Research Methods Overview
43 Questions
2 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

Which of the following types of interviews is characterized by a specific set of instructions guiding the questions?

  • Semi-structured interviews
  • Focus groups
  • Structured interviews (correct)
  • Unstructured interviews

    • Ethical research requires participants to provide informed consent.

    True

    What is the primary focus of critical discourse analysis?

    The study of how language relates to social practice and power dynamics.

    In research, the assumption of a link between power and _____ is fundamental to critical discourse analysis.

    <p>language</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the types of interviews with their characteristics:

    <p>Structured interviews = Specific set of instructions Semi-structured interviews = Combination of structure and flexibility Unstructured interviews = Little control over informant's responses Focus groups = Discussion among small groups</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary characteristic of secondary research?

    <p>Performed by other researchers or sources</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Anonymity ensures that participants are not identifiable during a study.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one potential drawback of unstructured interviews?

    <p>Low generalization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The process of conversation analysis originated in _____ and examines social interaction.

    <p>ethnomethodology</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following biases is associated with semi-structured interviews?

    <p>Social desirability bias</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of variable consists of categories with no inherent order?

    <p>Nominal variables</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Independent variables are measured but not manipulated in a study.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the measure of central tendency that represents the most frequently occurring value?

    <p>Mode</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In statistics, the ______ is the difference between the highest and lowest values in a data set.

    <p>Range</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of sampling leads to a distortion in the representativeness of a sample?

    <p>Sample bias</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for a segment of the population selected for investigation?

    <p>Sample</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do we call a variable that varies in relation to an independent variable?

    <p>Dependent variable</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following terms with their descriptions:

    <p>Population = Universe of units from which a sample is selected Representative sample = Accurately reflects the population Sample bias = Distortion in representativeness of a sample Sampling frame = List of units from which to draw a sample</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Causation implies that two variables are correlated, but correlation does not imply causation.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is measured to understand how spread out values are around the mean?

    <p>Standard Deviation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one advantage of guided conversations?

    <p>Non-reactive insights into personal stories</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Ethnography involves being immersed in a group for a short period of time.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of research provides insight into the relationship between different social groups and processes?

    <p>Policy and case analysis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The ___________ Act allows Canadian citizens to access personal information held by the government.

    <p>Privacy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the research methods with their primary focus:

    <p>Ethnography = Understanding cultural behavior Content analysis = Identifying patterns in communication Ethnomethodology = Studying unconscious belief systems Surveys = Systematic collection of information</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which is NOT a characteristic of guided conversations?

    <p>Highly structured format</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Reliability refers to the accuracy with which a study measures what it claims to measure.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What identifies the underlying codes and belief systems in everyday interactions?

    <p>Ethnomethodology</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In a survey, _____________ refers to the % of sample that agrees to participate.

    <p>response rate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the type of survey with its description:

    <p>Cross-sectional = Snapshot of one point in time Longitudinal = Patterns over time Trend study = Changes in the same population Panel study = Changes with the same individuals</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Access to Information Act provides citizens access to any record controlled by the federal government.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are common elements assessed during document validation in social research?

    <p>Authenticity, credibility, sincerity, accuracy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Essentials of content analysis include identifying ____________, themes, and meanings in communication.

    <p>patterns</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of sampling involves selecting a subject because of a specific characteristic?

    <p>Purposive sampling</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Increasing the size of a sample guarantees precision in the results.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a confidence interval?

    <p>An estimated range of values likely to include an unknown population parameter.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    _______ sampling uses an interval to select the desired sample size to ensure adequate representation.

    <p>Systematic</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the sampling type with its description:

    <p>Simple Random Sampling = Each subject has an equal chance to be selected Stratified Random Sampling = Subjects selected from various subgroups Cluster Random Sampling = Samples chosen from pre-existing groups Convenience Sampling = Subjects are easily accessible</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about sampling error is true?

    <p>It refers to the difference between the sample and the entire population.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Random assignment in experiments ensures unbiased group composition.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary goal of an experiment?

    <p>To demonstrate whether something is true and examine the validity of a hypothesis.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In qualitative research, _______ refers to the in-depth understanding of human behavior in natural settings.

    <p>ethnography</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What sampling method involves an initial contact with a small group followed by referrals to more people?

    <p>Snowball sampling</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Research Methods Overview

    • Scholarly Research Process: A cyclical process encompassing epistemology (knowledge), literature review, theorization, hypothesis/questions, research design, ethics, data collection, analysis, and findings/theorization.

    Scientific Method

    • Nature: Logically reasoned, following explicit procedures and open to scrutiny, with a consensus on assumptions and methods.
    • Popper's Hypothetico-Deductive Scheme: A framework for hypothesis testing in research.

