Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which of the following best describes the hypothetico-deductive scheme?
Which of the following best describes the hypothetico-deductive scheme?
Secondary research involves firsthand observation and study by the researcher.
Secondary research involves firsthand observation and study by the researcher.
False
What is critical discourse analysis concerned with?
What is critical discourse analysis concerned with?
The ways that language constitutes social reality and its effects.
Informed consent requires participants to be fully informed about the _____ and risks involved.
Informed consent requires participants to be fully informed about the _____ and risks involved.
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Match the type of interview with its characteristics:
Match the type of interview with its characteristics:
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What is a primary risk researchers face when conducting studies?
What is a primary risk researchers face when conducting studies?
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Anonymity means that a participant's identity is known to the researchers during the study.
Anonymity means that a participant's identity is known to the researchers during the study.
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What is one advantage of structured interviews?
What is one advantage of structured interviews?
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Confidentiality means that information acquired will not be made available to anyone who is not _____ with the study.
Confidentiality means that information acquired will not be made available to anyone who is not _____ with the study.
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What is a disadvantage of unstructured interviews?
What is a disadvantage of unstructured interviews?
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What type of variable is comprised of categories with no inherent order?
What type of variable is comprised of categories with no inherent order?
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Independent variables are not controlled or manipulated in a study.
Independent variables are not controlled or manipulated in a study.
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Define what is meant by 'sample'.
Define what is meant by 'sample'.
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The ________ is the midpoint in a distribution of values.
The ________ is the midpoint in a distribution of values.
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Match the following terms with their definitions:
Match the following terms with their definitions:
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Which of the following describes a relationship where one variable causes a variation in another?
Which of the following describes a relationship where one variable causes a variation in another?
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The standard deviation measures how closely values are clustered around the median.
The standard deviation measures how closely values are clustered around the median.
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What is the purpose of descriptive statistics?
What is the purpose of descriptive statistics?
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The formula for variance involves finding the mean, subtracting it from each value, and then ________ the squared differences.
The formula for variance involves finding the mean, subtracting it from each value, and then ________ the squared differences.
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Which of the following is true about dependent variables?
Which of the following is true about dependent variables?
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What is a characteristic of simple random sampling?
What is a characteristic of simple random sampling?
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Increasing the sample size guarantees increased precision in statistical estimates.
Increasing the sample size guarantees increased precision in statistical estimates.
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What is the primary goal of conducting an experiment?
What is the primary goal of conducting an experiment?
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Each group in an experiment is usually categorized as either experimental or ______.
Each group in an experiment is usually categorized as either experimental or ______.
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Match the types of sampling with their descriptions:
Match the types of sampling with their descriptions:
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What does a confidence interval represent?
What does a confidence interval represent?
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Stratified random sampling involves selecting subjects based on their random characteristics.
Stratified random sampling involves selecting subjects based on their random characteristics.
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What is sampling error?
What is sampling error?
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Snowball sampling involves initial contact with a small group followed by referrals to ______.
Snowball sampling involves initial contact with a small group followed by referrals to ______.
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What is a key feature of non-probability sampling?
What is a key feature of non-probability sampling?
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What is a primary advantage of guided conversations in research?
What is a primary advantage of guided conversations in research?
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Ethnography focuses solely on historical individuals and not contemporary groups.
Ethnography focuses solely on historical individuals and not contemporary groups.
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What does content analysis aim to identify within a body of material?
What does content analysis aim to identify within a body of material?
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The Access to Information Act in Canada allows citizens to request access to records under the control of a __________ government institution.
The Access to Information Act in Canada allows citizens to request access to records under the control of a __________ government institution.
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Match the following types of studies with their descriptions:
Match the following types of studies with their descriptions:
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What type of research method is the study of codes and unconscious belief systems behind daily actions?
What type of research method is the study of codes and unconscious belief systems behind daily actions?
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Moderators in guided conversations do not need any specific skills.
Moderators in guided conversations do not need any specific skills.
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What are the two main acts that govern access to information and privacy in Canada?
What are the two main acts that govern access to information and privacy in Canada?
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The __________ study method tracks changes in the same individuals over time.
The __________ study method tracks changes in the same individuals over time.
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Match the research claims with their types:
Match the research claims with their types:
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Which of the following is a disadvantage of guided conversations?
Which of the following is a disadvantage of guided conversations?
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Reliability refers to the extent to which a study yields the same results on repeated trials.
Reliability refers to the extent to which a study yields the same results on repeated trials.
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What is one major issue researchers face when validating readings?
What is one major issue researchers face when validating readings?
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Ethnomethodology is primarily concerned with how individuals use __________ in communication.
Ethnomethodology is primarily concerned with how individuals use __________ in communication.
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Study Notes
Research Methodology
- Research follows a logical, explicit, and inspectable procedure (scientific method).
- A loose consensus of assumptions and procedures is essential.
- Popper's hypothetico-deductive scheme is a logical model for research.
