9/2 HW: Reading Self-Report Surveys and Case Studies

AKA on reading pdf: Questionnaires, Surveys, and Case Studies

Acquiescence Bias

A type of response bias where participants tend to agree with statements regardless of their content, especially when they lack a strong opinion

Anonymous

A condition where the identity of survey or questionnaire respondents is not known to the researcher, increasing the likelihood of honest responses

Box Plot

A visual representation of the distribution of data that displays the median, quartiles, and possible outliers to help understand data variance and skew

Case Study

An in-depth investigation of a particular individual, group, event, or organization, often conducted over a long period of time and using multiple data sources

Credibility

The degree to which the results of a study are believable and trustworthy, often enhanced through triangulation in case studies

Data Triangulation

The use of multiple data sources (e.g., participants, documents, observations) in a study to enhance credibility

Idiographic Approach

A research approach that focuses on understanding individual cases in depth and in their unique context rather than aiming for generalizations

Interquartile Range (IQR)

A measure of statistical dispersion, calculated as the range within which the middle 50% of values fall in a dataset

Likert Scale

A common survey format that measures degrees of agreement or frequency (e.g., from “Strongly Disagree” to “Strongly Agree”) to quantify attitudes or behaviors

Longitudinal Study

A study that collects data from the same subjects over an extended period, allowing researchers to observe changes and developments

Mean

The arithmetic average of a set of numbers. Often misused in analyzing ordinal data like Likert scale responses

Median

The middle value in a set of ordered data. Preferred over the mean for analyzing ordinal data like survey responses

Meta-Analysis

A statistical method that combines the findings from multiple studies to identify overall trends and draw broader conclusions

Mode

The most frequently occurring value in a data set. Used alongside the variation ratio to assess the consensus in survey responses

Natural Environment

The real-life setting in which behavior is observed or data is collected, as opposed to controlled laboratory conditions

Nomothetic Approach

A research approach aiming to identify general laws and broad patterns across individuals or cases, often to support generalizations

Non-response Bias

A type of bias that occurs when individuals who do not participate in a survey differ significantly from those who do, potentially skewing results

Ordinal Data

Data that represent ordered categories (e.g., ratings from “poor” to “excellent”) where intervals between values are not necessarily equal

Participant Attrition

The loss of participants over time in longitudinal studies, which can threaten the validity of the research

Participant Observation

A qualitative data collection method where the researcher immerses themselves in the environment of the subjects being studied

Prospective Study

A study that follows participants forward in time from the point of initial observation or intervention

Questionnaire

A written set of questions aimed at collecting qualitative data, often used in interviews or surveys

Qualitative Data

Non-numeric information that provides depth and context, often gathered through open-ended questions or interviews

Quantitative Data

Numerical information that can be statistically analyzed, commonly gathered using structured tools like Likert scales

Recall Bias

A bias that occurs when participants inaccurately remember past events, leading to over- or under-reporting in surveys or interviews

Recency Bias

A bias where participants give more weight to recent experiences when responding, which may distort long-term trends or patterns

Representational Generalization

Applying the findings of a case study or qualitative research to broader populations or contexts when appropriate patterns emerge

Researcher Triangulation

The involvement of multiple researchers in analyzing or interpreting data to reduce individual bias and enhance objectivity

Retrospective Study

A study that looks backward in time, collecting data about past behaviors or experiences

Self-Report

A data collection method in which participants provide information about themselves, often through questionnaires or interviews

Social Desirability Bias

A tendency of participants to respond in ways they believe are socially acceptable or favorable rather than being truthful

Survey

A method for collecting and analyzing data from a set of questions distributed to a large group of people, often combining qualitative and quantitative data

Theoretical Triangulation

Using multiple theoretical perspectives to interpret findings and strengthen the robustness of conclusions

Triangulation

The use of multiple methods, data sources, researchers, or theories in a study to enhance the credibility and depth of the findings

Variation Ratio (VR)

A statistical measure calculated as 1 minus the proportion of the sample that gave the most common response

it reflects disagreement in a dataset