Research Methods in Psychology

Which of the following is a categorical variable?

What type of variable is manipulated by the researcher in an experiment?

Which of the following is an example of a continuous variable?

What is the purpose of a null hypothesis?

Which of the following types of sources is essential for original research and data?

Which type of hypothesis specifies the expected direction of the relationship between variables?

What quality is specifically detrimental to a high-quality literature review?

A variable that can take an infinite range of values along a continuum is:

Which type of source is best described as providing an overview but not the depth of a primary source?

What is the term for variables that can obscure the relationship between the independent and dependent variables?

What is the primary function of electronic databases in the context of nursing research?

Which hypothesis predicts no relationship between two variables?

Which database is uniquely tailored to nursing and allied health disciplines?

The main aim of composing a literature review is to achieve which outcome?

Which activity is essential for conducting a thorough literature review?

In the context of writing a paraphrase, what should the focus be?

Types of Variables

Categorical Variable: Represents distinct categories. Example: Blood Type.
Independent Variable: Manipulated by researchers in experiments to observe effects.
Dependent Variable: Outcome variable measured in a study.
Continuous Variable: Can take an infinite range of values along a continuum. Example: Age.
Confounding Variable: Can obscure the relationship between independent and dependent variables.

Hypotheses

Non-Directional Hypothesis: Predicts a relationship without specifying the direction.
Directional Hypothesis: Specifies the expected direction of the relationship between variables.
Null Hypothesis: Predicts no relationship between two variables, serving as a benchmark to test against.

Literature Review

Purpose: Develops new research ideas by summarizing existing knowledge.
Primary Sources: Should be consulted first during a literature review as they present original research.
Secondary Sources: Offer overviews but should not replace primary sources in rigor.
High-Quality Review Characteristics: Should be comprehensive, systematic, and reproducible; bias is a negative quality.

Research Literature and Databases

Electronic Databases: Crucial for gathering research literature, enhancing literature review accuracy.
Specific Nursing Database: CINAHL is tailored for nursing and allied health literature.

Writing and Research Proposal

Objective of Literature Review: To summarize existing knowledge rather than to collect new data or publish findings.
Critical Activity: Literature search is essential for conducting a review.
Proposal Reviews: A review included in a research proposal synthesizes relevant literature.

Research Problem Formulation

Research Problem: Central focus of a study; defines what the research aims to address.
Steps in Formulation: Identifying variables, defining the research question, and formulating a hypothesis are key; data collection is not part of this formulation process.
Hypothesis Components: The relationship or correlation between variables is integral to defining a hypothesis.

Definitions

Operational Definition: Practical application of a concept within a study.
Conceptual Definition: The theoretical meaning of a concept, crucial for understanding research context.

Explore the fundamental types of variables and hypotheses used in research. This quiz covers essential concepts that are crucial for understanding experimental design and the literature review process. Test your knowledge of different variable types and hypotheses in psychological research.