Research Design Basics
The abstract or theoretical meaning of a variable
Conceptual definition
When participants report their own feelings or behaviors.
Self report
A scale that places data into categories with no order.
Nominal
Variables that represent numerical values or amounts.
Quantitative
This type of validity is based on whether a test looks like it measures what it should.
Face Validity
The specific procedure used to measure or manipulate a variable.
Operational Definition
What is the the major drawback of self-report measures.
Social desirability or inaccurate reporting
A scale that ranks order but intervals between ranks are not equal.
Ordinal
When a test yields consistent responses across its items.
Internal Validity
The extent to which a test actually measures the intended construct.
Construct Validity
This variable is changed by the researcher
Independent/Manipulated variable
When a researcher watches and records participant behavior directly
observational measure
The only scale that has a true zero.
Ratio Scale
Consistency of results when a measure is repeated over time.
Test retest reliability
The best way to improve construct validity.
Using multiple evidence based valid measures (like the PHQ-9 for depression)
What is the difference between factorial and simple designs?
simple has one IV factorial has more than one
This type of measure records biological data like heart rate or brain activity
physiological measure
Type of scale used for satisfaction rating (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
Ordinal
When multiple raters give similar scores.
Inter-rater reliability
Sampling method using whoever is easiest to reach.
Convenience sampling
What did the book say is the biggest threat to validity?
Confounds
Measuring cortisol levels for stress is an example of
Physiological
IQ scores use this scale because spaces are equal but no true zero.
Interval scale
If a measure has high internal but low test-retest reliability, what does that mean
The test is inconsistent across time
Every population member has an equal chance of selection in this sampling type.
Random sampling