AP Research, Research Studies: Terms, Methods, and Design

Operational Definition

Defining certain terms/vocabulary specifically and exactly

• For clarity and future repetition

Replication

The process of repeating an experiment/study to get consistent results, giving it validity

Qualitative Data

• deals with descriptions

• data can be observed but not measured

Quantitative Data

• deals with numbers

• data which can be measured

Research Methods

Ways to test your theory, problem, or hypothesis

Case Study

• a detailed picture/study

• may/may not be representative of bigger population, but usually leads to more research

• ex: Phineas Gage, who got a tamping rod blown through his head, 1848

Survey

Many people are asked questions to gather data

• based on people’s own opinions/perceptions

Random Sample (Survey)

Must be a random selection of subjects

• most fair because it creates an equal chance of inclusion

Sample Size (Survey)

How big is your initial population?

• the bigger the population, the bigger the sample size you will need

Observation (naturalist or staged)

Watch subjects in their environment and collect data

Hawthorne Effect

People behave differently when they know they are being observed

Interview

• allows for more in depth exploration

• leads to more questioning, follow up

• allows for probing and clarifying

Experiment

• trying to prove something

• cause & effect, laboratory vs field experiment

• hypothesis = a theory (or guess)

• you don’t need to prove anything unless you’re doing an experiment

Correlation

• extent to which 2 things relate (mutual connection)

• how well does A predict B?

• !!correlation does NOT show causation!!

Hindsight Bias

The tendency to believe, after learning the outcome, that you “knew it all along”

• after you know the results, they seem obvious (like common sense)

Overconfidence

Think we know more than we do (overestimate our abilities and skills)

• Effect: knowing answers afterwards makes them seem easy or obvious

Dunning Kruger Effect

Overconfidence due to limited knowledge or confidence on a topic

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to search for, interpret, and recall information that supports what we already believe

• focusing sources that help support our argument or hypothesis

Context Dependent Memory

Once you see, hear, or learn something, it’s very hard to unsee, unhear, or unlearn

CRAAP Test

5 components:

• Currency: Is the source current? Check the date. Does the date matter?

• Relevance: Is the source relevant to your research? How relevant is it?

• Authority: Where is the source published? Who is the author? Are they considered reputable and trustworthy in their field?

• Accuracy: Is the source supported by evidence? Are the claims cited correctly? CLAIM, EVIDENCE, REASONING

• Purpose: What was the motive behind publishing the source?

Meta-Analysis

Quantitative research method that analyzes data from multiple published studies on the same topic

• looking for patterns and trends that lead to new conclusions and are discussed statistically