Research Design & Methodology Flashcards

A researcher controls for socioeconomic status by separately analyzing high-SES and low-SES participants. This is an example of:

Answer: Blocking

Blocking involves grouping participants by a potential confound and analyzing each block separately to control its effect.

Which of the following best describes a retrospective research design?

Answer: Data about past events are collected from participants in the present

Retrospective designs collect data about past events or exposures that have already occurred, relying on recall or existing records.

In experimental design, the variable that is measured as the outcome is called the:

Answer: Dependent variable

The dependent variable is the outcome or response variable that researchers measure to assess the effect of the independent variable.

A study finds a Pearson r = 0.85 between hours studied and exam scores. What can be concluded?

Answer: There is a strong positive association between the two variables

A correlation coefficient indicates the strength and direction of association, not causation or specific score changes.

Which sampling method divides the population into subgroups and randomly samples from each subgroup proportionally?

Answer: Stratified random sampling

Stratified random sampling divides the population into strata (subgroups) and draws random samples from each to ensure representation.

The Hawthorne effect is a threat to internal validity because:

Answer: Participants behave differently simply because they know they are being observed

The Hawthorne effect occurs when participants alter their behavior in response to being observed, rather than due to the experimental treatment.

Which element of research design specifies the conditions under which data will be collected and how variables will be controlled?

Answer: Procedural protocol

The procedural protocol outlines the standardized conditions and steps for data collection, ensuring consistency and control.