A: Causality & Research Design

concept

defined term that enables us to organize and classify phenomena

categories

designate variation that occurs within a concept

variable

definable quantity that can take on 2 or more values

operationalization

moving from a variable to an indicator

DV

what we are measuring

IV

what explains the DV

hypothesis

theory-based statement about what we would expect to observe from a relationship

falsifiable

must be some evidence to refute it

The scientific method

1) question

2) theory

3) hypothesis

4) empirical test

5) evaluate hypothesis

6) evaluate theory

theory

logically consistent statements that tell us why things occur

models

simplifications to tell us about our broader relationship

Null hypothesis

hypothesis of no effect (no relationship)

descriptive questions

describe how something works/behaves

explanatory questions

causes of an event

predictive questions

modelling future outcomes based on current trends

prescriptive questions

things that can be done to prevent/bring about an outcome

normative questions

what is right, best, preferable

causality

cause and effect

temporal order

when one event occurs in reaction to another

spurious relationship

when the relationship between 2 variables can be accounted for by a 3rd

ecological fallacy

taking group level patterns and using them to imply individual level patterns

intervening variable

come between IV and DV, affecting direction of causality

reinforcing variable

strengthens and magnifies the relationship between the IV and DV

covariation

x and y are moving together

internal validity

IV and DV are causally related

external validity

results are generalizable

experimental designs

treatment and control group

observational studies

Researchers carefully and systematically observe and record behavior without interfering with behavior

longitudinal designs

cohort study: follow a group of people for a period of time and record data periodically

panel: group of people from representative cross-sectional samples

comparative designs

large, small or single N

surveys

Questionnaires and interviews that ask people directly about their experiences, attitudes, or opinions

interviews and focus groups

structured, unstructured (focus groups), semi-structured

ethnography

describe the lives of other people with high accuracy and detail

discourse/content analysis

use multiple sources of data and methods of data collection