Descriptive Research Designs
What is the goal of observation studies?
To objectively observe and record characteristics of a phenomenon.
What tool records whether characteristics are present or absent?
Checklist.
What is one key guideline when writing interview questions?
Limit each question to a single concept.
What is probability sampling?
Random selection where everyone has a known chance of being chosen.
What is the general rule about sample size?
Larger is better.
What type of research looks at how much one variable relates to another?
Correlational research.
What tool measures data on a continuum, like “never” to “always”?
Rating scale.
Why should interviews be pilot-tested?
To ensure questions are clear and interpretable.
What sampling method selects participants at random with equal odds?
Simple random sampling.
If a population is relatively small, what should researchers do?
Survey the entire population.
What design studies how characteristics change over time?
Developmental designs.
What tool uses multiple scales with explicit descriptions of performance?
Rubric.
What is one way to make questionnaires more effective?
Keep them short and simple.
What type adjusts for different group sizes when sampling?
Proportional stratified sampling.
About what percentage of a medium-sized population should be sampled?
At least 50%.
What design collects frequent or constant data as participants live daily life?
Experience-sampling methods.
What technology can streamline observation and data collection?
Computers and specialized software.
Why should implicit assumptions in survey questions be avoided?
They can bias responses and reduce accuracy.
What is convenience sampling?
Selecting the most easily available participants.
For very large populations, what is the typical adequate sample size?
About 400 participants.
In survey research, how do researchers usually collect data from participants?
By asking them structured questions through interviews or questionnaires.
Why are data collection tools useful in descriptive research?
They help quantify complex phenomena.
What should every questionnaire look like before being distributed?
Professional and easy-to-understand.
What is purposive sampling?
Selecting people because they have a specific characteristic.
What type of sampling is used in very large populations that are spread out over long distances?
Multi-stage area sampling.