Full Content RDA Quiz-Like

Interpretivism

"Epistemological stance focused on understanding meanings; correct choice when a question asks how people interpret social reality."

Positivism

"Epistemological stance applying natural science methods to social reality."

Constructionism (epistemology)

"Epistemological view that knowledge is socially produced and historically situated."

Objectivism

"Ontological position claiming social phenomena exist independently of social actors."

Constructionism (ontology)

"Ontological position claiming social phenomena are created and continually revised through interaction."

Deduction

"Reasoning from theory to hypotheses to data; clue words: hypothesis derived from theory."

Induction

"Reasoning from data to theory; clue words: starts with observations or data."

Iterative

"Strategy of moving back and forth between data and theory; oscillation between analysis and collection."

Grounded theory

"Approach that generates theory from data using coding

External validity

"Extent to which findings can be generalized beyond the specific people studied."

Internal validity

"Extent to which a study justifies a causal conclusion; often treated as synonymous with causality."

Replicability

"Ability to repeat a study with the same procedures and obtain similar results."

Maturation

"Threat to validity caused by natural changes in participants over time."

Testing

"Threat to validity caused by the effects of taking a test more than once."

Instrumentation

"Threat to validity caused by changes in measurement tools or procedures over time."

Mortality (attrition)

"Threat to validity caused by participants dropping out of a study."

Stability

"Extent to which scores from a measure remain consistent over time."

Test–retest

"Method of assessing stability by administering the same measure to the same people at two time points."

Independent variable

"Variable that is manipulated or treated as a cause in a study."

Dependent variable

"Outcome variable that is measured and expected to be affected by the independent variable."

Nominal (categorical) variable

"Variable whose categories have no inherent order; also called categorical."

Ordinal variable

"Variable whose categories have a meaningful order but unequal intervals."

Interval variable

"Variable with equal intervals between values but no true zero."

Ratio variable

"Variable with equal intervals and a true zero point

Probability sampling

"Sampling that gives each population member a known

Simple random sampling

"Probability sampling where every element has an equal chance of selection."

Systematic sampling

"Sampling where every kth element on a list is selected after a random start."

Stratified sampling

"Sampling that divides the population into strata and then samples from each stratum."

Cluster sampling

"Sampling that selects groups or clusters first

Convenience sampling

"Non-probability sampling using people who are easiest to access."

Quota sampling

"Non-probability sampling where interviewers fill pre-set quotas for key categories."

Snowball sampling

"Non-probability sampling where existing participants recruit further participants; often least representative."

Sampling frame

"List of all elements from which a sample is drawn."

Sampling error

"Difference between sample estimates and true population values due to studying a sample rather than the whole population."

Non-response

"Situation where units selected for the sample refuse or fail to participate."

Biased sample

"Sample that does not accurately represent the population from which it was drawn."

Cross-sectional

"Research design where data are collected at a single point in time."

Longitudinal

"Research design where data are collected from the same units on two or more occasions."

Panel study

"Longitudinal design that follows the same individuals over time."

Cohort study

"Longitudinal design following people who share a common characteristic or event."

Experiment

"Design that involves manipulating an independent variable to observe its effect on a dependent variable."

Field experiment

"Experiment carried out in real-life settings rather than in a laboratory."

Natural experiment

"Experiment-like situation where naturally occurring events approximate random assignment or manipulation."

Quasi-experiment

"Design similar to an experiment but lacking random assignment to conditions."

Univariate analysis

"Analysis describing one variable at a time

Bivariate analysis

"Analysis of the relationship between two variables."

Multivariate analysis

"Analysis that examines relationships among three or more variables."

Frequency table

"Table showing the number and percentage of cases in each category of a variable."

Histogram

"Diagram used mainly for interval or ratio variables with adjacent bars showing frequency across value ranges."

Bar chart

"Diagram with separate bars used mainly for nominal or ordinal variables."

Scatterplot

"Graph plotting paired values of two quantitative variables to assess linearity and association."

Range

"Simple measure of dispersion calculated as highest value minus lowest value."

Thick description

"Rich

Interview guide

"List of questions or topics to be covered in a semi-structured interview."

Follow-up interview

"Repeated interview with the same participant to deepen or update data."

Probing question

"Question that follows up a prior answer to obtain clarification

Direct question

"Question that asks straightforwardly about an attitude

Vignette question

"Question that presents a scenario and asks the participant how they would respond or what they think."

Time sampling

"Observation strategy where specific times are selected in advance for recording behaviour."

Structured observation

"Systematic observation using a pre-defined coding scheme to count behaviours."

Unstructured observation

"Observation that does not follow formal coding rules and is open-ended and flexible."

Reactive effect

"Change in participants’ behaviour because they know they are being observed or studied."

Dependability

"Criterion for qualitative research referring to the consistency and auditability of the research process."

Credibility

"Criterion for qualitative research analogous to internal validity

Transferability

"Criterion for qualitative research referring to the extent findings can apply to other settings or groups."

Confirmability

"Criterion for qualitative research referring to the extent findings are shaped by participants rather than researcher bias."

Manifest content

"Visible

Latent content

"Underlying themes

Mutually exclusive categories

"Coding rule that each unit of data can be placed in one and only one category."

Exhaustive categories

"Coding rule that every unit of data fits into at least one category."

Constant comparison

"Grounded theory process of continually comparing data segments within and across categories."

Theoretical saturation

"Point in data collection when additional data no longer yield new concepts or insights."

Critical discourse analysis

"Approach that analyzes how language constructs and reproduces power relations and ideology."

Narrative analysis

"Method focusing on the stories people tell to organize and explain events and experiences."

Photovoice

"Method where participants take photographs of their daily lives and interpret them to express experience."