    Types of Research

    • Primary Research: Conducted firsthand by the researcher often through observation or direct study.
    • Secondary Research: Conducted by others to summarize or analyze existing information to support conclusions.
    • Conversation Analysis: A method stemming from ethnomethodology, focusing on understanding taken-for-granted rules of social interaction.
    • Discourse Analysis: Examines language and its social impact, encompassing talk, text & images, focusing on how language shapes social reality.
    • Critical Discourse Analysis: An interdisciplinary approach to discourse, examining how power structures are reproduced through language.

    Ethical Considerations

    • Voluntary Participation: Participants must not be coerced into participation.
    • Informed Consent: Participants must understand the research procedures and associated risks.
    • Protection from Harm: Researchers must ensure participant safety and well-being.
    • Confidentiality: Information collected will not be revealed to unauthorized parties.
    • Anonymity: Participants' identities are kept confidential throughout and after the research.
    • Privacy: Participants control access to their information.

    Data Collection Methods

    • Interviews:
      • Structured Interviews: Use a standardized questionnaire, ensuring reliability, but potentially limiting flexibility.
      • Semi-Structured Interviews: Combine structured and unstructured approaches, offering flexibility and depth, but potentially losing some control.
      • Unstructured Interviews: Allow for flexibility and in-depth exploration but may compromise reliability and generalizability.
    • Focus Groups: Involve small groups discussing a specific topic, providing rich data, but with limitations in control and analysis.
    • Historical/Policy/Case Study Analysis: Examines past events/present-day cases, situations, and institutions. Includes descriptive, interpretive, explanatory, and reformative claims about past or present cases.
    • Ethnography: Immersive fieldwork method, observing and interviewing individuals within a specific culture/group to understand their behaviors and practices.
    • Content Analysis: Systematic examination of texts, images, or other communication forms to identify patterns, themes, and biases.

    Assessment of Documents

    • Authenticity: Verifying the genuineness of a document (originality).
    • Credibility: Assessing the biases or distortions embedded in a document.
    • Sincerity/Accuracy: Judging the honesty and truthfulness of information presented in the document.
    • Meaning: Understanding the significance and interpretation of document contents.

    Validity & Reliability

    • Validity: The accuracy of a study's measurement of the intended concepts.
    • Reliability: The consistency of a study's results across repeated trials.

    Surveys

    • Types: Cross-sectional (one point in time), longitudinal (over time), trend study (same population over time), panel study (same people over time).
    • Survey Considerations: Response rate, interviewer effects, respondent bias, questionnaire quality.

    Operationalization

    • Translating Concepts into Measures: The process of defining and measuring abstract concepts in a research study.

    Variables and Data Analysis

    • Variables: Qualities that units of analysis vary on (ex., age, gender, income).
    • Independent/Dependent Variables: Independent variables are manipulated; dependent variables are measured.
    • Types of Variables: Categorical (nominal, ordinal), interval/ratio.
    • Correlation vs. Causation: Correlation describes a relationship; causation implies one variable influences another.
    • Descriptive Statistics: Used to describe data characteristics (measures of central tendency: mean, median, mode), dispersion (range, variance, standard deviation), and diagrams (bar, pie, histograms). Inferential statistics extend beyond immediate data to broader conclusions.
    • Statistical Inference: Reaching conclusions about populations based on sample data.

    Sampling

    • Probability Sampling: Each unit in the population has a known probability of selection (simple random, systematic, stratified, cluster).
    • Non-probability Sampling: Units have an unknown or non-equal probability of selection (convenience, purposive, snowball, quota).
    • Sample Size: Influenced by population size and variability, impacting the precision of results.

    Experiments

    • Design: Researchers create control and experimental groups, random assignment, pretesting, and post-testing.
    • Goal: To determine causal relationships between variables.

    Access to Information and Privacy (Canada)

    • Canada's Access to Information Act: Empowers citizens to request access to government records.
    • Canada's Privacy Act: Recognizes individual rights to access personal information held by the government.

    Key Research Terms

    • Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research: Qualitative research focuses on in-depth understanding; quantitative research focuses on numerical data and statistical analysis.
    • Concepts: Abstract ideas being studied in research.
    • Data: Empirical information collected.

    Studying That Suits You

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

    Quiz Team

    Description

    Explore the fundamental concepts of research methods, including the scholarly research process, the scientific method, and various types of research like primary and secondary research. This quiz covers essential frameworks and analytical approaches such as conversation analysis and discourse analysis.

    More Like This

    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Open
    Browser
    Browser