Methods Test

What is a goal of interpretivism?

What is a goal of interpretivism?

Interpret the social world from the point of view of actors.

Which research design best satisfies the three criteria of causation?

Experimental designs.

What makes a researcher concerned about external validity?

When a sample is non-random.

What refers to the threat that participants become sensitized to the experiment's aims due to a pre-test?

Testing.

What is a limitation of laboratory experiments?

Low external validity.

What problem is reduced by using closed questions in surveys?

Inter-interviewer variability.

What is a limitation of vignettes in research?

It’s difficult to establish the respondent’s assumptions.

Compared to face-to-face interviews, what is a key characteristic of telephone interviews?

Quicker to administer.

In a structured observation study, what reactive effect occurs if a participant tries to appear knowledgeable?

Role selection.

Which survey design is most suitable for precise accounts of participants' behaviors?

Researcher-driven diaries.

Do participants in a field experiment usually know they are being studied?

No, they usually do not know.

What is it called when the effect of one independent variable varies at different levels of another?

Interaction.

Which sampling strategy is likely used for testing new scales of reliability?

Convenience sampling.

What is the strongest critique of quota sampling?

Statistical estimates are unlikely to be useful without random sampling.

What type of variable is produced by Likert-scale response categories?

Ordinal.

Which measure of central tendency is most vulnerable to outliers?

Mean.

Which diagram type is best for displaying interval data?

Histogram.

Which measure of association is often reported with a chi-square test?

Cramer’s V.

What does a scatterplot with no apparent pattern indicate?

No correlation between the variables.

What is a limitation of respondent validation?

Participants may not be competent to assess the validity of a study.

What criteria is assessed when asking if evidence is free from distortion in content analysis?

Credibility.

What criterion in qualitative research evaluation is associated with thick description?

Transferability.

Which is NOT a theme in discourse analysis?

Discourse is objective.

What is NOT a critique of qualitative methods?

Ignores issues of social justice.

Do gatekeepers have control over the methodology of a research study?

False, they can influence the methodology.

Are all threats to internal and external validity only applicable to experimental research designs?

False.

Does standardization in surveys minimize the possibility of interviewer mistakes?

True.

Can secondary data sources have methodological issues?

True.

Is there no good way to identify issues of researcher bias in qualitative data analysis?

False.

Is determining if documents are authentic a problem in content analysis?

True.

Is losing participants in a longitudinal study not a concern?

False.

What are the four primary goals of sociological research?

To explore, describe, explain, and apply social phenomena.

What is the difference between exploratory and explanatory research?

Exploratory research aims to investigate little-understood phenomena, while explanatory research seeks to understand the relationships between variables.

What are structured interviews?

Interviews where all respondents are asked the same questions in the same order, often with fixed-choice answers.

What is the purpose of surveys in research?

To collect data from a sample of individuals using structured questions to generalize findings to a larger population.

How does participant observation differ from structured observation?

Participant observation involves the researcher actively engaging with the group being studied, while structured observation involves observing behaviors without interference.

What are some common qualitative research methods?

Interviews, focus groups, ethnography, and content analysis.

What is the main concern of reliability in qualitative research?

Consistency in data collection and analysis procedures.

What does validity refer to in qualitative research?

The accuracy and truthfulness of the findings in representing the phenomenon being studied.

What is the role of reflexivity in qualitative research?

Reflexivity involves researchers acknowledging their own biases and influence on the research process.

How does discourse analysis differ from content analysis?

Discourse analysis focuses on the construction and use of language in context, while content analysis quantifies the presence of certain elements in the data.

What are common themes in discourse analysis?

The examination of power dynamics, identity construction, and the role of language in shaping reality.

What is a longitudinal study?

A research design that involves repeated observations of the same variables over an extended period.

Why is random sampling important in survey research?

It helps ensure that the sample represents the population, reducing sampling bias.

What is a case study?

An in-depth examination of a single case or a small number of cases, often used in qualitative research.

What is the purpose of using mixed methods in research?

To combine quantitative and qualitative approaches to provide a more comprehensive understanding of a research problem.

What are some challenges of using secondary data in research?

Issues with data quality, relevance, and lack of control over data collection.

What is the importance of ethical considerations in research?

Ensuring the protection of participants, maintaining integrity, and promoting trust in the research process.

What is the Hawthorne effect?

A change in a subject's behavior due to their awareness of being observed.

What are the main components of a research proposal?

Introduction, literature review, methodology, expected results, and ethical considerations.

What is the significance of informed consent in research?

It ensures that participants are fully aware of the research process and agree to participate voluntarily.

How can researchers ensure the credibility of qualitative research?

By using techniques such as member checking, triangulation, and maintaining a clear audit trail.

