Research Methods: Non-Experimental & Quasi-Experimental

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is a primary characteristic of quasi-experimental designs?

A control group is often present with treatment and comparison.

Experimental manipulation is always present with random assignment.

Participants are always randomly assigned to conditions.

They resemble experiments but lack random assignment or a control group. (correct)

What is a limitation of correlational studies?

They often provide strong internal validity.

They cannot identify relationships between variables.

They may draw incorrect conclusions without careful analysis. (correct)

They are less valid than experimental studies.

Which of the following describes the one group pre/post test design?

The same group is tested before and after a treatment implementation. (correct)

The dependent variable is measured only after the treatment.

The treatment is applied to two different groups for comparison.

It requires control groups for stronger internal validity.

What does an interrupted time series design involve?

Multiple measurements interrupted by a treatment at set intervals. Signup and view all the answers

What is a notable weakness of the one group post-test design?

It lacks a comparison group, compromising internal validity. Signup and view all the answers

What do direct replications primarily focus on?

Replicating key results from a specific study Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT a metric of reproducibility?

Publication bias Signup and view all the answers

What are questionable research practices (QRPs)?

Shortcuts that distort findings and threaten replicability Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'file drawer effect' primarily associated with?

Positive results being more likely published Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a principle of open science?

Pre-registration of studies Signup and view all the answers

Why do experiments generally have lower replication rates compared to correlational studies?

Academic pressures to generate innovative ideas may lead to shortcuts. Signup and view all the answers

What does systematic empiricism emphasize in the scientific method?

Learning through careful observation and analysis Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes empirical questions?

Questions that can be answered through direct observation Signup and view all the answers

Which measure of central tendency is preferable when data is skewed?

Median Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of using scatterplots?

To visualize associations between multiple continuous variables Signup and view all the answers

What kind of artifact is caused by having an extremely improbable data point?

Outlier Signup and view all the answers

In an experimental design, what is the independent variable?

The variable that is manipulated Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately describes a placebo?

An inert substance that resembles the treatment Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'regression to the mean' refer to?

Extreme data points becoming less extreme in subsequent measures Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the 'third variable problem'?

A phenomenon explained by the relation of a third variable Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of control variables in an experiment?

They are held constant to minimize their effect. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes effect size claims from statistical associations?

Effect size claims describe the strength of a relationship. Signup and view all the answers

What is 'block randomization' in experimental design?

A method ensuring all conditions occur once before any repeat. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key risk associated with within-subjects research?

Order effects Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of counterbalancing in an experiment?

To prevent order effects Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes moderations in research?

They describe how the relationship between two variables depends on the level of a third variable. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement correctly defines construct validity?

It assesses whether an experiment accurately measures the intended variables. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a double-blind study?

Neither researchers nor participants know the conditions or hypotheses. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by false positivity in research outcomes?

When an effect is incorrectly observed due to chance. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'spurious correlation' refer to in research?

A coincidental association between two variables unlikely to replicate. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary challenge associated with non-experimental designs?

They cannot fully conclude causality from the data collected. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of demand characteristics in a research study?

To obscure true participant behavior. Signup and view all the answers

Which method ensures that every condition appears in each position only once?

Latin square design Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of a factorial design in research?

It allows for the exploration of multiple independent variables simultaneously. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes participant observation?

The researcher becomes actively involved in the group being studied. Signup and view all the answers

In a switching replication design, what is a key feature?

Only one group receives treatment initially, and then the roles switch. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'central tendency' in a dataset?

The middle point around which data values cluster. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a mixed-factorial design?

A design combining within-subjects and between-subjects approaches. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'participant reactivity' refer to in behavioral observation?

Participants changing their behavior because they know they are being observed. Signup and view all the answers

What is a main effect in the context of factorial design?

The effect of one independent variable on the dependent variable. Signup and view all the answers

What is a central characteristic of qualitative research methods like case studies?

They provide a descriptive, in-depth analysis of specific individuals or groups. Signup and view all the answers

In regards to data distribution, what does a 'normal distribution' exhibit?

An equal number of values above and below the mean. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a coding scheme in behavioral observation?

To organize and categorize observed behaviors for analysis. Signup and view all the answers

For which of the following types of research would archival research be most suitable?

