measurement Measurement Scales
Classifies a variable into qualitatively different categories like Yes or no.
- They must be mutually exclusive
- Categories must be equivalent
*Categories must be exhaustive
ex- survey Question - Out of the three which is your favorite?
Ordinal Measurement Techniques
*Classifies them using nominal categories
*also ranks order of categories by being greater than or less than
*You do not know the distance between rankings
ex- Race winnings
Likert Measurement Techniques
*Measures extent of a persons beliefs, attitudes or feelings towards something
*include a nutreal or equal point
* equal distance between rankings
ex- Survey question about how you feel about the cold
Semantic Differential Measurement Techniques
- Measures the meaning people associate with concept object or experience
*Uses a scale with two adjective that are opposites at each end (pleasant, Unpleasant)
*Participants rate where they land between the two adjectives
Ex- rank your feelings of public speaking 10 being confident and 1 being not confident
Self-report data
- Ask people to comment on themselves
Advantages
-Efficient
-Allows researchers to study things that cannot be observed
Disadvantages
-what people do and what they believe may be different
-people may not provide accurate information
other-reported data
-Asking other about the participant
Advantages
- may be more accurate then self report data
Disadvantages
-Could be inaccurate
-unmotivated to provide information
-bias
observational data
- When someone observes someone else
advantages
- More accurate
Disadvantages
- Show what people do and not what they believe
-Behaviors observed must match area of interest
Reliability
Consistency and stability
Validity
Accuracy of a study
What is Internal Validity
The accuracy of the conclusion
-How the study was designed
-How study was conducted
-how do your findings support your conclusions
What is External Validity?
Generlizability of findings
- can be applied to other people/texts places or times
Ways to measure reliability
*Multiple admin
- Test retest
-Alternative procedure method
*Single-admin
-Split-half
-Cronbach’s alpha
*Intercoder/interrater/interobserver
Multiple Admin: Test-Retest
*Test retest
Re administer the same measurement producer to the same group of people at different times
Problems
1.) might not be reliable just because there is a change
2.)Time in between re administering will have an impact
3.) Respondents have already been familiarized to test (sensation)
Multiple Admin: Alternative procedure method
*Same people complete another equivalent instrument at the second administration
*Use a coefficient of equivalency to determine the reliability
Problems
1.) Both instruments must be valid and reliable