SURVEY BASICS
The overall method used to systematically collect self-report information from participants.
What is a survey?
“My professor is knowledgeable and supportive.”
What is a double-barreled question?
The entire group about whom a researcher ultimately wants to draw conclusions.
Answer: What is the target population?
What is the target population?
A researcher places the names of all eligible students into a computer program and randomly selects 100 participants.
What is simple random sampling?
Before launching a survey to the full sample, a researcher gives it to a small group to identify confusing questions and technical problems.
Answer: What is pilot testing?
A collection of questions or items presented to participants as part of a research study.
What is a questionnaire?
“Don't you agree that universities should provide better mental health services?”
Answer: What is a leading question?
What is a leading question?
The individuals who actually participate in the research study.
What is the sample?
A researcher selects every 10th name from a student roster after choosing a starting point.
What is systematic sampling?
Participants answer questions in ways they believe will make them look better or more socially acceptable.
What is social desirability bias?
A set of related items designed to measure a psychological construct such as anxiety, depression, or self-esteem.
What is a scale?
“How often do you exercise?” The researcher never defines “exercise” or gives a timeframe.
What is an ambiguous question?
A professor sends a survey only to students in her own classes because they are easy to reach.
What is convenience sampling?
A researcher divides students into master's and doctoral groups and randomly samples from each group.
What is stratified sampling?
This refers to whether a psychological measure produces sufficiently consistent scores.
What is reliability?
One statement rated from Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree is technically called this.
What is a Likert-type item?
“Why do graduate students fail to seek counseling when they need it?” This question assumes that counseling was needed and that students failed to obtain it.
What is a loaded or assumptive question?
A researcher studying trauma therapists intentionally recruits only licensed therapists with at least five years of trauma-treatment experience.
Answer: What is purposive sampling?
Participants report less illegal drug use when questioned face-to-face than when completing the same questions anonymously online. The administration method has produced this phenomenon.
Answer: What are mode effects?
This type of validity asks whether survey items adequately cover all important aspects of the construct being measured.
What is content validity?
A researcher creates 10 questions about sadness and claims the questions measure the entire construct of depression. This type of validity should be a major concern.
What is construct validity?
“I don't disagree that professors shouldn't avoid giving extensions.”
What is a double negative?
People who choose to complete an online survey may be systematically different from people who see the invitation but decide not to participate.
Answer: What is self-selection or volunteer bias?
What is self-selection or volunteer bias?
Clue: Before sending a newly developed survey to 500 participants, a researcher gives it to 15 people similar to the target population to identify confusing wording, technical problems, and completion time.
What is pilot testing?
A researcher promises participants that their identities will be known to the research team but will not be disclosed to others. This is different from anonymity.
What is confidentiality?