Research Design, Methods, and Data Analysis in Social Sciences

What does research design serve as in a study?

A blueprint for the collection, measurement, and analysis of data.

What are the three factors often referred to as 'the research trinity'?

Design, Measurement, and Analysis.

What is the purpose of manipulating independent variables in an experiment?

To examine the effect on dependent variables.

What are the two types of experiments mentioned?

Lab experiments and field experiments.

What is a key advantage of lab experiments?

They are better at establishing causality.

What is a key advantage of field experiments?

They are better at generalizability.

What do self-report designs, like surveys, assess?

Variables through questionnaires or other measures.

What is a limitation of self-report studies?

They usually do not establish causality.

What is one guideline for designing effective self-report studies?

Each question should ask one clear question.

What is a case study in research?

A detailed study of one data point, such as one company.

What is a limitation of case studies?

Findings are not generalizable to other situations.

What is the goal of ethnographic studies?

To build an understanding of the nature and behavior of a group.

What does the unit of measurement refer to in research design?

The level at which data is collected, impacting measures and analyses.

What is the cross-level fallacy?

Making conclusions about a different level of analysis than the one collected.

What is the purpose of mixed methods research?

To overcome limitations of any single research design.

What is triangulation in research?

Collecting different types of data within one study or across multiple studies.

What is data triangulation?

Collecting data from multiple sources and/or times.

What is researcher triangulation?

Involving multiple researchers in data collection and/or analysis.

What is theory triangulation?

Interpreting findings using multiple theories or perspectives.