Communications Quiz 3

Experiment

Manipulating a variable or two & observing the effects on another variable or two

Advantages of Experiments

-Cause & Effect Relationship
-Gives you control over the environment you bring the experiment into

Limitations of Experiments

-People can act differently in labs
-No external validity
-Might not be accurate outside the lab

Survey's

Involves collecting information from a large group of people on a large group of topics

Advantages of Surveys

-Studies how people perceive their worlds
-Larger samples(compared to experiments)

Limitations of Surveys

People can LIE
1)to mess with you
2) to try and get what you want to hear
3)try and make themselves look good

Available Data

Looking at things that already exist

Advantages of Available Data

-Non-reactive
-Don't have to rely on someone's memory
-Great way to study the past

Limitations of Available Data

Sometimes the data does not exist

Field Research

Observing someone's behavior/communication in the natural setting

Advantages of Field Research

-Watching it in real time(no lying)
-Lets you study things you can't stimulate in a lab

Limitations of Field Research

-NO Control
-Need the ability to be observant in a non-bias way

Unit of Analysis

Individuals
Dyads
Groups
Organizations

Independent Variable

Think Predictor
-Impact on others
-Cause (only in an experiment)

Dependent Variable

Think Outcome
-being influenced/being impacted
-Effect (only in an experiment)

Intervening Variable

In Between predictor & outcomes/independent & dependent

Control Variables

variables researchers want to be held constant throughout the duration on the study

Qualitative Variables

Think Type
-Looking at different categories

Quantitative Variables

Think amount/numbers
-Always counting & comparing

Shape of the Relationsip

Positive Relationship: Variables move in the SAME direction
Negative Relationship: Variables more in the OPPOSITE direction
Curvilinear Relationship: Relationship between variables MOVE from one point to another
Independent: NO relationship

Strength of the Relationship: Correlation Coefficient

Further from 0 in either direction (+ or -) = STRONGER

Strength of the Relationship:
Genetic Criteria for Social Sciences

.50(-.50)= STRONG relationship
.30(-.30)= MODERATE relationship
.10(-.10)= SMALL relationship

Abstract

Brief summary of the study

Introduction

Statement of the problem, information we don't have but need

Literature Review

A write up of a relevant study,occurrences,theories, models...

Includes:
Conceptual definitions of Variables
Rational or argument for research questions and/or hypothesis
Research questions and/or hypotheses

Methods Section

Blueprint of the study that has to include enough detail for you to replicate the study

What is in the Methods Section?

-Type of Research
-How was the Study Conducted
-Who
-Operational Definitions

Results/ Findings Section

What they found objectively (not their opinion)
Usually displayed using stats, tables, charts

Discussion Section

Results are restates in "plain english"
Not meant to be objective its meant to be persuasive

What is in the Discussion Section?

-Explanations
-Implications
-Limitations
-Future Directions