Research Terms Flashcards
(92 cards)
What is Snowball Sampling?
A non-probability sampling technique where initial subjects recruit future subjects from their acquaintances, creating a snowball effect.
Involves starting with one participant who refers others.
What is Quota Sampling?
A non-probability sampling method where researchers ensure equal representation of subgroups by setting quotas for each group.
Example: Hand picking a certain number of participants from each tax bracket.
What is Purposive Sampling?
A non-probability sampling technique where participants are selected based on specific characteristics relevant to the study.
Example: Selecting students who have used the writing center multiple times.
What is Convenience Sampling?
A non-probability sampling method where participants are selected based on their availability and proximity to the researcher.
Example: Asking shoppers outside a grocery store about their feelings on cost of living.
What is Cluster Sampling?
A probability sampling method where the population is divided into clusters, entire clusters are randomly selected, and further sampling may occur within those clusters.
Example: Randomly choosing schools and students within them for a study.
What is Stratified Random Sampling?
A probability sampling method that divides the population into distinct subgroups and randomly selects samples from each stratum.
Example: Dividing students by year and randomly selecting participants from each year.
What is Systematic Sampling?
A probability sampling method where participants are selected at regular intervals from a randomly ordered list of the population.
Example: Selecting every 5th person from a list.
What is Random Sampling?
A probability sampling method ensuring each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected.
Example: Drawing names from a hat.
What is Internal Validity?
Confidence that the independent variable causes a change in the dependent variable in a study.
Critical for establishing a causal relationship.
What is External Validity?
Confidence that the findings of a study can be replicated and generalized to the broader population.
Important for the applicability of research findings.
What is an Extraneous Variable?
A variable that is not the independent variable but can affect the dependent variable, potentially threatening internal validity.
Example: Participants learning from outside sources during a study.
What does ‘Mortality of Sample’ refer to?
The loss of participants during a study, which can affect the validity of the results.
Example: Participants dropping out of a support group study.
What is Selection Bias?
A threat to internal validity where certain groups are overrepresented or underrepresented in a study sample.
Example: Only selecting participants from a specific support group.
What is the Testing Effect?
A threat to internal validity where participants’ scores improve due to familiarity with the test rather than actual learning.
Example: Participants performing better on repeated tests.
What is a Sampling Unit?
The group of participants chosen to take part in research.
Example: Selecting classes to study attention in the classroom.
What is a Sampling Frame?
A list of participants that fit the criteria for the study from which the sampling unit is chosen.
Essential for ensuring a representative sample.
What are the Strengths of Research?
Provides evidence-based practice, determines effectiveness, and supports policy development.
Research can drive macro change and fill knowledge gaps.
What are the Limitations of Research?
Takes time to develop knowledge, limited to questions asked, and can be subject to bias.
These factors can affect the reliability of research findings.
What is Qualitative Research?
Developing knowledge using words and descriptions from participants, focusing on in-depth understanding of experiences.
Cannot generalize findings due to smaller sample sizes.
What is Descriptive Inquiry?
Used to describe the lived experiences of participants, often through interviews or focus groups.
A common method in qualitative research.
What is Speculative Inquiry?
A wise guess based on evidence used to predict or make hypotheses, often involving inductive research.
Data is gathered to form themes and develop questions.
What is the process of Qualitative Data Analysis?
Involves discovering patterns, key themes, and relationships in data collected from participants.
Steps include sampling, data collection, and analysis.
What is Quantitative Research?
Expanding on existing knowledge using numbers and statistics to represent data, allowing for generalization of findings.
Relies on structured instruments and does not allow open-ended questions.
What is Correlational Research?
Examines the association between two variables without implying a causal relationship.
Useful for identifying potential relationships in data.