What is the difference between primary and secondary data?

Primary data is collected directly by the researcher, while secondary data is collected by someone else for a different purpose.

What are some common ethical issues in qualitative research?

Privacy concerns, confidentiality, and potential harm to participants.

What is an operational definition in research?

A clear, precise definition of a variable that specifies how it will be measured or identified in a study.

What is the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning in research?

Inductive reasoning involves generating theories based on observations, while deductive reasoning tests existing theories.

What is a literature review?

A comprehensive overview of existing research on a specific topic, identifying gaps and guiding the current study.

What is the purpose of pilot testing in research?

To refine the research design, instruments, and procedures before conducting the full study.

How does standardization in surveys help improve data quality?

It ensures consistency in question delivery and response recording, reducing variability.

What is content validity?

The extent to which a measurement instrument covers the full range of the concept being studied.

Why is participant retention important in longitudinal studies?

To maintain the validity and reliability of the data over time.

What is the difference between a hypothesis and a research question?

A hypothesis is a testable prediction about the relationship between variables, while a research question guides the focus of the study.

What is an independent variable?

A variable that is manipulated or categorized to determine its effect on a dependent variable.

What is a dependent variable?

The outcome variable that researchers measure to see if it is affected by changes in the independent variable.

What are the advantages of using qualitative methods in research?

They provide in-depth insights, explore complex phenomena, and capture rich, contextualized data.

What is sampling bias?

A bias that occurs when the sample is not representative of the population, affecting the generalizability of the results.

What is the purpose of using control groups in experimental research?

To provide a baseline for comparison, isolating the effect of the independent variable.

How does cultural competence play a role in research?

It involves understanding and respecting cultural differences, ensuring that research is sensitive and appropriate for diverse populations.

What is the purpose of using a double-blind study design?

To prevent bias by ensuring that neither the participants nor the researchers know who is in the experimental or control groups.

What is the role of theory in research?

Theory provides a framework for understanding phenomena, guiding the development of research questions and hypotheses.

What is constructivist epistemology in qualitative research?

The belief that knowledge is constructed through social interactions and shared experiences, emphasizing the subjective nature of reality.

What is Pearson's r, and what does it measure?

Pearson's r is a measure of the linear correlation between two continuous variables. It ranges from -1 to +1, where 1 indicates a perfect positive correlation, -1 indicates a perfect negative correlation, and 0 indicates no correlation.

For what type of data is Pearson's r used?

Pearson's r is used for interval and ratio data, where the relationship between two continuous variables is assessed.

What does Spearman's rho measure, and when is it used?

Spearman's rho measures the strength and direction of the monotonic relationship between two ranked variables. It is used when the data is ordinal or when the assumptions of Pearson's r are not met.

For what type of data is Spearman's rho appropriate?

Spearman's rho is used for ordinal data or when interval/ratio data do not meet the assumptions of normality required for Pearson's r.

What is Kendall's tau, and what does it measure?

Kendall's tau is a measure of the strength and direction of association between two variables measured at the ordinal level. It assesses the degree to which the rankings of the two variables correspond.

When is Kendall's tau used, and for what type of data?

Kendall's tau is used for ordinal data, especially in small samples or when there are many tied ranks. It provides a measure of rank correlation.

What is Cramer's V, and what does it measure?

Cramer's V is a measure of association between two nominal variables. It ranges from 0 to 1, with higher values indicating a stronger association.

For what type of data is Cramer's V used?

Cramer's V is used for nominal data, particularly in the context of a chi-square test for independence in a contingency table.

What is the chi-square test, and what does it assess?

The chi-square test is a statistical test that assesses whether there is a significant association between two categorical variables. It compares the observed frequencies in each category to the expected frequencies if there were no association.

What type of data is the chi-square test used for?

The chi-square test is used for nominal data in contingency tables to test for independence or goodness of fit.

What does the coefficient of determination (R²) measure?

R² measures the proportion of variance in the dependent variable that is predictable from the independent variable(s). It indicates the strength of the relationship between the variables.

For what type of data is the coefficient of determination (R²) applicable?

R² is applicable to interval and ratio data in the context of regression analysis.

What is the phi coefficient, and when is it used?

The phi coefficient measures the association between two binary variables. It is similar to Pearson's r but specifically for 2x2 contingency tables.

For what type of data is the phi coefficient used?

The phi coefficient is used for nominal data, specifically binary data in 2x2 contingency tables.

What does the point-biserial correlation coefficient measure?

The point-biserial correlation coefficient measures the strength and direction of association between one continuous variable and one dichotomous (binary) variable.

For what type of data is the point-biserial correlation coefficient used?

It is used for data where one variable is dichotomous and the other is continuous, often in psychological and educational testing.