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Survey research
a nonexperimental research method relying on questionnaires or interview protocols
Power
The probability of rejecting a false-null hypothesis.
Sample
the set of cases selected from the population.
Descriptive statistics
the type of statistical analysis focused on describing, summarising, or explaining a set of data.
Qualitative research
the type of research relying on qualitative research data
Single-case research design
research design in which a single participant or a single group of individuals is used to investigate the influence of a treatment condition.
Quasi-experimental design
A research design in which an experimental procedure is applied but all extraneous variables are not controlled.
Traditional Methods of Acquiring Knowledge
Intuition, Authority, Rationalism, Empiricism.
Research design
The outline, plan, or strategy used to investigate the research problem.
Research validity
Truthfulness of inferences made from a research study.
Variable
A condition or characteristic that can take on different values or categories.
Research ethics
A set of guidelines to assist the researcher in conducting ethical research.
Theory
A statement or group of statements that explain "how" and "why" some part of the world works, and provides predictions about the world to be empirically tested.
Experimental Research
The research approach in which one attempts to demonstrate cause-and-effect relationships by manipulating the independent variable.
Differential influence
When the influence of an extraneous variable is different for the various groups.
Weak experimental designs
Designs that do not control for many extraneous variables and provide weak evidence of cause and effect.
Population
the full group to which one wants to generalise.
Inferential statistics
the type of statistical analysis focused on making inferences about populations.
Mixed methods research
type of research in which quantitative and qualitative data or approaches are combined in a single study.
ABA design
a single-case design in which the response to the treatment condition is compared to baseline responses recorded before and after treatment.
Design components
Structures and procedures used in constructing research designs.
Effect size
The magnitude of the relationship between two variables in a population.
Method of difference
If groups are equivalent on every variable except for one, then that one variable is the cause of the difference between the groups.
Statistical conclusion validity
Validity of the inference made about whether the independent and dependent variables covary.
Measurement
The assignment of symbols or numbers to something according to a set of rules.
Research misconduct
Fabricating, falsifying, or plagiarising the proposing, performing, reviewing, or reporting of research results.
PsycINFO
An electronic bibliographic database of abstracts and citations to the scholarly literature in psychology.
Descriptive Research
Research that attempts to describe some phenomenon, event, or situation.
Science - Assumptions
Uniformity, Reality, Discoverability
cross-sectional study
data are collected during a single, brief time period.
One-group posttest-only design
Administration of a posttest to a single group of participants after they have been given an experimental treatment condition.
Statistic
a numerical index based on sample data.
Data set
a set of data, where the rows are "cases"and the columns are "variables".
Twelve Major Characteristics of Qualitative Research
Naturalistic inquiry (design strategy)
Emergent design flexibility (design strategy)
Purposeful sampling (design strategy)
Qualitative data (Data collection and Fieldwork strategy)
Personal experience and engagement (Data collection and Fieldwork strategy)
Empathic neutrality and mindfulness (Data collection and Fieldwork strategy)
Dynamic systems (Data collection and Fieldwork strategy)
Unique case orientation (Analysis strategy)
Inductive analysis and creative synthesis (Analysis strategy)
Holistic perspective (Analysis strategy)
Context sensitivity (Analysis strategy)
Voice, perspective, and reflexivity (Analysis strategy)
Baseline
the target behaviour of the participant in its natrurally occurring state or prior to presentation of the treatment condition.
Nonequivalent comparison group design
A quasi-experimental design in which the results obtained from nonequivalent experimental and control groups are compared.
Postexperimental interview
An interview with the participant following completion of the experiment, during which all aspects of the experiment are explained and the participant is allowed to comment on the study.
Randomisation
Control technique that equates groups of participants by ensuring every member an equal chance of being assigned to any group.
Construct validity
Validity of the inference about the higher-order constructs from the operations used to represent them. The extent to which a construct is adequately represented by the measures used in a research study.
Stevens' Four Scales of Measurement
Nominal, Used to name, categorise, or classify; Ordinal, Used to rank order objects or individuals; Interval, Used to rank order, plus has equal intervals or distances between adjacent numbers; Ratio, Fully quantitative, includes rank ordering, equal intervals, plus has an absolute zero point.
Ethical dilemma
The investigator's conflict in weighing the potential cost to the participant against the potential gain to be accrued from the research project.
Search engine
A software program that seeks out Web pages stored on servers throughout the World Wide Web.
Quantitative Research Study
A research study that is based on numerical data.
Science - Characteristics
Control, Operationalism, Replication.
Longitudinal study
data are collected at two or more points in time.
Random assignment
Randomly assigning a sample of individuals to a specific number of comparison groups.
