Human Communications Researched Theory (Chapter 3)

Quantitative Research

Data is collected in the forms of Number

Constructs

Are special concepts created by scientists to help explain human behavior

Conceptual Definitions

Are statements that describe exactly what a concept or construct means. What something is and what something means.

Operational Definitions

Are descriptions of the exact procedure used to measure and categorize our observation. How something is going to be counted nd measured.

Independent Variable

The concept being manipulated in a study (Gender)

Dependent Variable

The concept being measured in a study (Sexual Anxiety)

Methods

How we collect data and measure variables

Surveys

Respondents are given standard sets of questions to answer. Used to describe or correlate concepts.

Experiments

Used to show casual relationships by systematically manipulating the independent and then measuring the dependent variable

Concept Analysis

Idnetify a unit of analysis you are interested in, then count how many time it happens.

Reliability

Refers to constancy in measurement to accurately measure what it’s supposed to be measuring

Validity

Refers to the ability of a measurement to accurately measure what it’s supposed to be measuring.

Qualitative Research

Data is collected in the form of narratives, words or quotes, texts or other kinds of discourse.

Interviews or Focused Groups

Individuals or small groups are interviewed, allowing them to answer questions any way they want to

Ethnography

Using participant observation, a researcher tires to become part of the group he/she is studying and uses both observational notes and follow-up interviews

Textual Analysis

Similar to content analysis, but researchers examine texts to find examples of power differences, stereotypical portrayals, etc.