Chapter 2: Research Methods, Measurement, and Sampling

Vocabulary flashcards created from Chapter 2 lecture notes covering sampling concepts, scales of measurement, operational definitions, social desirability bias, validity, and reliability.

Population

A group of individuals a researcher seeks to learn about from a research study.

Sample

A group of individuals chosen from the population to represent it in a research study.

Sampling error

The difference between the observations from a population and from the sample that represents that population in a study.

Margin of error

An estimate of how far off the reported percentage in our data is likely to be from the population percentage.

Operational Definition

The way a behavior is measured in a particular study, providing a way for a researcher to measure a behavior that is not directly observable.

Nominal scale

Non-ordered categories that are non-numerical in nature.

Ordinal scale

Ordered categorial responses.

Interval scale

Numerical responses that are equally spaced, but scores are not ratios of each other.

Ratio scale

Numerical responses where scores are ratios of each other.

Interval data

Data that lacks an absolute zero point and is measured so that each value is placed at an equal distance from one another in order.

Ratio data

Data defined with an absolute zero as a reference point for measurement.

Social desirability bias

Bias created from a respondent's desire to be viewed more favorably by others.

Self-deceptive enhancement (self-deception)

Occurs when the respondent believes something to be true when it is not, causing them to portray themselves positively without being aware of it or consciously trying to.

Impression management (other-deception)

Occurs when people are aware of their overconfident self-appraisal and intentionally seek to keep up with social or group norms in order to avoid negative evaluation or judgment.

Construct validity

The quality of surveys that ensures they accurately measure the behavior of interest.

Reliability

The property of a survey and questionnaire that ensures it will produce consistent results.

Systemic/controlled measures

Direct observations of behavior that increase the internal validity of the measure, though the control imposed can decrease external validity.