Question | Answer |
Quantitative research | Focuses on empirical measurements with goal of prediction of probabilistic relationships between variables; yields numerical data that can be tested using statistics |
Quasi-experimental | Similar to true experimental, lacks random assignment of subjects to treatment groups |
Random sample | Every person in population has equal chance of being selected for the sample |
Reliability | Consistency or stability of measure or test from one use to the next; when repeated measurements of same thing give identical or similar results |
Triangulation | Use of multiple methods or strategies to strengthen the research findings |
Validity | Measurement instrument or test measures what it is supposed to measure; valid is the extent to which the assessment is free of systematic error (bias) |
Bias | Unintended or unavoidable effect on study outcomes; systematic error |
Clinical trial | Controlled study involving human subjects, designed to evaluate effectiveness of a drug or behavioural intervention |
Ethnography | Type of research concerned with description and interpretation of cultural patterns, where the observer is immersed in the culture for an extended period of time |
Experimental study | Subjects randomly assigned to groups that experience carefully controlled interventions manipulated by investigator; type yields numerical data for analysis |
Generalizability | Extent to which findings and conclusions from a study on sample can be applied to population at large |
Guttman Scale | Items arranged in order so that individual who agrees with particular item also agrees with items of lower rank order |
Hawthorne effect | Research subjects experience change simply because they are involved in a research study; attention bias |
Institutional review board (IRB) | Specially constituted board of experts established at each institution (eg. university, hospital, etc.) to oversee research conducted and protect welfare of human subjects |
Likert scale | 5/7-point scale to measure agreement with a particular item |
Member checking | In qualitative research, refers to researcher checking out facts with his or her research participants |
Nonparametric statistics | Mathematical formulas that can be used to test hypotheses using small samples and data that do not meet assumptions of parametric statistics |
Parametric statistics | Formulas used to test hypotheses, based on: 1) data is normally distributed, 2) variance is homogenous, 3) interval level data |
Phenomenology | Qualitative research approach concerned with understanding certain individual or group experiences and behaviours from insider's point of view |
Qualitative research | Focuses on in-depth understanding of human behaviour; attention to social relationships and context; study findings yield narrative data that are described and interpreted |
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