Types of Research
- Primary research: Researcher's firsthand observation and study (e.g., interviews, observations).
- Secondary research: Research conducted by others used to support an argument or conclude on a topic.
- Conversation analysis: Studies taken-for-granted rules structuring social interaction, originating from ethnomethodology.
- Discourse analysis: Examines language (and images) as a way language constructs and affects social reality.
- Critical discourse analysis: Interdisciplinary study of discourse as social practice, focusing on how power and social/political domination are reproduced through text and talk.
Ethical Research Practices
- Voluntary participation: Participants must not be coerced.
- Informed consent: Participants must understand procedures and risks.
- No harm: Researchers cannot put participants at physical or psychological risk.
- Confidentiality: Data is kept private and not shared with unauthorized individuals.
- Anonymity: Participants' identities remain unknown even to researchers.
- Privacy: Participants control information about themselves.
Interview Types
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Structured interviews: Use a standardized interview schedule with pre-determined questions, reducing bias and increasing objectivity.
- Advantages: Reduced bias, increased reliability and validity, simple, cost-effective, efficient.
- Disadvantages: Formal, limited flexibility and scope.
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Semi-structured interviews: Use a written list of questions, aiming for both structure and flexibility.
- Advantages: Combines the best aspects of structured and unstructured interviews.
- Disadvantages: Often lower validity, susceptibility to researcher bias/leading questions, and the Hawthorne effect.
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Unstructured interviews: Focused on gaining information; researchers have limited control over the informant's responses.
- Advantages: Flexible, valid, less bias, more detail, nuanced, participant-driven.
- Disadvantages: limited generalizability, lower reliability, time-consuming.
Focus Groups
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Focus groups: Small groups (up to 7 people) discussing specific topics. Led by a moderator.
- Advantages: Rich data, insight into personal stories, flexible, faster results, lower cost.
- Disadvantages: Unnatural setting, less control, difficult analysis, moderate required skills.
Other Research Methods
- Historical research: Understands past behavior and how practices developed.
- Policy and case analysis: Studies specific individuals, groups, or processes in the present.
- Ethnography: Intensive investigation of a group over an extended period, involving participant observation, interviews, and immersion in a community.
- Ethnomethodology: Focuses on how people use language and actions to create and understand social codes and meanings.
- Content analysis: Systematically examines material (texts, images, etc.) to identify patterns, themes, and meanings.
- Historical/Policy/Case Study Analysis: Examination of documents to draw conclusions regarding political situations, policies and individuals.
- Criteria for assessing documents: authenticity, credibility/sincerity/accuracy, meaning and significance.
Surveys
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Survey: Uses large samples, close-ended questions, breadth over depth.
- Types: Cross-sectional (one point in time), Longitudinal (patterns over time), Trend study (changes in same population), Panel study (changes in same people over time).
- Considerations: Response rate, interviewer effects, respondent errors/bias, issues with the survey instrument, sampling methods.
Operationalization and Variables
- Operationalization: Converting concepts into measurable variables.
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Variables: Qualities on which units of analysis differ.
- Independent variables: Controlled and manipulated; potential causes.
- Dependent variables: Measured or registered; potential effects.
- Nominal variables (categorical): Distinct categories with no inherent order.
- Ordinal variables: Categorical variables that can be ranked, but distances are unknown/unequal.
- Interval/ratio variables: Categories with equal distances and a true zero point.
Statistical Analysis
- Descriptive statistics: Describe basic features of data (mean, median, mode, standard deviation, range).
- Inferential statistics: Draw conclusions extending beyond immediate data.
- Correlation: When variables vary together; a relationship between variables.
- Causation: When one variable directly causes changes in another.
- Spurious relationships: When relationships between variables appear to exist but are actually caused by a third variable.
Sampling
- Population: Entire group of interest.
- Sample: Subset selected for study.
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Probability samples: Each member has a known probability of selection.
- Simple random sampling: Equal chance for every member.
- Systematic sampling: Select every nth member.
- Stratified sampling: Divide population into subgroups (strata); SRS or SS from each.
- Multi-stage cluster sampling: Sample clusters, then individual units within clusters.
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Non-probability samples: Members' probabilities of selection are unknown.
- Convenience sampling: Subjects are readily available.
- Purposive sampling: Subjects are selected for specific characteristics.
- Snowball sampling: Initial contact with small group; referrals to more.
Experiments
- Experiments: Designed to demonstrate cause-and-effect relationships.
- Groups: Experimental (receives treatment), control (no treatment).
- Control: Factors other than the treatment are kept constant.
- Random assignment: Ensures groups are similar prior to the experiment.
- Pretest: Measures dependent variable before treatment.
- Post-test: Measures dependent variable after treatment.
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Description
Explore the key concepts of research methodology in this quiz. Learn about the different types of research, including primary and secondary research, along with ethical practices. Test your understanding of the scientific method and models that support effective research.
