Research Strategies Flashcards
(16 cards)
After what step do you come up with a research strategy?
After you have:
- Identified an idea
- Formed a hypothesis
- Operationally defined your variables
- Selected your sample
What does a research strategy determine?
It determines the way in which you make your systematic, planned observations
What does a research strategy refer to?
The general approach and goals of a research study
What is selecting a specific strategy typically determined by?
- The kind of question your are asking in your study
- What you hope to accomplish with your study
What is descriptive research strategy? What is an example?
Strategies that examine individual variables in individuals
Aims to provide a description of individual variables as they exist within a specific group
Describes individual variables
Obtains a snapshot (a description) of specific characteristics of a specific group of individuals
Data is usually in the form of averages or percentages
Data: a list of scores obtained by measuring each individual in the
group being studied
- Example: On average, local college students study 12.5 hours outside of class
each week and get 7.2 hours of sleep each night
What is correlational research strategy? What is an example?
Strategies that examine relationships between variables by measuring two (or more) variables for each participant
Aims to provide a description of a relationship between 2 variables without attempting to explain it
Data: Measure two variables (two scores) for each individual in the group being studied
Example: There is a relationship between wake-up times and GPA for college students, but we don’t know why
Where are correlational patterns better seen?
On a scatter plot,
each individual is represented by a point
What is the purpose of an experimental research strategy? Example?
Purpose: produce a cause-and-effect explanation for the relationship between two variables
Data: create two treatment conditions by changing the level of one variable, then measure a second variable for the participants in each condition
Example: Increasing the amount of exercise causes a decrease in cholesterol levels
What is the purpose of a quasi-experimental research strategy? Example?
Purpose: Attempt to produce a cause-and-effect explanation (but falls short…)
Data: Measure before/after scores for one group that receives a treatment and for a different group that does no receive the treatment
Example: Smoking intervention program may cause a reduction in smoking behavior, but the reduced smoking may be caused by something else
What is the purpose of nonexperimental research strategy? Example?
Purpose: produce a description of the relationship between two variables but do not attempt to explain the relationship
Data: Measure scores for two different groups of participants or for one group at two different times
Example: There is a relationship between sex and verbal ability: girls tend to have higher verbal skills than boys, but we don’t know why
What 3 decisions about basic aspects of the research study do research designs require?
- Group versus individual
- Same individuals versus different individuals
- The number of variables to be included
What do research procedures provide details on?
Details about how the study is to be done
- Exact step by step description of a specific research study
What do research procedures include?
Includes a determination of:
- Exactly how the variables will be manipulated, regulated, and measured
- Exactly how many individuals will be involved
- Exactly how the individual participants will proceed through the course of the study
How are experimental, quasi experimental, and nonexperimental studies similiar?
All involve comparing groups of scores
- Use similar statistical techniques (e.g., t-tests and analysis of variance, and chi-square tests)
What is the data structures and statistical analysis for correlational studies?
- Numerical scores: analyzed with a correlation calculation (e.g., Pearson correlation)
Nonnumerical data: evaluated using chi-square test
What is the data structures and statistical analysis for descriptive studies?
Descriptive studies summarize single variables for a specific group of individuals
Numerical data: analyzed by a statistical calculation of the mean score
Nonnumerical data: evaluated by a report of the percentage associated with each category