When analyzing previously collected data. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of inter-rater reliability in behavioral studies?

To verify the accuracy of coding schemes by comparing different observers' ratings. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'synergistic interaction' refer to in factorial design?

When the effect of one independent variable is reduced by the presence of another. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Non-Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Research

Non-experimental research is useful when manipulating variables is impossible.
Correlational studies provide evidence but be cautious about drawing conclusions.
Quasi-experiments resemble experiments but lack random assignment or a control group.
Time-lagged designs help eliminate bidirectional causality but not other confounds.
One-group post-test design measures DV after treatment, weakest design.
One-group pre/post-test measures DV before and after treatment in one group.
Interrupted time series design involves repeated measurements before and after an intervention.
Nonequivalent groups design compares groups not randomly assigned.
Posttest-only nonequivalent groups design compares treated and control groups without a pretest.
Pretest-posttest nonequivalent groups design compares treated and control groups with pretests and posttests.
Switching replications design has a built-in replication and controls for time effects.
Switching replications with treatment removal design has first group get treatment, then stops, and second group gets treatment, then measure DV over time.

Behavioral Observation

Naturalistic observation: observing behavior in a natural setting without interference.
Participant reactivity: participants act unusually due to awareness of observation.
Participant observation: researcher immerses themselves in the observed setting.
Structured observation: researcher establishes parameters for observation.
Field experiment: manipulation of variables in a natural setting.
Coding scheme: organized system for classifying observed behaviors.
Content analysis: identifying occurrences of keywords, phrases, or ideas.

Factorial Design

Factorial design: experiment with more than one independent variable.
Factors: each independent variable.
Cells: unique combinations of IV levels.
Interaction: combined effect of IVs on the DV.
Main effects: individual effect of each IV on the DV.
Synergistic interaction: IV1 effect is magnified by IV2.
Buffered interaction: IV1 effect ceases with IV2.
Crossover interaction: IV1 effect reverses with IV2.

Quantitative and Qualitative Research

Case studies: in-depth investigation of a single individual or group, not generalizable.
Small N designs: detailed study of few participants, high internal validity, low external validity.
Applied behavioral analysis: rewarding/punishing behaviors to understand behaviors.
Reversal (ABA) Design: baseline, treatment, and reversal.
Multiple treatment reversal designs: introducing several treatments.
Alternating treatments: alternating multiple treatments.
Multiple baseline design: baseline for participants, treatments introduced successively.
Archival research: analyzing existing data.

Describing Data

Categorical data: nominal or ordinal scales (frequency tables, bar graphs).
Continuous data: interval or ratio scales (histograms).
Central tendency: mean, median, mode.
Spread: range, IQR, standard deviation.
Distribution: normal distribution (bell curve), skewed distributions.

Experimental Design

Independent variable: what researchers change.
Dependent variable: what researchers measure.
Control: keeping extraneous variables from influencing results.
Random assignment: each participant has equal chance of being in any condition.
Block randomization: all conditions occur once before repetition.

Non-Experimental Design

Non-experimental design: measures variables but does not manipulate them.
Spurious correlations: coincidental associations.
Correlation evidence does not imply causation.
Reverse causation: effect can also be cause.
Third-variable problem: another variable affects both studied variables.
Moderation: conditional association between variables.

Open Science

False positives and false negatives affect scientific results.
Reproducibility: independent researchers arrive at same conclusions.
Questionable research practices (QRPs) threaten replicability.
Publication bias: tendency for positive results to be published more frequently.
Open science: transparency and accountability in research.

Scientific Method

Systematic empiricism: learning through planned observation, recording, and analysis.
Empirical questions: questions about the world that can be studied empirically.
Public knowledge: large-scale collaboration to test and correct errors.
Goals of science: description, prediction, explanation.
Good research questions: interesting, useful, and feasible.
Theories: broad explanatory descriptions, hypotheses: specific, testable predictions.
Descriptive research: what is occurring.
Analytics research: what might explain something.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Explore the concepts of non-experimental and quasi-experimental research methods. This quiz covers various designs such as correlational studies, time-lagged designs, and nonequivalent groups. Test your understanding of these vital research methodologies and their applications.