Research Basics
What is a hypothesis?
A statement predicting the relationship between variables that can be tested through research.
Name THREE research methods studied in CAFS.
Examples include questionnaires, interviews, observations, case studies and literature reviews.
What is a sample?
A smaller group selected from a population to participate in research.
What are the types of data?
Primary, secondary. Qualitative, quantitative.
What is primary research?
Information collected firsthand by the researcher for their specific investigation.
What is the difference between a research question and a hypothesis?
A research question identifies what the researcher wants to investigate, while a hypothesis predicts the expected outcome.
Which research method allows a researcher to directly watch and record behaviour?
Observation.
What is the sample group?
The individuals selected from the target population to participate in the research.
Which type of data involves numbers, amounts and statistics?
Quantitative data.
What is secondary research?
Information that has already been collected or produced by another person or organisation.
What is meant by reliability in research?
The extent to which research would produce consistent results if it were repeated.
Give ONE advantage and ONE disadvantage of using a questionnaire.
Advantage: can collect information from a large number of participants efficiently. Disadvantage: responses may lack depth or questions may be misunderstood.
What is random sampling?
A sampling method where members of the population have an equal chance of being selected.
Which type of data would this response produce: “Describe how you feel about the amount of homework you receive.”
Qualitative data.
Give TWO examples of secondary sources.
Government reports, journal articles, books, websites, census data, previous research or statistics.
What is meant by validity in research?
The extent to which the research actually measures what it is intended to measure.
Why might a researcher choose an interview rather than a questionnaire?
Interviews allow the researcher to obtain detailed qualitative information, clarify questions and ask follow-up questions.
What is convenience sampling? Give an example.
Selecting participants because they are easily accessible, such as surveying students in your own CAFS class.
Explain ONE benefit of collecting both qualitative and quantitative data.
Quantitative data provides measurable trends and statistics, while qualitative data provides greater depth about participants' opinions, feelings and experiences.
Why should researchers consider ethical behaviour when conducting research?
To protect participants' rights, privacy, safety and wellbeing and ensure the research is conducted responsibly.
A researcher changes the wording of questions halfway through conducting interviews. Which aspect of research could this affect and why?
Reliability, because participants are not being asked the same questions under consistent conditions.
You want to investigate how Year 12 students feel about balancing school, work and other commitments. Which research method would you choose and why?
Answers may vary. For example, interviews could provide detailed information about students' individual experiences and feelings. Questionnaires could be appropriate if information is needed from a larger sample.
A student wants to investigate attitudes of all Year 12 students, but only surveys their five closest friends. Identify a problem with the sample and explain how it could affect the results.
The sample may be biased and unrepresentative. The friends may have similar experiences or opinions, so the findings may not accurately represent all Year 12 students.
A survey finds that 72% of students experience difficulty balancing school and paid employment. An interview participant states that working after school leaves them with little time to complete assessments. Explain how these two pieces of data could be used together.
The quantitative data establishes the prevalence of the issue, while the qualitative response provides depth and helps explain how or why students experience the issue.
A researcher wants students to answer questions about a sensitive topic but tells them their names will be included in the final report. Identify an ethical concern and suggest an improvement.
Confidentiality/privacy is a concern. Participants could be made anonymous and identifying information removed from the report.