NCE Exam - Research and Program Evaluation

Experimental research - Correct Answer-the process of gathering data in order to make evaluative comparisons regarding different situations. The experiment - Correct Answer-The most valuable type of research (used to discover cause-and-effect relationships) You need at least 30 individuals to conduct a 'true' experiment. - Correct Answer- Correlational research requires 30 subjects per variable. Quasi-experiment - Correct Answer-Uses PRE-EXISTING groups, so the independent variable (IV) cannot be altered (i.e., gender or ethnicity), and can't state with any statistical confidence that the IV caused the dependent variable (DV). Correlation research is quasi-experimental and does not yield _____ - ____ data. - Correct Answer-cause-effect Parsimony (also known as Occam's Razor) - Correct Answer-interpreting the results in the simplest ways (Literally a tendency to be miserly and not overspend.) Ex post facto study - Correct Answer-A type of quasi-experiment (literally means 'after the fact') connoting a correlational study in which preexisting groups are utilized Independent variable - Correct Answer-the variable the researcher manipulates, controls, alters, or wishes to experiment with (memory: 'I' manipulate the IV) Dependent variable - Correct Answer-expresses the outcome or the data regarding factors one wants to measure (memory: 'D' in dependent and data) Internal validity - Correct Answer-Refers to whether the DVs were truly influenced by the experimental IVs or whether other factors had an impact. Threats to internal validity - Correct Answer-maturation of subjects (psychological and physical changes including fatigue due to time involved), mortality (subjects withdrawing), instruments used to measure the behavior or trait, or statistical regression (notion that extremely high or low scores would move toward the mean if utilized again) External validity - Correct Answer-Refers to whether the experimental research results can be generalized to larger populations (other people, settings, conditions). [If the results of the study only apply to the population in the study then external validity is LOW.] Causal Comparative design - Correct Answer-a true experiment WITHOUT random assignment (Data from the causal comparative ex post factor [after the fact] design can be analyzed with a test of significance [t test or ANOVA] just like any true experiment.) Factor analysis - Correct Answer-Statistical procedure to summarize MANY variables. (i.e., A test measuring a counselors ability may try to describe 3 important variables that make up an effective helper although hundreds exist.) Chi-square - Correct Answer-Nonparametric statistical measure that tests whether a distribution differs significantly from an expected theoretical distribution of scores. (Memory: ''chi' like 'chi-a pet' that I expected more from) Occam's Razor (also known as Lloyd Morgan's 1894 Canon) - Correct Answer-suggests experimenters interpret the results in the simplest manner. William of Occam - Correct Answer-14th century philosopher and theologian. (Occam's Razor, aka 'parsimony' named for) Bubbles in research - Correct Answer-Considered flaws in research (i.e., rubbing a sticker on car and getting no bubbles - impossible) Confounded or flawed variable - Correct Answer-Undesirable variables that invalidate experiments. (The only experimental variable should be the independent variable.) Nondirective is to person-centered as - Correct Answer-parsimony is to Occam's Razor (both are synonymous) Most counselors see themselves as practitioners, not researchers. - Correct Answer-... Confounding - Correct Answer-occurs when an undesirable variable (also known as contaminating variable) which is not controlled by the researcher is introduced in the experiment. An experiment is confounded when - Correct Answer-undesirable variables are not kept out of the experiment. Basic research - Correct Answer-is conducted to advance our understanding of theory. Applied research (aka 'action research' or experience-near research) - Correct Answer-is conducted to advance our knowledge of how theories, skills, and techniques can be used in terms of practical application. In experimental terminology, IV stands for _____ ______, and DV stands for ______ _______. - Correct Answer-independent variable, dependent variable Variable - Correct Answer-a behavior or circumstance that can exist on at least two levels or conditions