Research Terminology

Question 1

critical thinking

Answer 1

seeing both sides of an issue, being open to new evidence, reasoning dispassionately, deducing and inferring,

Question 2

how do we gain knowledge

Answer 2

communicated information, direct observation

scientific or non-scientific sources

Question 3

scientific process

Answer 3

aska question, do research, construct hypothesis, test with experiment, analyze data, draw conclusion, prove/disprove hypothesis, communicate results

Question 4

forming a research question

Answer 4

specific to topic

be educated about the topic - see what is already studied and known, gain facts

Question 5

hypothesis

Answer 5

educated guess based on previous research

Question 6

directional, non-directional, null

Answer 6

directional: states what you believe the results will be

non-directional: states there will be a difference, but no indication of higher or lower

null: there will be no difference

Question 7

variable

Answer 7

characteristic with more than one level (value) and can be measured or classified

Question 8

independent variable

Answer 8

tx or experiment

factor that is manipulated to determine effect on another variable

the cause

has numerous levels

Question 9

dependent variable

Answer 9

factor that is measured, expected to change due to tx, outcome variable, the effect

Question 10

error

Answer 10

factors that can affect the integrity (validity) of the study

Question 11

types of error

Answer 11

random

systematic/bias

Question 12

what effects the dependent variable

Answer 12

independent variable and sources of error

Question 13

experimental method

Answer 13

accounts for factors in a given situation

best metod for hypothesis testing

environment is controlled and manipulated

Question 14

all measurements contain

Answer 14

true measurement and error

Question 15

systematic/bias error

Answer 15

selection/sampling: who did you study

measurement: correctness

intervention/exposure: treated this ame

Question 16

reliability

Answer 16

the extent to which a variable is measured consistently

Question 17

validity

Answer 17

extent by which a device/tool assessment measures what it was designed to measure

Question 18

characteristics of an experiment

Answer 18

1. ) manipulate the IV
2. ) control for error
3. ) observed effect of IV on DV
4. ) randomization

Question 19

control

Answer 19

hold error producing variables constant

Question 20

internal validity

Answer 20

how well error is controlled in the methods and study design -
the more control the less generizable results are

Extent to which the difference between groups can be
attributed to the independent variable

Question 21

external validity

Answer 21

how generalizable the results are

Question 22

confidence

Answer 22

how sure you are that the IV changed the DV

confidence levels: 100, 95, 90 etc

Question 23

population validity

Answer 23

extent to which results can be applied to a general population

Question 24

ecological validity

Answer 24

extent to which results can be generalized to different environments

Question 25

types of bias

Answer 25

research bias, subject bias, selection bias, measurement bias, intervention bias

Question 26

hawthorne effect

Answer 26

subjects act differently when they know they are being tested

Question 27

john henry effect

Answer 27

group not receiving treatment works harder

Question 28

demoralization

Answer 28

group not receiving treatment gives up

Question 29

diffusion of treatment

Answer 29

discussion between/among participants

Question 30

threats to internal validty

Answer 30

test wise effect, sequencing, instrumentation, contamination

Question 31

homogeneity

Answer 31

groups should be screened for similar characteristics

Question 32

delimitations

Answer 32

boundaries set by researcher

Question 33

Study design: X O R —-

Answer 33

X: IV or tx
O - measurement or DV
R - random
— = groups not randomly assigned

Question 34

between groups designs

Answer 34

difference between the groups

Question 35

within groups design

Answer 35

does the treatment change the group

Question 36

operationalize

Answer 36

finding a measurable, quantifiable, and valid index for your independent and dependent variables

Question 37

subheadings for methods section

Answer 37

participants, procedures, data analysis

Question 38

participants topics

Answer 38

how many, description, sampling, inclusion/exclusion, demiliations, informed consent, IRB approved

Question 39

procedures topics

Answer 39

research design(trials, groups, etc), instruments, chronological, detailed, step by step,