Research Riddles
Which research design solves the mystery of "causality"?
EXPERIMENTAL
It involves comparing two groups on one outcome measure (e.g., a control group and an experimental group) to test a hypothesis about cause-and-effect relationships. The researcher manipulates the independent variable to see how it affects the dependent variable, helping to establish causation.
Researchers typically choose research topics that are of great ____________ to them and fuel their intellectual curiosity.
interest
You are ready to kickstart your research adventure.
What are the first three steps you need to take in a research study plan?
!!!!!! If you fail to give the correct answer, you will lose one turn. o_0
choosing a research topic
conducting literature review
formulating a research problem /question
A researcher wants to conduct a study on non-compliance among pre-school kids. Which of the following methods can be used to specify the variable of interest?
a) formulating a non-directional hypothesis
b) defying the null hypothesis
c) providing operational definitions
d) making strong predictions
C
Providing operational definitions
The best way to specify the variable of interest, non-compliance, is to provide operational definitions that outline how non-compliance will be observed, measured, or quantified in the context of the study.
What are the clever tactics researchers use to keep their own biases out of the experiment?
Double-blind technique
Blind technique
Partial blind technique
What kind of correlation turns the relationship upside down?
Negative Correlation
A negative correlation means that as one variable increases, the other decreases, creating an inverse or "upside down" relationship. For example, the more hours spent watching TV, the fewer hours available for studying.
__________always assumes that there will be no difference between the groups being studied.
Null Hypothesis
What do you call a group of research participants that's right at your fingertips?
!!!! If you give the correct answer, you will double the points you earn from this question. ^_^
Sample of Convenience
In an experiment examining the effects of exercise on insomnia, researchers assign women aged 20-24 to the experimental group and men aged 18-24 to the control group.
What is the main issue with the way participants are assigned?
Selection bias / Lack of random assignment
The main issue is the lack of random selection. By assigning participants based on specific characteristics like gender and age, researchers are not ensuring that each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to either group. This selective assignment introduces bias, as age and gender could influence the outcomes, and it limits the ability to generalize the results. Random selection ensures that groups are comparable and reduces the potential for confounding variables.
__________ reliability refers to the administration of a single test that is divided into two equal halves and checking for consistency between them.
Split-half
What approach uses the power of observation to uncover truths and builds knowledge with "facts", not "fancies"?
Empirical Approach
It is an evidence-based approach that gathers knowledge through direct observation and experimentation, relying on objective data rather than speculation.
___________ is the outcome or reponse that is measured in an experiment to assess the effects (if any) of the independent variable.
Dependent Variable
It is the outcome or response that researchers measure to determine the effect of the independent variable. It "depends" on the changes made to the independent variable during the experiment.
What sampling method ensures each member of the population gets an equal shot at being part of the study?
Random selection
A research team wants to study how writing on physical paper affects people’s memory to store information. They decide to run the experiment on high-school kids and eventually claim that their research has positive correlation.
According to this research, which of the following statements is incorrect?
a) ‘’writing on physical paper’’ is an IV, ‘’people’s memory’’ is a DV.
b)The more they write on physical paper, the more their memory improves.
c)The conclusion of this research can be generalized to all people by all means.
d)There is no violation of internal validity in this research.
C
The research was conducted on high-school kids, and conclusions drawn from this specific group cannot be directly generalized to all people, especially adults, or individuals in different educational or cognitive contexts. For generalization to be valid, the sample should be representative of the larger population to which the results are being applied, or the study should be replicated across various groups.
Which of the following data collection methods is most appropriate for gathering in-depth, qualitative insights from participants in a study? Explain why.
a) surveys
b) interviews
c) experiments
d) observations
!!!! If you fail to give the correct answer, all your points will be deleted. :D
B
interviews
They allow for open-ended questions and personalized interactions. This method enables researchers to explore participants' thoughts, feelings, experiences, and perceptions in detail. Interviews provide flexibility for follow-up questions and clarification, making them ideal for collecting rich, nuanced data that is often not captured in structured surveys or observations.
In a battle of medicine vs. placebo, which group plays the role of the impostor?
Control Group
The control group is the one that receives the placebo — the "impostor" medication that looks like the real thing but has no active ingredients. This group helps researchers determine whether the new medication’s effects are truly due to the drug itself, or just the power of expectation.
Which of the statements below is NOT TRUE about hypotheses?
a. Hypotheses can be falsifiable.
b. Hypotheses attempt to explain, predict and explore the relationship between variables.
c. Hypotheses are always based on existing theories.
d. Researchers use alternate hypotheses when they believe that groups will differ.
C
Hypotheses can also arise from novel ideas or exploratory data analysis.
What are the three general goals of scientific research?
!!!!!! If you fail to give the correct answer, all your points will be given to the group with the lowest score :)
Description
Explanation
Prediction
___________ refers to the tendency of participants to perform better in a study when they are aware that they are being observed.
!!!! If you give the correct answer, you can erase the points of a group you like. o_0
Hawthorne effect
_________ reliability refers to the stability of test scores over time and involves repeating the same test on at least one other occasion.
!!!! You can challenge a group of your choice. If they fail to answer correctly but you do, your points for this question will be doubled. If both of you fail, only you will lose points. If both answers are correct, both teams will receive the points <3
Test-retest
What’s the name for running a study twice to see if the results stick?
Replication
It is the process of conducting the same research study again, but with a different group of participants, to see if the results can be consistently reproduced. Replication is key to confirming the reliability and validity of the original findings.
A researcher hypothesizes that aging will negatively affect the speaking skills.
Which of the followings can be said about this hypothesis?
a)It’s a directional hypothesis.
b)It’s a non-directional hypothesis.
c)This is an example of null hypothesis.
d)It suggests a positive correlation.
A
It’s a directional hypothesis.
What’s the purpose of a literature review in research — is it just to show off your reading list? Explain.
* inform oneself about the topic
* summarize, analyze, and synthesize existing research on a topic
* identify gaps in current knowledge
* establish a theoretical framework for the study
* position the current research within the broader academic discussion
________________ variables are the unwanted guests that can mess with your study's outcome, but aren’t invited to the research party.
!!!!! If you give the correct answer, you will either earn an extra 100 points or delete 100 points from a group you like. <3
Extraneous / confounding
These variables introduce potential confusion or error, as they may influence the outcome of the experiment, making it difficult to determine whether the changes in the dependent variable are due to the independent variable or other factors.
Validity refers to the consistency of the measurement whereas reliability focuses on accuracy of the measurement.
T or F?
(Explain)
The statement is false because reliability is about consistency, while validity is about accuracy.