Research Methods Flashcards

Which type of validity assesses whether a test measures what experts agree it should measure based on its content?

Answer: Content validity

Content validity evaluates whether the items in an instrument adequately represent the full domain being measured.

A double-blind experiment controls for bias by ensuring that:

Answer: Both the researcher and participants are unaware of group assignments

In a double-blind design, neither participants nor the researchers interacting with them know who is in the treatment vs. control group.

Peer review in scientific research primarily functions to:

Answer: Have experts evaluate the quality and validity of the research

Peer review is a quality-control process in which independent experts evaluate the methodology, analysis, and conclusions of a study.

When a researcher's personal values or expectations influence the interpretation of results, this is called:

Answer: Researcher bias

Researcher bias occurs when a researcher's expectations, beliefs, or preferences distort data collection, analysis, or reporting.

Longitudinal studies differ from cross-sectional studies primarily because they:

Answer: Follow the same participants over an extended period

Longitudinal studies track the same individuals over time, making them useful for examining developmental or change-related questions.

The mode in a dataset is defined as:

Answer: The value that appears most frequently

The mode is the score or value that occurs more often than any other in a dataset.

Which research method involves the researcher immersing themselves in a community to study behavior in its natural setting?

Answer: Ethnography

Ethnography involves deep, prolonged immersion in a cultural group to understand behaviors, norms, and meanings in context.