Research Methods FINAL Exam Questions and Answers 100% Pass
Quantitative research - Answers Systematic empirical investigation of quantitative properties and
phenomena and their relationships. This data is LIMITED. Number data.
Qualitative research - Answers Goal is to gather an in-depth understanding of human behavior and the
reasons that govern such behavior. Investigates the why and how of decision making. Ex- Performance,
OPEN-ENDED (are there common themes that emerge?), interviews transcripts--> put data into
categories (themes).
Different types of qualitative research - Answers Ethnographic, Phenomenological, grounded theory,
case study
Ethnographic - Answers Study that describes and interprets a culture or social group system. Researcher
becomes immersed in the day-to-day lives of the people being studied or uses extensive interviews of
the group to determine what they say about their culture or social condition.
Phenomenological - Answers Study of lived experiences by individuals who have experienced a
phenomenon. Ex- kids that have a learning disorder.
Grounded theory - Answers Study which tries to generate a theory of a particular phenomenon.
Interviews of people observations in the natural environment, and theoretical propositions are
developed. Grounded in existing information facts revision of a study.
Case study - Answers Investigation in which a "case" (person, event, activity, or individuals) are studied
extensively. Ex- medical cases... Looking at particular clinical cases.
Four basic ways of collecting data for qualitative study - Answers Observations, interviews, documents,
visual materials.
Observations - Answers researcher makes notes about behaviors/events and field notes obtained in the
natural environment (commonly used with ethnographic studies)
Interviews - Answers Researcher asks a series of standard questions to participants (commonly used
with phenomenological and grounded theory studies)
Documents - Answers Journals that people produce.
Visual materials - Answers data from photos, videotapes or drawings.
Mixed research - Answers Based on both quantitative and qualitative research.
Turn this into a quantitative statement:
Qualitative: The purpose of the study was to determine the perceptions and reactions of lower and
middle income home owners in Chicago to homeless individuals in that city. - Answers Quantitative: The
, purpose of the study was to determine the difference between the perceptions and reactions of lower
and middle income homeowners to homeless individuals in Chicago.
Turn this into a qualitative statement:
Quantitative: The purpose of the study was to determine if there were significant differences in the
amount of money wagered at 3 different gaming tables (roulette, BJ, poker) at a Las Vegas casino across
a 6 month period. - Answers Qualitative: The purpose of the study was to determine what factors that
contribute to a gamblers choice between roulette, BJ, and poker at a Las Vegas casino.
Three types of research design? - Answers Experimental, casual comparative, correlational
Experimental research design - Answers allows for a true test of the difference based on cause/effect
relationship. Researcher has complete control over cause because they can randomly select and assign
subjects to one of two groups.
Casual Comparative research design - Answers Group assignment and membership is pre-determined by
classification of participants (males, females, lang. dis., etc.). Can randomly select, but not randomly
assign.
Correlational research design - Answers Use to examine relationships between 2 variables.
Empirically-based research - Answers Research based on data and objective evidence.
Two ways of Replicating a study - Answers Direct and systematic approaches.
Direct replication - Answers Do the study exactly as it was done before
Systematic replication - Answers Do parts of what was done, but include something new as well.
Conceptual definitions - Answers Dictionary type definition. Ex- Rate is how fast someone speaks.
Operational definition - Answers Objective and measureable. Ex- Words per minute, etc
Independent variables - Answers Controlled by the researcher.
Dependent variables - Answers Response of the subject to independent variables. Must be able to
operationally define, readily observable, and easily and objectively measured.
Covariates - Answers One variable somehow linked to another (height and weight)
Confounding variables - Answers Variables that can cause unwanted influence on the outcome of a
study
Content validity - Answers Content of a treatment program (what does it involve?). Evaluation of
content validity is usually subjective and based on experts in a field of study. Not the same as face
validity.
Quantitative research - Answers Systematic empirical investigation of quantitative properties and
phenomena and their relationships. This data is LIMITED. Number data.
Qualitative research - Answers Goal is to gather an in-depth understanding of human behavior and the
reasons that govern such behavior. Investigates the why and how of decision making. Ex- Performance,
OPEN-ENDED (are there common themes that emerge?), interviews transcripts--> put data into
categories (themes).
Different types of qualitative research - Answers Ethnographic, Phenomenological, grounded theory,
case study
Ethnographic - Answers Study that describes and interprets a culture or social group system. Researcher
becomes immersed in the day-to-day lives of the people being studied or uses extensive interviews of
the group to determine what they say about their culture or social condition.
Phenomenological - Answers Study of lived experiences by individuals who have experienced a
phenomenon. Ex- kids that have a learning disorder.
Grounded theory - Answers Study which tries to generate a theory of a particular phenomenon.
Interviews of people observations in the natural environment, and theoretical propositions are
developed. Grounded in existing information facts revision of a study.
Case study - Answers Investigation in which a "case" (person, event, activity, or individuals) are studied
extensively. Ex- medical cases... Looking at particular clinical cases.
Four basic ways of collecting data for qualitative study - Answers Observations, interviews, documents,
visual materials.
Observations - Answers researcher makes notes about behaviors/events and field notes obtained in the
natural environment (commonly used with ethnographic studies)
Interviews - Answers Researcher asks a series of standard questions to participants (commonly used
with phenomenological and grounded theory studies)
Documents - Answers Journals that people produce.
Visual materials - Answers data from photos, videotapes or drawings.
Mixed research - Answers Based on both quantitative and qualitative research.
Turn this into a quantitative statement:
Qualitative: The purpose of the study was to determine the perceptions and reactions of lower and
middle income home owners in Chicago to homeless individuals in that city. - Answers Quantitative: The
, purpose of the study was to determine the difference between the perceptions and reactions of lower
and middle income homeowners to homeless individuals in Chicago.
Turn this into a qualitative statement:
Quantitative: The purpose of the study was to determine if there were significant differences in the
amount of money wagered at 3 different gaming tables (roulette, BJ, poker) at a Las Vegas casino across
a 6 month period. - Answers Qualitative: The purpose of the study was to determine what factors that
contribute to a gamblers choice between roulette, BJ, and poker at a Las Vegas casino.
Three types of research design? - Answers Experimental, casual comparative, correlational
Experimental research design - Answers allows for a true test of the difference based on cause/effect
relationship. Researcher has complete control over cause because they can randomly select and assign
subjects to one of two groups.
Casual Comparative research design - Answers Group assignment and membership is pre-determined by
classification of participants (males, females, lang. dis., etc.). Can randomly select, but not randomly
assign.
Correlational research design - Answers Use to examine relationships between 2 variables.
Empirically-based research - Answers Research based on data and objective evidence.
Two ways of Replicating a study - Answers Direct and systematic approaches.
Direct replication - Answers Do the study exactly as it was done before
Systematic replication - Answers Do parts of what was done, but include something new as well.
Conceptual definitions - Answers Dictionary type definition. Ex- Rate is how fast someone speaks.
Operational definition - Answers Objective and measureable. Ex- Words per minute, etc
Independent variables - Answers Controlled by the researcher.
Dependent variables - Answers Response of the subject to independent variables. Must be able to
operationally define, readily observable, and easily and objectively measured.
Covariates - Answers One variable somehow linked to another (height and weight)
Confounding variables - Answers Variables that can cause unwanted influence on the outcome of a
study
Content validity - Answers Content of a treatment program (what does it involve?). Evaluation of
content validity is usually subjective and based on experts in a field of study. Not the same as face
validity.
