K205 Module 3: Areas of research, Research Questions and Types of Data

FHV: Describe why researchers conduct meta-analyses

Study of studies. Synthesizing all studies out there and bringing them together to find an overall effect size.

During this process, we can analyze moderators which are something that can have a particular effect on one group and a different effect on another group

Quantitative research

FHV: Provide examples of physiological measures 

BMI, FFM, cardiac output, VO2

FHV: Differentiate between an interview and an everyday conversation

Interview: 

• One person asks, other person answers

• Interviewer’s job is to listen, interviewee’s job is to speak

Everyday conversation:

• one or more people having an in-depth exchange about some topic. Both parties contribute equally

FHV: Describe why researchers would utilize interviews

Nature and Purpose

Nature: more staged, interviewers have an interview schedule, plan of what will be asked/covered

Purpose: goal is to gain insight and understanding into how interviewees see, understand and experience particular issues and events 

FHV: Identify 3 contexts in which interviews would be effective

1. To answer exploratory questions

   1. when not many theoretical explanations or when we want to gather general info

2. To complement quantitative research 

3. To get an in-depth understanding of people’s experiences and perspectives 

FHV: Describe 4 strengths of collecting qualitative data through interviews 

1. Detailed info

2. Ability to capture verbal and non-verbal cues

3. Flexibility: pivot when faced with issues

4. Rapport: develop trust with interviewee

FHV: Describe 3 challenges related to conducting interviews

1. Time consuming

2. Finding the balance between warmth and detachment: putting people at ease while maintaining analytical stance

3. Active listening

FHV: Understand why interviews are both an art and a science 

Science: rigor, sample sizes, data management and analysis

Art: people skills, flexibility, and attentiveness

Define moderators

Variables that affect the strength of the relationship between the IV and DV

Associate areas of research, research questions, and types of data

1. Biophysical → quantitative

RQ would be dealing with variables. Either looking at a correlation or experimental design (cause and effect)
Types of data: Numbers

e.g. Questionnaires/surveys (scale), physical technology etc

2. Psychosocial → qualitative

RQ would be dealing with understanding of a phenomenon.

Types of data: words

eg. photos, videos, interview transcripts etc

Distinguish between qualitative and quantitative data

Quantitative:

• Quantifiable data (numbers)

• Examine relationship between variables

• Determine if discoveries are generalizable

• Statistical analysis: hypothesis testing

Qualitative:

• Data gathered such that they can be analyzed via informed judgement

• Involves human interaction

• Smaller, focused samples

• Focus is on complexity of the phenomenon

Describe and provide examples of 3 types of quantitative data 

1. Questionnaires/surveys: extracting numbers

• Could be uni or multidimensional survey

  • multidimensional = many dimensions of some central phenomenon

2. Physiological measures: biological measures

3. Performance measures: assessing your skill

Define 4 response biases related to quantitative surveys

1. Leniency: Unrealistic favoring of a known person

2. Social desirability: responses to make responder look better

3. Acquiescence: tend to agree regardless of context 

4. Extremity: tendency to always choose the most extreme score 

Identify and provide examples of 4 different sources of qualitative data and how they can be used to generate new knowledge

1. Visual methods: drawings

2. Media: newspapers 

3. Interviews: A conversation with a purpose

   1. open-ended** surveys/questionnaires

   2. Structured interviews: same questions, same order for all participants

      1. Deductive approach

      2. eg: marketing study

   3. Semi structured: asked about same broad topics but can choose to talk more about some areas than others

      1. Most common type

         1. Holistic answers

      2. Inductive approach — inform a theory

   4. Unstructured: maximum flexibility, informal conversational interview 

4. Observations

   • It’s a kind of data that can be used for experimental or observational research

What are the different types of interviews?

A conversation with a purpose

1. Structured: same question, same order for all participants

   1. deductive approach

2. Semi structured: ask about the same broad topic, but can choose to ask more about some areas

   1. Most common type

   2. Inductive approach: inform a theory

3. Unstructured

   1. max flexibility

   2. informal conversational 

4. Focus groups

   1. Diverse opinions