Practical Research T1 Reviewer

A comprehensive review of data collection instruments, experimental research design, validity, reliability, and statistical analysis methods for Grade 12 Practical Research.

What are data collection instruments?

Tools used to gather relevant research information from participants or settings, which can be developed from scratch, adapted from existing instruments, or modified for a specific context.

What does it mean if a research instrument is 'Sequential'?

The items must follow a logical flow, progressing from simple to complex to help respondents ease into the instrument and provide accurate responses.

What are the three types of questionnaires based on structure?

Structured (closed-ended with fixed options), Unstructured (open-ended for free answers), and Semi-Structured (a combination of both).

What is the difference between the primary goals of Quantitative and Qualitative interviews?

Quantitative interviews aim to gather numerical, measurable data for statistical analysis, while Qualitative interviews explore attitudes, opinions, and in-depth experiences.

Define Controlled Observation.

A systematic recording method conducted in a standardized setting with strict protocols where the observer does not participate and conditions are controlled to minimize outside variables.

What is Participant Observation?

An observation method where the observer actively joins the group being studied, which can be covert (hidden) or overt (known to participants).

What is the purpose of Experimental Research Design?

It is a controlled, objective process that establishes causality between independent variables (the cause) and dependent variables (the effect).

Describe the difference between the Experimental group and the Control group.

The experimental group receives the treatment or intervention (e.g., fertilizer), while the control group serves as a baseline for comparison and does not receive the treatment.

How does Randomization strengthen the internal validity of an experiment?

It reduces selection bias by assigned participants randomly to groups, ensuring that the experimental and control groups are comparable.

What is the difference between Internal Validity and External Validity in experimental design?

Internal Validity is the degree to which the experiment accurately establishes a cause-and-effect relationship; External Validity is the extent to which results can be generalized to other populations or settings.

What does 'Objectivity' mean in the context of research data?

Data must be based on measurable, observable facts rather than personal opinions or biases, ensuring findings are reproducible and verifiable.

What are the three ways to develop a research instrument?

1. Adopting (using an instrument without changes); 2. Modifying (adopting with slight changes); 3. Creating (building from scratch).

Define Validity in the context of research instruments.

Validity explains how well the collected data covers the actual area of investigation, or the extent to which a tool 'measures what is intended to be measured.'

What is Criterion Validity (also known as 'concrete validity')?

A type of validity measured by comparing the instrument with an external criterion to predict performance or behavior in another situation.

Contrast Predictive, Concurrent, and Postdictive Validity.

Predictive Validity predicts future performance; Concurrent Validity correlates with another established tool measured at the same time; Postdictive Validity relates scores to a criterion administered in the past.

What is Face Validity?

The degree to which a research instrument appears related to a specific construct in the judgment of non-experts (test takers) based on its appearance and readability.

Define Content Validity.

The degree to which the items in a research instrument reflect the complete content or topic it is supposed to measure, often reviewed by experts.

Explain the difference between Discriminant Validity and Convergent Validity.

Discriminant Validity ensures a construct is different from unrelated constructs; Convergent Validity ensures the construct is similar to other tools measuring the same concept.

What is Reliability in research?

The extent to which a measurement of a phenomenon provides stable and consistent results across repeated use; it is concerned with repeatability.

Define Inter-rater reliability.

A measure of consistency across observers or raters, used when data is collected through observation or scoring to ensure similar results between different raters.

What are Parallel Forms of reliability?

Consistency between two different but equivalent versions of the same test, where students who score high on Form A also score high on Form B.

Name the statistical software described as a free platform for computing and graphics that requires learning its own computing language.

R: The R Project for Statistical Computing.

According to the American Psychological Association (2020), what six elements must be included when reporting results?

1. Statistical test; 2. Tool; 3. Alpha or significance level; 4. Calculated statistics ($p, f, t, z$); 5. Acceptance or rejection of $H_0$; 6. Interpretation of results.

Define Regression tests.

Statistical methods that measure the cause-and-effect relationship between variables, allowing the prediction of a dependent variable based on independent variables.

What is the key difference between Correlation Tests and Regression Tests regarding variables?

In Correlation Tests, variables are interchangeable (swapping them gives the same result); in Regression Tests, variables are not interchangeable as the outcome is a mathematical equation.

What are Comparison Tests?

Statistical tests that measure whether the averages or proportions of two or more distinct groups are statistically different, typically requiring categorical independent variables and numeric dependent variables.