Sampling & Participants
The most common form of sampling used in CSD research is...
Convenience Sampling
What type of validity ensures that a test measures all relevant aspects of the concept being studied?
Content Validity
What does the beta coefficient represent in a multiple regression model?
The beta coefficient represents the strength and direction of the relationship between an independent variable and the dependent variable, holding other variables constant.
Which section of a research paper describes the participants, materials, and procedures used in the study?
Methods section
What are the first two steps in interpreting regressions?
Step 1: Identify the Dependent variable (DV)
Step 2: Identify the Predictor Variable(s) (or IV)
What type of bias occurs when a sampling procedure may inadvertently include or exclude certain groups of people
A new language assessment produces similar scores when administered twice to the same group of students. What type of reliability does this demonstrate?
Test-retest reliability
What does the F-statistic tell you in a regression analysis, and how do you interpret its value?
The F-statistic tests the overall significance of the regression model. An F-statistic, with a p-value less than 0.05, indicates that the regression model significantly predicts the dependent variable.
What is the primary distinction between experimental and non-experimental research?
Experimental research involves manipulating one variable to observe its effect on another and is designed to examine causation, while non-experimental research observes relationships without manipulation and cannot make causal statements.
What is the main difference between correlation and regression analysis?
Correlation measures the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables, while regression models the predictive relationship between one or more predictor variables and a dependent variable.
In research, what is the main distinction between a "sample" and a "population"?
A sample is a subset of individuals selected from a population, while a population includes all possible individuals who meet study criteria/the people the authors hope to generalize their results to
A university wants to assess students’ overall writing ability, so it creates an exam that consists entirely of multiple-choice grammar questions. The results indicate which students have strong grammar skills, but the test does not evaluate their ability to organize ideas, construct arguments, or write coherently.
Content validity; the test does not comprehensively assess all aspects of writing ability.
A researcher claims that regression analysis shows that eating more vegetables causes better reading comprehension. Why is this claim problematic?
Correlation does not imply causation; other factors could explain the relationship.
What is a potential drawback of using a convenience sample in research?
A convenience sample may not be representative of the larger population, leading to limited generalizability of the findings.
A study examines factors predicting speech perception in cochlear implant users. Predictor variables include age at implantation, duration of deafness, and duration of CI use. The regression model is significant, F(3,46) = 17.24, p < .001, R² = .53. What does the R² value tell us?
The model explains 53% of the variance in speech perception scores.
A study on language skills in adults posts recruitment flyers that say, "Do you want to improve your vocabulary?" What potential type of selection bias does this introduce?
Self-selection bias; those already motivated to improve may be more likely to participate, affecting generalizability.
A new language test produces results similar to those of a well-established language assessment. What type of validity is being demonstrated?
Concurrent validity
If asked to describe the relationship between two variables what are the three details you must provide?
Strength (Strong, moderate, weak)
Direction (positive or negative)
Significance (p value)
Which research design examines relationships between variables without manipulating them?
Non-experimental/Correlational study
A study reports r = .65, p = .07 between sleep duration and cognitive performance. Is this correlation statistically significant? Why or why not?
No, because p > .05, meaning the result is not statistically significant.
A university researcher is studying study habits among college students. Three different sampling methods are proposed:
Question: Match each method (A, B, C) to the correct sampling approach:
A – Random Sampling, B – Cluster Sampling, C – Convenience Sampling.
Match the scenario to the correct type of reliability:
1 - Alternate form, 2 - Interobserver, 3 - Internal consistency/split half method, 4 - Test-retest
How would you interpret a negative beta coefficient in a regression model?
A negative beta coefficient indicates that as the independent variable increases, the dependent variable decreases, showing an inverse relationship between the two variables.
What is the key difference between cross-sectional and longitudinal designs in non-experimental research?
A cross-sectional design examines data from participants at one point in time, while a longitudinal design follows the same participants over a period of time to observe changes.
In a regression model predicting speech perception in cochlear implant users, age at implantation has β = -.45, p < .01. What does this mean?
Age at implantation is a significant predictor, with earlier implantation having a moderate negative correlation with better speech perception; as age at implantation increases, speech perception decreases.