Research Process

Question 1

What is FINER?

Answer 1

FEASIBILITY
INTERESTING 
NOVEL
ETHICAL
RELEVANT

Question 2

What does PICOT stand for

Answer 2

Population
Intervention
Comparison group
Outcome measures
Time

Question 3

Give examples of sampling procedures

Answer 3

Stratified
Randomised
Clustered

Question 4

Describe the relationship between power and sample size

Answer 4

The larger the sample size the greater the power
- power also determines the sample size at which a statically significant difference can be found with a good effect size

Question 5

What does a type II error reflect ?

Answer 5

A false negative (sensitivity)

- Says there is no difference when there is.

Question 6

Sampling error

Answer 6

Variation due to chance between a sample and population

Question 7

How is sampling error inversely related to sample size ?

Answer 7

The larger the size the smaller the error therefore the greater the likelihood that a sample is representative of the population.

Question 8

Describe the 5 steps in the process of sampling

Answer 8

1. Identify target population
2. Identify accessible population
3. Determine sample size
4. Select specific sampling technique
5. Implement the sampling plan

Question 9

Give reasons why randomisation is important

Answer 9

1. Helps Ensure the representativeness of the sample to the population
2. Show researcher was unbiased to selecting people for the study
3. To even out characteristics among groups in studies that have lots of groups.
   Randomization Adds Validity to Statistical Tests

Question 10

Why is stratified sampling a good method of sampling ?

Answer 10

Because it increases control of variability

Question 11

Describe systematic sampling and its benefits

Answer 11

Choosing every kth person - time efficient

Question 12

What is internal validity

Answer 12

How valid findings are within the study

Question 13

What is external validity

Answer 13

Degree to which the findings can be generalised to the population

Question 14

Threats to internal validity

Answer 14

History 
Maturation 
Testing
Instrumentation
Statistical regression 
Selection
Attrition

Question 15

Threats to external validity

Answer 15

• Pretest changes groups response to experimental treatment
• Selection bias
• Setting

Question 16

Give examples of Common sources of error and how does this affect research

Answer 16

They can cause the results of a study to be incorrectly interpreted
Eg.
Hawthorne effect - change of behaviour because they knew which group they were in
Placebo effect - think they are on the treatment so behave differently
John Henry effect - control group tries to work harder because they know they are in the control group
Experimenter bias

Question 17

Describe the characteristics of a hypothesis

Answer 17

Based on theory or previous research
States a relationship between two variables
Simple clear statements
Testable - variables stated can be measured

Question 18

Directional vs non directional

Answer 18

Directional - researcher has a reason to believe that there is a difference between two groups

Non directional - researcher had no reason to believe hang there is a difference between two groups

Question 19

Why is a hypothesis important ?

Answer 19

Helps researchers thought process
Helps decide on which techniques, tests or methods should be used
Helps set up the way the days will be analysed and interpreted.

Question 20

Give examples of data collection techniques

Answer 20

Observational - direct/indirect
Measurement - physical/cognitive/affective
Questioning

Question 21

Describe four basic research approaches

Answer 21

Historical
Descriptive
Qualitative
Experimental

Question 22

What does a true experiment contain ?

Answer 22

An independent variable and a dependant variable

Question 23

independent vs dependant variable

Answer 23

Independent is manipulated by the researcher and dependant is observed and recorded by the researcher

Question 24

Describe the 12 steps of the research process

Answer 24

1. Identify research problem
2. Review the literature
3. Distill the research question
4. Formulate a hypothesis
5. Determine a basic research approach
6. Identify the population and sample
7. Make a plan for data collection
8. Determine data collection procedure
9. Choose a method for data analysis
10. Implement plan
11. Interpret results

Question 25

Describe 3 types of experimental designs

Answer 25

Between subjects and within subjects and matched groups design

Question 26

Describe a between subjects design

Answer 26

When different groups are designated to different levels of the IV

Question 27

Advantages and disadvantages of a between groups design

Answer 27

Simple to carry out No pre testing Provides limited info of the effect of the IV on the DV due to high variability within groups

Question 28

advantages and disadvantages of the matched groups design

Answer 28

control of sample variability within groups | Need to pre test

Question 29

Advantages and disadvantages of within subjects design

Answer 29

Control over sample variability Demanding on subjects Causes carry over effects

Question 30

What are some examples of Carry over effects (this occurs in with subject designs )

Answer 30

``` Learning Fatigue Habituation Sensitisation Contrast Adaptation ```

Question 31

What is an Extraneous Variable

Answer 31

Error producing variable that could negatively affect the results of a study if not controlled properly.

Question 32

Describe 3 types of research questions

Answer 32

Descriptive, Relationship and Difference

Question 33

Allocation Concealment

Answer 33

refers to preventing | the next assignment in the clinical trial from being known

Question 34

Why is blinding important?

Answer 34

Because un-blinided subjects are more likely to alter their behavior or their self assessment of key study endpoints (such as quality of life) if they know their assignment.

Question 35

Advantages of Blinding:

Answer 35

Minimises intervention spillover and attrition