CMS 348 Notes

Why study methods in research?

To conduct research and evaluate research findings.

What is Science?

The pursuit of understanding and gaining knowledge through systematic inquiry.

What does social science focus on?

Humanity and the way people think.

Does science settle moral debates?

No, science does not address morality or what is good or bad.

What type of answers does survey research provide?

Correlational answers based on self-reported behavior.

What is experimentation in research?

A method that can prove causality and includes control and treatment groups.

What is the primary goal of a theory?

To explain phenomena.

What is a null hypothesis?

A hypothesis that states there is no effect or no difference.

Define alternative hypothesis.

A hypothesis that suggests there is an effect or a difference, which aims to reject the null hypothesis.

What is the difference between nomothetic and idiographic theories?

Nomothetic theories provide broad explanations applicable to many situations, while idiographic theories explain specific cases.

What does deductive reasoning prioritize?

Theory leading to observations.

What does inductive reasoning prioritize?

Observations leading to theory.

What is the main ethical goal in research?

To do no harm.

What does a cost-benefits analysis involve?

Weighing potential harm against the societal benefits of research.

Can deception be used in research?

Yes, but participants must be debriefed afterward.

What is the purpose of the Internal Review Board (IRB)?

To ensure research is conducted ethically and safely.

Define conceptualization in research.

Theoretical and abstract thinking around research questions.

Define operationalization in research.

The process of measuring and obtaining concrete results from research.

What is a variable in research?

Any characteristic or factor that can take on different values and is measured or manipulated.

What does reliability in research refer to?

Consistency of a measure across different instances.

What is validity in research?

The accuracy of a measure, or how well it reflects the concept it's intended to measure.

What does correlation indicate?

An association between at least two variables.

What is causality?

The relationship where one event is the result of the occurrence of another event.

What is a cross-sectional study?

A study collecting data at a single point in time.

What is a cohort study?

A study examining specific subpopulations as they change over time.

What is a panel study?

A study that tracks the same set of individuals over multiple time points.

What is a trend study?

A study that tracks the same concept over time but samples different individuals at each point.

What does anonymity in research data imply?

Not collecting any identifying information from participants.

What does confidentiality in research entail?

Collecting identifying information but ensuring it is not disclosed.

What does magnitude refer to in scatter plots?

Magnitude indicates how close the scatter is to the fit line.

What does direction indicate in a fit line?

If the slope/fitline going downward or upward (positive or negative)

What does direction indicate in a fit line?

Direction indicates whether the slope/fit line is going downward or upward.

What is the nominal level of measurement?

This level classifies data into distinct mutually exclusive & exhaustive

categories without any order (e.g., gender, race, or eye color).

What is the ordinal level of measurement?

This level involves order or ranking among categories, but the differences between ranks are not measurable (e.g., satisfaction ratings such as 'satisfied', 'neutral', 'dissatisfied').

What is the interval level of measurement?

This level has ordered equidistant categories with measurable differences between them, but it lacks a true zero point (e.g., temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit).

What is the ratio level of measurement?

This is the highest level of measurement, which includes all the properties of interval data, plus a true zero point, allowing for comparisons of absolute magnitude (e.g., weight, height, or age). The ratio of two values can also provide meaningful information.

What is non-spuriousness in research?

Non-spuriousness indicates that the relationship between two variables cannot be explained by a third variable, meaning the results cannot be spurious.

What is the difference between cross-sectional and longitudinal research?

Cross-sectional research collects data at a single point in time, while longitudinal research collects data at multiple points in time.

What is a cross-sectional sample?

A cross-sectional sample involves filling out questions about social media usage and feelings, completed in one data collection effort.

What is a trend study in longitudinal research?

A trend study tracks the same concept over time, using different samples at each data collection point.

What is a cohort study in longitudinal research?

A cohort study examines specific subpopulations, or cohorts, as they change over time, focusing on particular age groups like millennials or Gen Z.

What is a panel study in longitudinal research?

A panel study involves tracking the same set of individuals repeatedly over time, allowing for measurement of individuality and change.

How can longitudinal survey research analysis be useful?

Longitudinal survey research analysis can be a means for establishing causality.

Which types of longitudinal studies are more sociological in nature?

Trend and cohort studies are generally considered more sociological.

Which type of longitudinal study is more focused on psychological development?

Panel studies are often more focused on psychological development.

What does it mean to operationalize a measure?

If it’s a measure, it's considered an operationalization; however, if it's an operationalization, it is not necessarily a measure.

Face Validity

The extent to which a measure makes sense and is logical.

Content Validity

The degree to which a measure includes an appropriate and representative set of items for the assessed construct, ensuring comprehensive coverage, and capturing the breadth.

What is construct validity?

The degree to which a measure relates to other variables as expected within a system of theoretical relationships.