Quantitative Research Design and Methodology

Fifty vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture on quantitative research design, sampling, instruments, data collection, and presentation.

Quantitative Research Design

Overall plan for collecting and analyzing numerical data, including experimental, correlational, and descriptive approaches.

Experimental Research Design

Design that manipulates an independent variable, controls extraneous variables, and uses randomization to determine its effect on a dependent variable.

Independent Variable

The variable deliberately manipulated or introduced by the researcher to observe its effect.

Dependent Variable

The outcome or response measured to assess the effect of the independent variable.

Extraneous Variable

Uncontrolled factor that may influence the dependent variable and threaten study validity.

Randomization

Process of assigning participants to groups by chance to equalize characteristics and reduce bias.

Quasi-Experimental Design

Design that involves manipulation of an independent variable but lacks random assignment of participants.

Correlational Design

Research design that examines the statistical relationship between two or more variables without inferring causality.

Positive Correlation

Direct relationship in which increases in one variable are associated with increases in another.

Negative Correlation

Inverse relationship in which increases in one variable are associated with decreases in another.

Descriptive Research Design

Design aimed at describing characteristics or behaviors of a population without manipulating variables.

Survey Research

Descriptive method that explores trends and characteristics through questionnaires or interviews.

Demographic Research

Type of descriptive study that records basic life events and characteristics such as age or marital status.

Epidemiological Research

Descriptive study of patterns of disease and health within populations.

Population (in research)

Entire group of individuals sharing a common characteristic from which a sample is drawn.

Sample

Subset of the population selected for participation in a study.

Probability Sampling

Sampling technique where every member of the population has an equal chance of selection.

Simple Random Sampling

Probability method in which participants are chosen completely at random from the population list.

Systematic Random Sampling

Probability method where every nth individual is selected after a random starting point.

Stratified Random Sampling

Probability method that divides the population into subgroups and randomly samples within each stratum.

Non-probability Sampling

Sampling technique in which selection is based on researcher judgment or convenience rather than randomization.

Convenience Sampling

Non-probability method that recruits participants who are easily accessible.

Quota Sampling

Non-probability method selecting participants to meet preset numbers within subgroups.

Purposive Sampling

Non-probability method where participants are intentionally chosen for their suitability to the study.

Snowball Sampling

Non-probability method where existing participants refer additional participants with similar traits.

Sample Size

Actual number of individuals who provide data in a study.

Research Instrument

Tool such as a survey, test, or checklist used to collect quantitative data.

Demographic Form

Instrument that gathers basic participant information like age, gender, or income.

Performance Measures

Instruments that assess abilities such as achievement, intelligence, or aptitude.

Attitudinal Measures

Tools designed to capture participants’ opinions, beliefs, or attitudes toward a subject.

Behavioral Observation Checklist

Instrument for systematically recording observed behaviors in numeric form.

Factual Information Document

Existing record or public document accessed to obtain objective participant data.

Reliability

Stability and consistency of an instrument’s results across time and conditions.

Validity

Extent to which an instrument accurately measures what it intends to measure.

Internal Consistency

Type of reliability indicating how well items on a test measure the same construct.

Test-Retest Reliability

Stability of scores when the same instrument is administered to the same group at two different times.

Alternate Forms Reliability

Reliability assessed by comparing scores from two equivalent versions of an instrument.

Face Validity

Degree to which an instrument appears to measure the intended construct at face value.

Content Validity

Extent to which test items adequately cover all aspects of the concept being measured.

Criterion Validity

Degree to which instrument scores correlate with an external criterion measure.

Construct Validity

Extent to which an instrument truly measures the theoretical construct it is intended to assess.

Questionnaire

Written list of questions that participants answer independently to provide quantitative data.

Quantitative Observation

Structured watching or listening that uses rating scales or checklists to produce numerical data.

Quantitative Interview

Standardized, survey-like interview using fixed questions to gather numerical responses.

Nominal Scale

Level of measurement consisting of categorical labels with no inherent numerical value.

Ordinal Scale

Measurement scale that ranks categories in a specific order without equal intervals.

Interval Scale

Numeric scale with equal intervals between points but no true zero, e.g., temperature in °F.

Ratio Scale

Numeric scale with equal intervals and an absolute zero, allowing for statements of magnitude.

Descriptive Statistics

Statistical techniques that summarize and present data in a simplified form.

Inferential Statistics

Statistical methods that allow researchers to make predictions or test hypotheses about a population based on sample data.