Research Methods & Evidence-Based Practice Flashcards

What primary advantage does structured observation have over self-report surveys in data collection?

Answer: It captures actual behavior as it occurs, reducing recall and social desirability bias

Structured observation records behavior directly as it happens, eliminating the memory errors and impression management that can distort self-reported data.

Which data collection method is best suited to exploring the lived experience and personal meaning participants attach to a professional event?

Answer: In-depth semi-structured interview

Semi-structured interviews allow researchers to probe meaning, nuance, and context that quantitative instruments cannot capture.

A measurement tool yields consistent scores across repeated administrations under the same conditions. Which quality is being demonstrated?

Answer: Reliability

Reliability refers to the consistency or stability of a measurement instrument when applied repeatedly under identical conditions.

In qualitative research, what does 'data saturation' indicate?

Answer: New interviews or observations are no longer producing new themes or insights

Saturation occurs when additional data collection yields no new themes, signaling that the sample is sufficient and the findings are comprehensive.

What is the primary ethical requirement of informed consent in research involving human participants?

Answer: Participants must voluntarily agree after being fully informed of risks, benefits, and their right to withdraw

Informed consent requires that participants receive complete, understandable information about the study and freely choose to participate without coercion.

How does increasing sample size generally affect the statistical findings of a quantitative study?

Answer: It increases the probability of detecting a true effect and reduces sampling error

Larger samples reduce the margin of error and increase statistical power, making it more likely that a real effect will be detected if one exists.

A researcher uses content analysis to study how decorative art techniques are described in trade publications. What type of data does content analysis primarily examine?

Answer: Existing textual or visual material to identify patterns and themes

Content analysis systematically codes and categorizes existing communications — such as articles, images, or media — to identify recurring patterns, themes, or biases.