HDFS 2004W exam 2 study guide questions

What are the different probability sampling methods?

Simple random sampling, systematic sampling, and stratified sampling

What are the different nonprobability sampling methods?

Convience sampling, snowball sampling, quota sampling, and purposive sampling

What is the goal of sampling?

To select a sample that accurately represents the population

What is representativesness?

The extent to which a sample reflects the characteristics of the population from which it was drawn

What is the difference between a population and a sampling frame?

A population is the entire group of interest; a sampling frame is the list used to select particpants from that population

What is sampling error?

Error that occurs because a sample rather than the entire population is studied

What is a confidence level?

The probability that a population parameter is estimated to lie

What is a confidence Interval?

range of values where a population parameter is estimated to fall

What is difference between an experimental group and a control group?

The experimental group receives the treatment; the control group does not

Why must experimental and control groups be comparable?

So differences in outcomes can be attributed to the treatment rather than preexisting group differences

What is a classical experiment?

An experiment that includes an experimental group, a control group, and random assignment

What is a double blind experiment?

An experiment in which neither particpants nor researchers know who recieves the treatment or placebo

What is a quasi experiment

A study that resembles an experiment but lacks key features such as random assignment

What types of research questions are appropriate for experiments?

Exploratory research, hypothesis testing, and studies involving limited and well defined concepts

What is randomization?

Assigning participants to groups by chance

What is matching?

Pairing participants on relevant characteristics before assigning them to groups

What is the difference between matching and randomization?

Matching creates comparable groups using known characteristics, while randomization creates comparable groups through chance

What are the 8 threats to internal validity?

Historical events, maturation, testing, instrumention, regression to the mean, selection bias, experimental mortality, and demoralization

What is historical events as a threat to internal validity?

Outside events occuring during the study influence results

What is maturation as a threat to internal validity?

Participants naturally change over time

What is testing as a threat to internal validity?

Taking a test affects later performance

What is instrumentation as a threat to internal validity?

Changes in measurement procedures affect results

What is regression to the mean?

Extremely high or low scores naturally move closer to average over time

What is selection bias?

Experimental and control groups differ before it is completed

What is demoralization?

Members of the control group become discouraged because they did not recieve the treatment

What topics are appropriate for survey research?

Facts, demographics, attitudes, beliefs, opinions, and behaviors

What are the braod types of questions asked in surveys?

Open ended and closed ended questions

What guidelines should researchers follow when asking survey questions?

Avoid double barrled questions, loaded questions, neagtive wording, and confusing language

What is social desirablity?

The tendency to provide soically acceptable answers instead of completely truthful answers

Why is a high response rate valuable?

It reduces bias and increases representativeness

What is the relationship between response rate and bias?

Lower response rates increase the likelihood of bias

What are the advantages of self-administered questionnaires over interviews?

Lower cost, greater anonymity, and less interviewer influence

What are the implications of bias in a questionnaire?

Results may be distorted and inaccurate

What is the difference between open ended and closed ended questions?

Open ended questions allow respondents to answer in their own words; closed ended questions provide answer choices

What is secondary analysis?

Analysis of data collected by another researcher

What topics are appropriate for evaluation research?

Programs, policies, interventions, laws, and social initiatives

What are the different types of evaluation research?

Program evaluation, needs assessment, cost-benefit studies, monitoring studies, time series designs, and non equivalent control group designs

Why do we sometimes ignore evaluation research findings?

Findings may contradict beliefs, threaten interests, or be difficult to understand

What factors impact the generalizability of a study?

Volunteer bias, college student samples, gender bias, geography, culture, and experimenter effects

What is the difference between exact and conceptual replication?

Exact replication repeats the same procedures; conceptual replication uses different procedures to test the same idea

What does external validity refer to?

The ability to generalize findings to other populations and settings

What are the 3 principles of the belmont report?

Respect for persons, beneficence, and justice

Which unethical historical events led to the national research act of 1974?

The Tuskegee Syphilis Study and other unethical human research practices

What ethical issues should social scientists consider?

Voluntary participation, minimizing harm, anonymity, confidentiality, informed consent, honesty, and deception

Why do we use informed consent?

To ensure particpants understand the study and its risks before agreeing to participate

What are alternatives to deception in research?

Role-playing, simulations, naturalistic observation, partial disclosure, and use of existing data

What is the main function of an internal review board (IRB)?

To protect the rights and welfare of human research participants