Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is one purpose of using control groups in experimental research?
What is one purpose of using control groups in experimental research?
Which of the following best describes 'maturation' as a threat to internal validity?
Which of the following best describes 'maturation' as a threat to internal validity?
How does random assignment contribute to internal validity in a study?
How does random assignment contribute to internal validity in a study?
What kind of threat does 'testing' pose to the results of an experimental study?
What kind of threat does 'testing' pose to the results of an experimental study?
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What is a potential consequence of participant mortality or attrition in a study?
What is a potential consequence of participant mortality or attrition in a study?
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Which of the following situations illustrates a threat to internal validity due to history?
Which of the following situations illustrates a threat to internal validity due to history?
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What does instrumentation refer to as a threat to internal validity?
What does instrumentation refer to as a threat to internal validity?
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Why is it important for research to validate their measures in experiments?
Why is it important for research to validate their measures in experiments?
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What is the primary purpose of using a control group in experimental design?
What is the primary purpose of using a control group in experimental design?
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How does random assignment benefit experimental design?
How does random assignment benefit experimental design?
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Which of the following best describes a dependent variable?
Which of the following best describes a dependent variable?
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What does internal validity refer to in experimental research?
What does internal validity refer to in experimental research?
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What is a challenge associated with the manipulation of the independent variable?
What is a challenge associated with the manipulation of the independent variable?
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Which factor is NOT a threat to external validity?
Which factor is NOT a threat to external validity?
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Measurement validity concerns are crucial for which aspect of a study?
Measurement validity concerns are crucial for which aspect of a study?
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Why is understanding the complexities of external validity important for researchers?
Why is understanding the complexities of external validity important for researchers?
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What is the primary concern of the interaction of selection and treatment threat to external validity?
What is the primary concern of the interaction of selection and treatment threat to external validity?
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What does the interaction of setting and treatment threat question about research findings?
What does the interaction of setting and treatment threat question about research findings?
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How might the interaction of history and treatment threat affect the results of a study conducted over 50 years ago?
How might the interaction of history and treatment threat affect the results of a study conducted over 50 years ago?
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What issue arises from the pre-testing of participants in an experiment?
What issue arises from the pre-testing of participants in an experiment?
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Which of the following scenarios exemplifies a limitation in generalizability due to interaction of selection and treatment?
Which of the following scenarios exemplifies a limitation in generalizability due to interaction of selection and treatment?
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Why is the interaction of history and treatment a significant concern for research conclusions?
Why is the interaction of history and treatment a significant concern for research conclusions?
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What is a potential drawback of studying only participants from lower-social-class backgrounds?
What is a potential drawback of studying only participants from lower-social-class backgrounds?
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Which of the following best illustrates a concern regarding the interaction effects of pre-testing?
Which of the following best illustrates a concern regarding the interaction effects of pre-testing?
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Study Notes
Social Research Methods
- Understanding social research methods is important to prevent errors and difficulties in social research.
- It helps in being aware of the full range of methods available.
- Knowledge of research methods helps in understanding the work of other social scientists.
- Social research is academic work conducted by sociologists, anthropologists, educational researchers, human geographers, social policy experts, political scientists, and criminologists. It's driven by developments in social changes and society.
Research Methods and Methodology
- Research methods are tools used by social scientists to explore topics. Examples include surveys, interviews, and focus groups.
- Methodology refers to the wider approach taken in a research project and the rationale behind the research method used.
- Questions regarding social research include: why conduct social research, gaps in existing academic knowledge, inconsistencies in existing literature, and what is going on in society that is unresolved.
The Role of Theoretical Frameworks
- Theories guide research topics and interpretations.
- Theories can influence research, and research outcomes can influence theories.
- Quantitative studies use hypotheses and theoretical ideas to drive data collection and analysis.
- Qualitative research often entails strategies that allow theoretical ideas to emerge from the data.
Main Elements of Social Research
- Research Questions: Explicit statements about the topic of investigation.
- Sampling: The selection of relevant cases, often people, that are germane to the research questions.
- Data Collection: The process of gathering data from the sample.
- Data Analysis: The process of managing, analyzing, and interpreting data.
- Writing up: The reporting of findings and conclusions.
Data Analysis
- Data management includes error checking, transcribing audio recordings in qualitative studies, and inputting quantitative data in SPSS or Excel.
- Data reduction summarizes large data volumes to aid interpretation.
- Qualitative analysis involves coding data into themes, while quantitative analysis often involves addressing missing data.
- Analyzing data draws conclusions from the findings and contextualizes the study using the existing literature.
Realities of Social Research
- Real-world research often involves false starts, mistakes, and revisions to the plan.
- Researchers should acknowledge the complexities and messiness of social research through transparent and realistic reporting.
Research Strategies
- Deductive approach involves formulating hypotheses based on existing theories; data collection and analysis are geared toward testing the hypothesis.
- Inductive approach involves forming theory through data analysis; data collection and analysis are geared toward generating insights and developing theories.
Qualitative Research Strategies
- Interpretivism emphasizes the importance of understanding human behaviors through subjective perceptions.
- Hermeneutics emphasizes the influence of history, culture, and language on human understanding.
- Verstehen aims to place oneself in the position of the people being studied.
Epistemological Considerations
- Positivism seeks to use scientific methods to study the social world, emphasizing a focus on external reality and empirical data.
- Realism considers the existence of an objective reality independent of human perception.
- Interpretivism holds that the social world is based on subjective interpretations, experiences, meanings, and understanding.
Different Research Designs
- Cross-sectional design: A design used to study a population's traits simultaneously at a single point in time.
- Longitudinal design: A design used to study changes in a population over time (panel studies or cohort studies).
- Experimental design: A design that may establish a cause-and-effect relationship between variables (classical experiments or quasi-experiments).
- Case study design: A detailed investigation of a specific instance, such as a person or entity.
Ethical Considerations
- Values, ethics, and politics influence social research.
- Issues of deception, informed consent, confidentiality, potential for harm, and researcher biases must be addressed thoughtfully.
- Understanding diverse perspectives and diverse positions from both the researcher and the participant improve social research.
- Strategies to address ethical concerns including maintaining anonymity, ensuring informed consent, respecting privacy, and avoiding deception.
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