RESEARCH METHODS EXAM SOLVED #23
Mean - correct answer The average in a set of numbers
Median - correct answer The middle number in a set of numbers
Mode - correct answer Most frequently re-occuring number in a set of numbers
Standard Deviation - correct answer Used to show and measure the variation in data
Histograms/Bar Graphs - correct answer A graph that shows the frequency between two
things
Operationalization - correct answer The process of defining a measurement that isn't
necessarily measurable
Theory - correct answer A list of ideas that are used to explain predictions and to make
predictions
Hypothesis - correct answer An educated guess on what the outcome will be that
supports the theory
Research - correct answer The actual collection of the data being tested. The test of the
hypothesis
Descriptive Research - correct answer Used to describe behavior and characteristics of
the population. Usually Naturalistic Observation, Case Studies, and Surveys
Longitudinal studies - correct 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 - correct 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 - correct 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
observed. The bad thing about it is observer bias, it's time consuming, and you don't
have control over the environment.
Observer Bias - correct 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 - correct 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 - correct 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 - correct 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 - correct 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 - correct 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 - correct 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 - correct 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 randomize it themselves because everyone may not be getting a fair chance
of being selected.
Sampling Bias - correct answer This is when the group of people you experiment on do
not represent the topic that's being experimented.
Correlational Research - correct answer The process of examining how variables are
naturally related to the real world. This only shows the relation between two things, not
how they were caused (Cannot determine causality, only correlation. For example, you
can't say less sleep causes more stress or vice versa). This is good because you can
explore relations in a natural environment, and provide a base for future experiments.
Mean - correct answer The average in a set of numbers
Median - correct answer The middle number in a set of numbers
Mode - correct answer Most frequently re-occuring number in a set of numbers
Standard Deviation - correct answer Used to show and measure the variation in data
Histograms/Bar Graphs - correct answer A graph that shows the frequency between two
things
Operationalization - correct answer The process of defining a measurement that isn't
necessarily measurable
Theory - correct answer A list of ideas that are used to explain predictions and to make
predictions
Hypothesis - correct answer An educated guess on what the outcome will be that
supports the theory
Research - correct answer The actual collection of the data being tested. The test of the
hypothesis
Descriptive Research - correct answer Used to describe behavior and characteristics of
the population. Usually Naturalistic Observation, Case Studies, and Surveys
Longitudinal studies - correct 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 - correct 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 - correct 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
observed. The bad thing about it is observer bias, it's time consuming, and you don't
have control over the environment.
Observer Bias - correct 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 - correct 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 - correct 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 - correct 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 - correct 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 - correct 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 - correct 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 - correct 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 randomize it themselves because everyone may not be getting a fair chance
of being selected.
Sampling Bias - correct answer This is when the group of people you experiment on do
not represent the topic that's being experimented.
Correlational Research - correct answer The process of examining how variables are
naturally related to the real world. This only shows the relation between two things, not
how they were caused (Cannot determine causality, only correlation. For example, you
can't say less sleep causes more stress or vice versa). This is good because you can
explore relations in a natural environment, and provide a base for future experiments.
