Research Methods Quiz

6 Questions

What is the advantage of correlational studies?

Correlational studies broaden the scope of phenomena that can be studied.

What is the independent variable in an experimental study?

The independent variable, denoted as X, is manipulated to see if the dependent variable, denoted as Y, changes.

What are extraneous variables in an experiment?

Extraneous variables are variables other than the independent variable that could be influencing the dependent variable.

Explain the concept of hypothesis and provide an example.

A hypothesis is a tentative statement about the relationships between two or more variables. It is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon that can be tested through research. For example, a researcher may hypothesize that there is a positive relationship between study time and exam scores. This hypothesis can be tested by collecting data on the amount of time students spend studying and their corresponding exam scores.

What is the purpose of descriptive research methods? Provide an example of a descriptive research method.

Descriptive research methods are used to observe and describe the characteristics of a population or phenomenon. They help researchers gain a deeper understanding of a particular topic. An example of a descriptive research method is a case study, which involves an in-depth analysis of a rare or unique individual, group, or event. By examining the specific details of the case, researchers can draw conclusions and make generalizations about similar cases.

What is the range of correlation coefficients and what do they indicate? Give an example of a strong negative correlation.

Correlation coefficients range from -1 to +1. A correlation coefficient of 0 indicates no correlation, while a coefficient closer to -1 or +1 indicates a stronger correlation. A negative correlation means that as one variable increases, the other variable decreases. For example, if we find a correlation coefficient of -0.80 between hours of sleep and test performance, it suggests that as the number of hours of sleep decreases, test performance tends to increase.

Study Notes

Research Methods

Correlational studies allow researchers to identify relationships between variables, but do not establish cause-and-effect relationships.
In an experimental study, the independent variable is the variable that is intentionally manipulated by the researcher to observe its effect on the dependent variable.

Experimental Design

Extraneous variables are variables other than the independent variable that can affect the outcome of an experiment and must be controlled for.

Hypothesis

A hypothesis is a specific, testable prediction made by a researcher about the possible outcome of a study, which guides the research investigation.
Example: A researcher predicts that students who receive extra tutoring will perform better on a math test than students who do not receive extra tutoring.

Descriptive Research

The purpose of descriptive research methods is to describe and summarize the characteristics of a population or phenomenon, without attempting to explain or influence it.
Example: A survey to determine the average amount of time college students spend studying per week is an example of a descriptive research method.

Correlation Coefficients

Correlation coefficients range from -1 (perfect negative correlation) to 1 (perfect positive correlation), with 0 indicating no correlation.
A correlation coefficient of -0.8, for example, would indicate a strong negative correlation between two variables, suggesting that as one variable increases, the other tends to decrease.