Upgrade to remove ads
Only $2.99/month

Research I Final Exam MSW

Terms in this set (39)

Hypothesis
A tentative and testable statement about how
changes in one variable are expected to
explain changes in another variable
Independent Variable
This variable is said to be the cause or the
antecedent condition, or the predictor
Dependent Variable
This is the outcome variable
Attributes
This describes the characteristics of variables.
Reliability
accuracy or precision of a measuring instrument and is characterized by dependability, stability, and consistency.
Inter-Rater Method
In this method of determining reliability, the
researcher asks colleagues to independently
review a researcher-developed questionnaire to determine consistency.
Validity
to which the instrument is measuring what it is supposed to measure
An instrument can be reliable, but not valid
True or False:
TRUE
Systematic Error
This error occurs when the data consistently
reflects a false picture of the concept
Population
This refers to the group that we're interested
in generalizing information about
Random Selection
In this sampling method, each element has an
equal chance of selection independent of
any other event in the selection process.
Lickert Scale
A type of measure that presents respondents
with statements followed by response
choices so that respondents can indicate
their degree of agreement or disagreement
with each statement.
Survey Research
A popular social research method, this
involves the administration of questionnaires to a sample of respondents
selected from a population.
Purposive or Judgemental Sampling
This sampling method involves selecting
elements based on the nature and purpose of
the research
Cross-sectional research
Studies based on observations that represent a single point in time.
Face Validity
This type of validity, the least rigorous,
involves whether a measure merely appears
to measure some variable based only on
subjective judgment
Descriptive research
This purpose of research is to describe
situations and events, or relationships
between variables.
Exploratory Research
This purpose of research is to learn about a
new interest, when the subject of research is
relatively unstudied
Explanatory Research
This purpose of research is used to document
a causal relationship between two variables
(cause and effect)
Theory
A systematic set of interrelated statements
intended to explain some aspect of social
life or enrich our sense of how people
conduct and find meaning in their daily
lives.
Longitudinal studies
Studies that involve observations across
different points in time
Qualitative
Deductive
Flexible
Small, purposive
Interviews, focus groups, ethnography
Themes/meaning in words/phrases
Quantitative
Inductive
Structured
Large, random
Survey, structured interviews, single-case design
Statistical analysis
Deductive method
Begins with theory and derives one or more
hypotheses to test in research
Inductive method
Begins with observed data and develops
hypotheses to explain observations
Concept
mental image that symbolizes an idea, an object, an event, a behavior, or a person
Conceptualization
the process of specifying what we mean by a term
Nominal
Variables are defined in terms of qualitative attributes that are categorical
Ordinal
Rank-ordered to indicate more or less of a variable -
not precise
Interval
Variables are rank-ordered, and have equal distances between each rank
Ratio
Variables whose attributes have qualities of interval,
but have true zero point
Operationalization
developing a concrete and specific definition of something in terms of the way in observations are categorized
Inter-rater reliability
Assesses the degree of agreement or consistency of the raters/observers
content validity
to which a measure seems to cover the entire range of meanings within a concept
construct validity
the degree to which the instrument measures a theoretical construct or the dimensions underlying the construct.
discriminant validity
extent to which results of the instrument can distinguish the concept from other concepts that might be similar
Sample
A portion of the population; sub-group of the population
internal validity
The degree to which an effect observed in a dependent variable was actually caused by the independent variable and not other factors
Data
Words, descriptions, photographs, video tapes, audio tapes, personal and official documents
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...