research methods

Question 1

steps of research

Answer 1

question and hypothesis
define variables
study design
sampling
collect data
analyse data
develop conclusion
critical thinking and refine hypothesis

Question 2

5 steps for scientific method

Answer 2

observation, question, hypothesis, experiment, and analysis/conclusion.

Question 3

science vs pseudoscience

Answer 3

theory can only scientific if it specifies how it can be refuted

Question 4

inductive reasoning

Answer 4

using small observation to create general conclusion

Question 5

empirical vs rational method

Answer 5

empirical= based on observation
rational= based on logic, science evidence

Question 6

tenacity

Answer 6

something that is believed to be true because of habit and superstition

Question 7

what is a contruct and how to measure

Answer 7

a concept or idea that is not directly observable but is used to explain or predict behavior. eg. ‘happiness’

Question 8

how to measure contruct

Answer 8

through operational definition , description of how that construct will be measured in a study, translating the abstract concept into observable, measurable variables indirectly

Question 9

limitation of operational definition

Answer 9

no one to one relationship between the variable being measured ‘contruct’ and actual measurements produced by operational definition

Question 10

3 forms of research question

Answer 10

association, difference and causation

Question 11

what is a hypothesis

Answer 11

a logical, specific , refutable and testable predictive statement about what will happen in a study.

Question 12

what is crucial when asking research question

Answer 12

do literature search and review, check what has been done

Question 13

nominal scale

Answer 13

to categorise things, qualitative differences

Question 14

ordinal scale

Answer 14

order, but can’t determine magnitude between points

Question 15

interval scale vs ratio scale

Answer 15

provide magnitude differences between individuals,
for interval, zero doesn’t mean a complete absence of sth eg(temperature)
but for ratio, there is absolute zero eg (ruler measurement)

Question 16

5 types of study design

Answer 16

1.descriptive (no measurements just observation)
2.correlational (relationship between variables, not cause and effect)
3.experimental (manipulation of iv , control variables) cause and effect
4.quasi- experimental (less controlled experimental design)
5. non-experimental

Question 17

what is internal validity

Answer 17

degree of confidence we have in a direct relationship between , iv and dv , can increase by carefully controlling variables

Question 18

what does random allocation of participants to each group increase

Answer 18

internal validity

Question 19

compare experimental study design and quasi-experimental study design

Answer 19

both seek to determine a cause and effect , quasi lacks thorough evidence and less controlled because they do not inc random allocation of participant groups

Question 20

what is non- experimental design
vs correlational

Answer 20

similar to correlational design, not seeking to explain cause and effect.
while correlational observe 1 group of people and 2 variables for each person , non-experimental involves 2 or more groups of people and 1 variable

Question 21

what happens when the sample is too diverse

Answer 21

can’t generalise

Question 22

what is convenient sampling

Answer 22

easy and convenient recruit

Question 23

downside of convenience sampling

Answer 23

could be bias , less generalisailbily

Question 24

how to control sampling bias in convenience sampling

Answer 24

quotas
identify subgroups in population to make sure equally represented in the sample

Question 25

sampling bias cannot be fully eliminated, what can researchers do

Answer 25

transparent reporting, make it clear in the discussion in article to allow for crucial evaluation by readers

Question 26

probability vs non-probability sampling

Answer 26

probability= population characteristics known non= unknown

Question 27

who governs the process of research

Answer 27

nhmrc

Question 28

what are 5 ethics principals

Answer 28

merit, integrity, justice, beneficence , respect

Question 29

what is merit

Answer 29

potential benefit to humanity (in terms of knowledge , improve social welfare or wellbeing)

Question 30

how to ensure merit in a research

Answer 30

initial review the relevant literature, determine likely merit of study

Question 31

what is integrity

Answer 31

researchers are honest and transparent

Question 32

what is justice

Answer 32

the inclusion and exclusion of participants is fair. fair access equal benefits

Question 33

what is beneficence

Answer 33

minimise harm and risks, and maximise benefits

Question 34

respect

Answer 34

consent privacy cultures

Question 35

what should happen before researches commence

Answer 35

human resarch committee must approve a research proposal.

Question 36

how to organise the distribution of data

Answer 36

frequency distribution) using graphs

Question 37

3 ways of representing frequency distribution

Answer 37

frequency histogram, frequency table and boxplot

Question 38

when do you use mean to find central tendency

Answer 38

use with interval and ratio data and normal distributions only when it is symmetrical and no outliers

Question 39

when use median

Answer 39

skewed and outliers and with ordinal scales of measurements

Question 40

when use mode

Answer 40

discrete data with nominal scales

Question 41

when is mean best indication , high or low variability

Answer 41

low, because scores are shorter distance from the mean

Question 42

3 quantitative measurements of variability

Answer 42

range, IQR and standard deviation

Question 43

when do you use IQR do measure variability

Answer 43

when median is used to indicate central tendency

Question 44

what do you use to determine variability when mean is used

Answer 44

standard deviation

Question 45

what is standard deviation

Answer 45

the average amount that scores differ from or deviate from the mean .

Question 46

how to calculate standard deviation

Answer 46

sum of squares, variance , square root of variance=sd

Question 47

deviation score

Answer 47

A measure of a raw score’s distance from the mean

Question 48

deductive vs inductive argument

Answer 48

deductive arguments provide absolute support to its conclusion, premises in inductive arguments provide probabilistic support for their conclusions. eg, conclusion more/less likely to be true

Question 49

what is a premise

Answer 49

a statement or assumption that is taken to be true and used as the basis for an argument or reasoning (building hypothesis)

Question 50

what is a valid deductive argument

Answer 50

conclusion necessarily follow from premises

Question 51

what is a strong inductive argument

Answer 51

premises provide good support for conclusion.

Question 52

Classify the following argument. Premise: In a current sample of 5 people diagnosed with schizophrenia, anxiety was associated with hearing voices. Premise: In a previous single case study, a person diagnosed with schizophrenia reported experiencing anxiety. Conclusion: Hearing voices is likely to cause anxiety in people who have schizophrenia.

Answer 52

weak, inductive

Question 53

Classify the following argument. Premise: Sunlight exposure leads to happiness. Premise: All people who sleep during the day get no sunlight exposure. Conclusion: If surveyed, a group of night-shift workers will report being unhappy.

Answer 53

invalid, deductive