Parameter
a numerical characteristic of a population.
Simpson's Paradox
where the aggregated data produces one conclusion, but disaggregated data produces an opposite, more accurate conclusion.
Researcher bias
only noticing data that supports one's prior expectations.
Reversal
change of behaviour back to baseline level after withdrawal of treatment.
Selection bias
Because groups are nonequivalent, there will always be a potential selection bias. However, the pretest allows the exploration of the possible size and direction of the bias on any variables measured at pretesting.
Pilot study
An experiment that is conducted on a few participants prior to the actual collection of data.
Nominal scale
The use of symbols, such as words or numbers to classify or categorise measurement objects into groups or types.
One-group pretest-posttest design
Design in which a treatment condition is interjected between a pretest and posttest of the dependent variable.
Internal validity
Validity of the inference that the independent and dependent variables are causally related. The correctness of inferences made by researchers about cause and effect.
Beneficence
Acting for the benefit of others.
Research problem
An interrogative sentence that states the relationship between two variables.
Numerical Data
Data consisting of numbers.
Science - Role of Theory
Logic of Discovery, Logic of Justification.
Panel studies
Longitudinal study where data are collected from the same individuals at successive time points.
ABAB design
extension to ABA design to include reintroduction of the treatment condition.
Selection-attrition bias
The pretest allows examination of the nature of attrition to see if there is a difference between those that drop out or do not complete the experiment and those that do.
Matching
Using any of a variety of techniques for equating participants on one or more variables.
Frequency distribution
data arrangement in which the frequencies of each unique data value is shown.
Greek letters
used by statisticians to represent population parameters. (alpha, beta)
Posttest-only design with nonequivalent groups
Design in which the performance of an experimental group is compared with that of a nonequivalent control group at the posttest.
Reflexivity
Thinking critically about one's interpretations and biases.
External validity
Validity of the inference about whether the causal relationship holds over people, settings, treatment variables, measurement variables, and time. Degree to which the study results can be generalised to and across other people, settings, treatments, outcomes, and times.
Nonmaleficence
Do no harm to others.
Specificity of the research question
The preciseness with which the research question is stated.
Trend study
independent samples are taken successively from a population over time and the same questions are asked.
Qualitative Research Study
A research study based on nonnumerical data.
Science - Role of Scientist
Curiosity, Patience, Objectivity, Change
Ordinal scale
A rank order measurement scale
RCT (Randomised Controlled Trial)
Experimental design with random assignment to experimental and control groups.
Roman letters
used by statisticians to represent sample statistics. (a,b,c..)
Bar graph
graph that uses vertical bars to represent the data values of a categorical variable.
Negative-case sampling
searching for cases that challenge one's expectations or one's current findings
Withdrawal
removal of the treatment condition
Selection-maturation bias
This might exist if one group of participants becomes more experienced, tired, or bored than those in the other group.
Statistical conclusion validity
The validity of inferences made about the covariation between the independent and dependent variables.
Matching variable
The extraneous variable used in matching.
Interval scale
A scale of measurement with equal intervals of distance between adjacent numbers.
Informed consent
Informing the research participant of all aspects of the study that might influence his or her willingness to volunteer to participate.
Hypothesis
The best prediction or a tentative solution to a problem.
Nonnumerical Data
Data that consists of pictures, words, statements, clothing, written records or documents, or a description of situations and behaviour.
Science - Objectives
Describe, Explain, Predict, Control.
Survey instrument
data collection instrument used in survey research such as a questionnaire or interview protocol.
Statistical control
Control of measured extraneous variables during data analysis.
Sampling distribution
the theoretical probability distribution of the values of a statistic that would result if you selected all possible samples of a particular size from a population.
Descriptive validity
the factual accuracy of the account reported by the researcher
Reversal design
a design in which the treatment condition is applied to an alternative but incompatible behaviour so that a reversal in behaviour is produced.
Selection-instrumentation bias
This might exist if the nonequivalent groups of participants start at different points on the pretest, particularly if the measuring instrument does not have equal intervals.
Control group
The group of participants that does not receive the active treatment condition and serves as a standard of comparison for determining whether the treatment condition produced any causal effect.
Histogram
graph depicting frequencies and distribution of a quantitative variable.
Statistically significant
The observed relationship is probably not due to chance.
Assent
Agreement from a minor to participate in research after receiving an age-appropriate explanation of the study.
Research hypothesis
The predicted relationship among the variables being investigated.
Variable
A characteristic or phenomenon that can vary across or within organisms, situations, or environments.
Intuition
Intuition occurs when one feels the have direct knowledge or insight but cannot state any observation or reason for the knowledge.
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