Scientific Research Evaluation

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to scientific research evaluation, focusing on measurements, definitions, biases, types of research, and statistics.

Objective Measurements

Measures of an entity or behavior that are consistent across instruments and observers, within an allowed margin of error.

Operational Definitions

Statements describing the procedures and specific measures used to record observations.

Reliability

The consistency and stability of a measure across multiple observations and points in time.

Validity

The degree to which an instrument or procedure actually measures what it claims to measure.

Generalizability

The degree to which results from one set of data can be applied to other situations, individuals, or events.

Random Sample

A sample in which every individual of a population has an equal chance of being included.

Observer Expectancy Effect

The influence of a researcher's expectations on a subject's behavior.

Placebo Effect

A measurable improvement in health or behavior that cannot be attributed to a medication or treatment.

Anonymity

A technique where individual responses are recorded without any identifying information.

Self-reporting

A method of collecting data where participants provide their own responses.

Descriptive Research

Research that collects data from observations without attempting to explain the 'why'.

Correlation

A measure that shows the degree of association between two variables.

Experimental Research

Research involving the manipulation of variables to determine cause-and-effect relationships.

Quasi-Experimental Method

A research technique comparing two or more groups based on predetermined characteristics rather than random assignment.

Informed Consent

The process of ensuring research participants are fully informed about the study's purpose, tasks, and risks before agreeing to participate.

Descriptive Statistics

A set of techniques used to organize, summarize, and interpret data.

Standard Deviation

A measure of variability that indicates the degree to which scores are dispersed around the mean.

Hypothesis Test

A statistical method evaluating whether differences among groups are meaningful or due to chance.

p-value

The probability that the observed differences among groups could have arisen by chance.

Effect Size

A calculated value indicating the degree of difference between groups.