Research Methods I

Reasoning through logic. There exists other ways of understanding the world than through observation and/or experience. DEDUCTIVE REASONING

Using observations and measurements to acquire knowledge

Problem/observation, Induction, Theory, Deduction, Hypothesis, Research design, Measurement methods, Sampling method, Data collection, data analysis, induction

Coming from experience/ observations --> deriving a hypothesis

Taking a theory and using it to explain observations

3 factors:
1) Covariation: if cause is present, effect is present; if cause is absent, effect is absent
2) Correct time order: cause before effect
3) Non spuriousness: no confounding variable that explains the relationship between cause and effect

an abstract representation of an object or one of its properties or a behavioral phenomenon

explaining a concept by using another concept

explaining a concept by pointing at it

defining a process through which the quantity of the concept is measured. i.e Intelligence--> GPA

a variable that cannot take on all values within the limit of the variable.

A variable that can take on all values

Direction: positive : if value of a increases, so does value of b
negative: if value of a increases, value of b decreases
Magnitude of correlation: strength of covariation
Nature: linear/non-linear, causal consequential, spurious

a variable that we measure (and hold constant) to test whether a relationship is spurious

3rd variable which explains the relationship between 2 variables

Smoking causes cancer

Smoking and alcholism are correlated

Effect

Cause

characteristics which vary from subject to subject, from time to time

Tangible. sex height, dead alive, market price of a product

a variable whose values are chosen and set by the experimenter. This variable is manipulated to examine the impact on the dependent variable

The variable outcome, results, criterion. The variable of interest that is measured as a function of the Xs on the Ys

A variable that is related to the outcome, which influences it. Its influence needs to be controlled

a variable which is related to the variable (independent/dependent) but is not part of the experiment. Nevertheless, it needs to be accounted and adjusted for

A variable that regulates the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable

Used to compare. You need to identify and classify

Used to determine preferences. greater/less.

Used to determine number of intervals or differences. You need to find differences, distances

Used to compare ratios.
You need to find fractions and multiples of the ratios.

the ability of a research design to test adequately the hypotheses it was designed to test

Confounding, Biased selection of subjects, History, Maturation, Testing, instrumentation, regression to the mean, experimental mortality

the subjects in the treatment and control group already differ on the dependent
variable prior to the treatment

Events that occured during time lapse between pretest and posttest which could have affected results

Regular changes due to passage of time.

Shifting of the measuring instrument independent of any change in the phenomenon measured

Phenomenon that takes place when a variable is extreme. The second measurement will thus be closer to the average, paradoxical phenomenon

Loss of follow-up

Generalizability of the results

There needs to be a secure amount of variables to ensure that a relationship is truly present

Always randomization and control group

Each group receives one treatment A or B. Results are compared

A design involving 2 or more factors (independent variables). Adding factors enables the experimenter to analyze each effect on the independent variable.

They look at the effect of a particular independent variable on a specific dependent variable

Average amount of punishment on attractive and unattractive people

Combination of effects of independent variables on dependent variable

Each subject receives a random medication in a random sequence, then receives the other medication. Receives both , CROSSES OVER

No random assignment

No control grop

Data is collected at one point in time

Subjects are first identified and then followed as time passes

General population followed

Type of prospective study where individuals are followed

People who share common starting point followed

adjacent segments of limited longitudinal data on a specific cohort can be linked together with other cohorts to determine the common developpent of a trend. These designs allow reserachers to study individual development over a long interval of the life course

Study that looks backward in time. i.e. finding out why a person died

Comparing subjects with outcome (disease) and without outcomes (no disease)

Cohort is formed based on past information

Study of individuals, groups, organizations, social interactions

inferring something about an individual based on a group result

Inferring something about groups based on individual information

Particular design in social sciences that fundamentally depends on watching people in their own territory and interaction with them in their own language on their own terms.
AIM : description, illustration, explanation, exploration

Used when there is no information or theory on the subject that can be useful to derive from. It consists of a lot of collection and analysis of data during research process. AIM: identify phenomena and its changes in time

Involves understanding a lived human experience. AIM: to discover and describe a phenomenon by analyzing situation.

watching and listening to derive a meaning of an observed behavior inductively. AIM: to describe, interpret, understand a social structure of a culture

Exploring individual stories to describe the lives of people

Exploring a system of individuals to describe a case

A variable that we measure (and hold constant) to test whether a relationship is spurious