Research Process and Parametric Tests

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the research process, the formulation of research questions, the use of parametric tests, and the applications of statistical methods as discussed in the lecture notes.

What is the purpose of the problem statement in research?

To articulate the importance of the problem, clarify the gap in literature, and justify the scientific merit.

What are the components of a strong research purpose statement?

Clear articulation of the study's significance and alignment with the research problem.

What frameworks can be applied to develop clear research questions?

The FINER and PICOT frameworks.

What do parametric tests assume about the data?

They assume a specific distribution for the population from which the sample is drawn.

What is an example of a parametric test?

T-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation.

What is the gap that a purpose statement seeks to address?

It identifies how the study fills a gap in the existing literature.

What language should be used in a purpose statement?

It should be clear, concise, and directly related to the research problem.

What is the importance of not predicting outcomes in a purpose statement?

It ensures objectivity and avoids bias in defining the study direction.

What does the FINER acronym stand for?

Feasible, Interesting, Novel, Ethical, Relevant.

What does PICOT stand for?

Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Time.

What is the role of the research question in the study?

It drives the development of the study protocol.

What are the characteristics of good research questions?

They should be clear, focused, and not biased.

In quantitative research, how should questions be structured?

They should be non-directional and not yes/no format.

What is the outcome of a well-formulated research question?

It enhances valid hypotheses and accurate study results.

What type of research question is directed towards exploring relationships between variables?

Quantitative research questions.

What does the term 'correlation' refer to in statistics?

The measure of the relationship between two variables.

What is the significance of Pearson's correlation coefficient?

It measures the linear relationship between two continuous variables.

What ranges can Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) take?

From -1 to +1.

What does a correlation coefficient of +1 imply?

A perfect positive relationship between two variables.

What is an example of a non-directional research question?

To what extent does patient-centered teaching affect dietary intake?

What types of data do parametric tests require?

Interval and ratio scale data.

What influences the choice of statistical test in research?

The data type and study hypothesis.

What are some common parametric tests?

T-tests, ANOVA, and regression analyses.

When is a T-test used?

To compare the means of two groups.

What is the null hypothesis in a T-test?

There is no statistically significant difference between group means.

What is a one-sample T-test?

A test comparing the mean of a single sample to a known population mean.

What does the p-value in hypothesis testing indicate?

The probability of observing the test results under the null hypothesis.

What is the typical significance level used in hypothesis testing?

0.05.

How is a two sample independent T-test different from a one-sample T-test?

It compares the means of two independent groups rather than one group to a population mean.

What does ANOVA stand for?

Analysis of Variance.

What is the main purpose of ANOVA?

To compare means across two or more groups.

What are the assumptions of ANOVA?

Data should be independent, normally distributed, and variances should be equal.

What does the F-ratio in ANOVA indicate?

The ratio of between-group variance to within-group variance.

What is a paired sample T-test used for?

To compare means of two related groups.

What is the critical value in hypothesis testing?

A threshold used to determine whether to reject the null hypothesis.

What does Tukey's HSD test do?

It identifies which specific group means are different after ANOVA.

What is the significance of effect size in research?

It describes the strength of the relationship or difference being tested.

What is the difference between quantitative and qualitative research questions?

Quantitative questions seek to measure relationships, while qualitative questions explore meanings.

What do you understand by 'statistical significance'?

An indication that the results observed are unlikely to have occurred by chance.

What should you consider when formulating research questions?

Feasibility, interest, novelty, ethical implications, and relevance.

What is an explanatory variable in research?

A variable that may influence or cause changes in a response variable.

What is a dependent variable?

The outcome variable that researchers are interested in measuring.

In correlation tests, what does a negative value indicate?

As one variable increases, the other decreases.

What can violate the assumptions of parametric tests?

Non-normal distribution of data, unequal variances.

What statistical test would you use to analyze differences between three groups?

One-way ANOVA.

What determines the type of scale in a measure?

The nature of the data, such as nominal, ordinal, interval, or ratio.

What does 'feasibility' in the FINER criteria refer to?

Whether the research question can be realistically answered.

What does it mean when research design is 'mixed methods'?

It combines both qualitative and quantitative research methods.

How can researchers test for treatment effects in experiments?

By employing statistical tests such as T-tests or ANOVA.

What is the difference between correlation and causation?

Correlation indicates a relationship, while causation implies one event causes another.

What is an example of an independent variable?

Treatment type in a clinical study.

Why is a literature review important before asking research questions?

To identify gaps and ensure originality in research.

How does a researcher define significance in their study?

By setting a significance level before data analysis.

What is a control group in an experiment?

A group that does not receive the experimental treatment.

What can multi-factor ANOVA assess?

The effects and interactions of multiple independent variables.

What is the p-value threshold for rejecting the null hypothesis generally set at?

0.05.

What does using a scatterplot allow researchers to do?

Visualize the relationship between two continuous variables.

Which statistical test would you use to understand variability among multiple groups?

ANOVA.

What is required for a T-test and ANOVA to provide valid results?

Adequate assumptions are met regarding data distribution.

How can one determine if data meets the assumptions for parametric tests?

By conducting normality tests and checking variance homogeneity.

What is the alternative hypothesis in hypothesis testing?

It states that there is a statistically significant effect or difference.

How does sample size affect the power of a study?

Larger samples increase the likelihood of detecting a true effect.

Why might a researcher choose non-parametric tests?

When data do not meet the assumptions required for parametric tests.

What could an interaction effect in ANOVA indicate?

The effect of one variable depends on the level of another variable.

What is a justification for the significance of a study?

The potential to generate new knowledge or implications for practice.

What tool can summarize findings in an easy-to-understand format after data analysis?

Data visualization tools like graphs and charts.

What does a post-hoc analysis in ANOVA provide?

Further insights into which specific groups differ from one another.

Why is it important to formulate specific research questions?

To ensure studies are focused and researchable.

What is the aim of using a qualitative research design?

To gain insights and explorations of complex phenomena.

What role do assumptions play in statistical testing?

Assumptions guide the appropriate selection and interpretation of tests.

What is defined as the 'significant main effect' in ANOVA?

When at least one group mean is significantly different from others.

What is essential for ensuring ethical implications in research?

Approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB).