RESEARCH METHODS |COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE WITH
100% ACCURATE QUESTIONS &ANSWERS. EXCELLENCE
GUARANTEED.
Mean Answer: The average in a set of numbers
Median Answer: The middle number in a set of numbers
Mode Answer: Most frequently re-occuring number in a set of numbers
Standard Deviation Answer: Used to show and measure the variation in data
Histograms/Bar Graphs Answer: A graph that shows the frequency between two things
Operationalization Answer: The process of defining a measurement that isn't
necessarily measurable
Theory Answer: A list of ideas that are used to explain predictions and to make
predictions
Hypothesis Answer: An educated guess on what the outcome will be that supports the
theory
Research Answer: The actual collection of the data being tested. The test of the
hypothesis
Descriptive Research Answer: Used to describe behavior and characteristics of the
population. Usually Naturalistic Observation, Case Studies, and Surveys
Longitudinal studies Answer: Take long periods of time, hence "long". Used to show the
changes in a person over a long period of time. These take a long time, they're
expensive, and because of the long amount of time, you may lose participants (death)
which makes it all a waste
Cross-sectional studies Answer: Observe and classify the changes in different types of
people and different groups at the same time. This is sometimes at a disadvantage
because unidentified variables can get involved
Naturalistic observation Answer: The process of observing and classifying, not
explaining, behavior of people in a natural setting (at home, parks, a mall). The people
are being observed without interference between the observer and the one being
1
APPHIA - Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
, observed. The bad thing about it is observer bias, it's time consuming, and you don't
have control over the environment.
Observer Bias Answer: When the researcher them self alters or changes the results of
the study. For example, a teacher studying differences in math skills between boys and
girls might spend more time teaching boys because he/she believes that boys are better
at math.
Case Study Answer: Kind of the same as naturalistic observation, except a case study
has a deeper study on a certain topic with less people. For example, health. You usually
can't replicate these and because of the small amount of people, it takes away
generalization.
Survey Answer: AKA the interactive method, a survey is used to get large amounts of
data in a short amount of time, either though an interview or a questionnaire. These are
very inexpensive, however, people may lie because they know they're a part of an
experiment, and it doesn't represent the entire population. It also leads to more
advanced research.
Hawthorne Effect Answer: This is when you know you're being watched so you act
differently, usually for the better, however you may act worse because you're under
pressure. For example, a teacher knows they're being evaluated so that day they act on
their A game and do the best they can in front of the interviewer.
Cohort Effect Answer: When an entire group of people get eliminated from an
experiment. For example, either young, old, skinny, fat, tall, short, etc.
Social Desirability Bias Answer: This is when the person who is being observed acts
how they think the observer wants them to act. For example, if someone is being
experimented on for the use of drugs, however they are in a room with fat people, they
may think it's for weight loss and try to lose weight because that's what they think it's all
about.
Experimenter Bias Answer: This is when the experimenter messes with the results of
the experiment in order to make the outcome how they wanted it to be. The
experimenter's actions influence the outcome.
Selection Bias Answer: This is when the proper form of randomness is not achieved. In
order to fix this one may want to use a random number generator instead of trying to
2
APPHIA - Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
100% ACCURATE QUESTIONS &ANSWERS. EXCELLENCE
GUARANTEED.
Mean Answer: The average in a set of numbers
Median Answer: The middle number in a set of numbers
Mode Answer: Most frequently re-occuring number in a set of numbers
Standard Deviation Answer: Used to show and measure the variation in data
Histograms/Bar Graphs Answer: A graph that shows the frequency between two things
Operationalization Answer: The process of defining a measurement that isn't
necessarily measurable
Theory Answer: A list of ideas that are used to explain predictions and to make
predictions
Hypothesis Answer: An educated guess on what the outcome will be that supports the
theory
Research Answer: The actual collection of the data being tested. The test of the
hypothesis
Descriptive Research Answer: Used to describe behavior and characteristics of the
population. Usually Naturalistic Observation, Case Studies, and Surveys
Longitudinal studies Answer: Take long periods of time, hence "long". Used to show the
changes in a person over a long period of time. These take a long time, they're
expensive, and because of the long amount of time, you may lose participants (death)
which makes it all a waste
Cross-sectional studies Answer: Observe and classify the changes in different types of
people and different groups at the same time. This is sometimes at a disadvantage
because unidentified variables can get involved
Naturalistic observation Answer: The process of observing and classifying, not
explaining, behavior of people in a natural setting (at home, parks, a mall). The people
are being observed without interference between the observer and the one being
1
APPHIA - Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
, observed. The bad thing about it is observer bias, it's time consuming, and you don't
have control over the environment.
Observer Bias Answer: When the researcher them self alters or changes the results of
the study. For example, a teacher studying differences in math skills between boys and
girls might spend more time teaching boys because he/she believes that boys are better
at math.
Case Study Answer: Kind of the same as naturalistic observation, except a case study
has a deeper study on a certain topic with less people. For example, health. You usually
can't replicate these and because of the small amount of people, it takes away
generalization.
Survey Answer: AKA the interactive method, a survey is used to get large amounts of
data in a short amount of time, either though an interview or a questionnaire. These are
very inexpensive, however, people may lie because they know they're a part of an
experiment, and it doesn't represent the entire population. It also leads to more
advanced research.
Hawthorne Effect Answer: This is when you know you're being watched so you act
differently, usually for the better, however you may act worse because you're under
pressure. For example, a teacher knows they're being evaluated so that day they act on
their A game and do the best they can in front of the interviewer.
Cohort Effect Answer: When an entire group of people get eliminated from an
experiment. For example, either young, old, skinny, fat, tall, short, etc.
Social Desirability Bias Answer: This is when the person who is being observed acts
how they think the observer wants them to act. For example, if someone is being
experimented on for the use of drugs, however they are in a room with fat people, they
may think it's for weight loss and try to lose weight because that's what they think it's all
about.
Experimenter Bias Answer: This is when the experimenter messes with the results of
the experiment in order to make the outcome how they wanted it to be. The
experimenter's actions influence the outcome.
Selection Bias Answer: This is when the proper form of randomness is not achieved. In
order to fix this one may want to use a random number generator instead of trying to
2
APPHIA - Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
