Research CHPT 6

survey/poll

method of posing questions on phone, interview, or written questionnaires

forced-choice question

a survey question format in which respondents give opinion by picking the best of two+ options

likert scale

rating scale anchored by strongly agree - strongly disagree

semantic differential format

using response scale whose numbers are anchored with contrasting adjectives

open-ended questions

allows respondent to answer any way they like

leading question

problematic, wording encourages one response more than others

double-barrelled question

problematic, asks two questions in one

negatively worded question

contains negatively framed statements, making wording complicated or confusing

response set

shortcut responders may use to answer items in a long survey, rather than responding to the content of each item

acquiescence

answering yes or strongly agree to every item

fence sitting

answering in the middle for every question

socially desirable responding

giving answers on a survey that makes one look better than they really are

faking good

making yourself look good/better on self-reports

faking bad

making yourself look worse/bad on self reports

observational research

the process of watching people or animals and systematically recording how they behave or what they are doing

observer bias

bias occurring when observer expectations influence the interpretation of participant behaviors or outcome of study

masked design

observers are unaware of experimental conditions to which participants are assigned

reactivity

change in behavior of participants because they are aware they are being watched

unobtrusive observation

observation made indirectly, through physical traces of behavior or made by someone hidden

participant observation

qualitative research technique in which one or more researchers live among the population they are studying

informant

a person who is expert in the area of interest and who works with the researcher to understand a social issue or other research question

observer effect

change in behavior of study participants in direction of observer expectations