Lecture 5: Research Design and Sampling Methods

Comprehensive practice flashcards reviewing sampling methods, research design decisions, participant criteria, experimental mortality, and random selection vs assignment based on Lecture 5.

What can a study sample consist of besides human participants?

A sample can consist of groups, events, records, behaviors, etc.

What are the two important decisions in research design?

1) What variable is being measured (selecting variables and operationally defining how each will be measured or manipulated). 2) Who is being studied (defining target population, establishing criteria, and determining sampling and recruitment).

What is the target population in a research study?

The group of individuals the study is intended to generalize its findings to, determined by the research question and defined by the researchers.

What is a sampling method?

The process used to obtain participants from the target population.

How is a sample defined in research?

The individuals from the target population who participate in the study.

What are the three primary goals of sampling?

1) Managing resources (studying a smaller, manageable group). 2) Controlling for bias (minimizing selection bias so the sample mirrors the target population). 3) Making inferences (using a small, representative sample to generalize findings to a broader population).

What defines probability sampling?

A sampling category where participants are selected using a random process in which each member has a known, nonzero chance of being selected.

What is a simple random sample?

A probability sampling method where researchers must know every single person who could participate in the sample, and their names are randomly selected (e.g., via a computer program or drawing from a hat).

What defines non-probability sampling?

A sampling category where participants are not selected using a random process, and their chances of being selected are unknown.

What is convenience sampling?

A non-probability sampling method that involves recruiting from people who the researcher has easy access to (pretty common in kinesiology).

What are inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria?

Criteria defined by the researchers describing relevant characteristics participants need to have to be in the study or to be excluded from it.

What are participant demographics?

Relevant characteristics that the sample has that are relevant to the study.

What is experimental mortality (attrition)?

When participants drop out of the study before it ends.

How do researchers manage experimental mortality (attrition) and what can a drastic drop indicate?

It is always expected so researchers plan for it (e.g., by recruiting more people); a drastic drop may tell researchers that something is wrong with the study.

When does random selection in sampling occur?

If random selection occurs, it does so before the study begins, as part of the sampling process.

When does random assignment to groups occur, and how common is it in kinesiology?

Random assignment happens after sampling has occurred (randomly assigning people to groups), and it is very common in kinesiology studies.