Weeks
1,2, and 3
1,2, and 3
What is Research?
Research is a way to systematically investigate data and theories of the social sciences.
What is sampling and why is it used?
Sampling is the process of selecting a group of elements from the larger population.
Sampling is used to learn something about a larger group without having to study every member of that group.
What is measurement?
Measurement is the process of devising strategies for classifying subjects by categories to represent variable concepts. Measurement is a specific way of sorting units of analysis into categories.
What is a research study design?
The study design is a strategic plan. The researchers need to assess the ethical, practical, and methodological challenges with their research.
This is where they will specific the number of individuals within their sample, the number of times they will need to contact the sample, whether any aspect of research will be controlled or manipulated in some way.
What is the difference between a survey and an interview?
Survey: a data collection instrument with questions and statements that are designed to solicit information from respondents
Interview: a data collection instrument in which questions and statements are verbally asked to a respondent to solicit information
What are the four types of research?
What is the difference between probability and non-probability based sampling?
Probability Sampling: samples are drawn in a way that every element in the sampling frame has a known chance of inclusion
Non-Probability Sampling: samples are drawn in a way that does not give every element in the sampling frame a chance of being selected
What is the difference between an index and scale?
Index: a composite measure that is constructed by adding scores from several indicators
Scale: an index in which some items are given more weight than others in determining the final measure of a concept
What is the difference between cross-sectional and longitudinal?
Cross Sectional: A study design in which data are collected for all the variables of interesting using one sample at one time. Researchers might compare different samples across time. Still, data are only collected from one sample at any given period of time.
Longitudinal: A study design in which data are collected at least two different times from one sample.
What is the interviewer effect? Provide an example.
Interviewer Effect: the change in a respondent’s behavior or answers that is the result of being interviewed by a specific interviewer
Describe the ethical challenges associated with studying children.
Obtaining consent from a minor is difficult because you need to ensure they are informed on all aspects of the research project. Parents will also likely have to provide consent on behalf of their children.
What is sampling variability? Provide an example. (Hint: think about the Skittles activity)
Sampling Variability: the variability in sample statistics that occur when different samples are drawn from the population
Provide an exhaustive list of martial statuses.
Are these mutually exclusive? Why or why not?
Martial Statuses: Married, Single, Widowed, Divorced, Separated
Are these mutually exclusive? Depends. Current or all time?
What are the requirements for determining causality?
1. A correlation between the independent and dependent variables
2. Time order – the independent variable must occur before the dependent variable
3. The relationship cannot be caused by the effects of other variables
What is non-response error and what is an example of this?
Non-Response Error: an error resulting from differences between non-responders and responders to a survey
What is an institutional review board?
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is the administrative and decision-making body having responsibility for review and approval of research involving human subjects. Before any research involving human subjects can be initiated it must have received IRB review and approval.
Imagine a researcher wants to study all student musicians currently attending BGSU. The researcher obtains a list of students currently enrolled in the advanced music theory course.
Who is the target population? Who is included in the sampling frame? Is there any coverage error and if so, provide one example?
Target Population: All Student Musicians
Sampling Frame: a list of students currently enrolled in the advanced music theory course
Coverage Error: Yes, there may be student musicians not currently enrolled in the advanced music theory course. (Also, there may be students enrolled in the course that are not considered musicians.)
Provide one example of each level of measurement - nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio
Nominal - Gender
Ordinal - Grade Level
Interval - Year of Birth
Ratio - Income
What is experimental research and describe the general process?
Experimental Research: a study design in which the independent variable is controlled, manipulated or introduced in some way by the researcher
Process: Sample like normal, divide the sample into two groups, one group is introduced to some sort of controlled element and the other is not, assess the differences between the groups
Describe three ways in which a researcher can improve their response rate.
1. Cover Letter: the letter accompanying a questionnaire that explains the research and invites participation
2. Following up with a respondent to remind them to complete the survey
3. Incentives
4. Individually-administered surveys – harder to say no to someone’s face
5. Survey length and ease of completion
Describe the difference between inductive and deductive research.
Inductive research starts with the data and observations, then develops a hypothesis and find a theory which supports it's conclusion.
Imagine you are a researcher wanting to sample all undergraduate students currently enrolled at BGSU. The university admissions office is willing to provide to you a list of all the professors (and their emails) currently teaching at BGSU but unable to provide to you a list of students.
Describe one probability-based sampling technique and one non-probability based sampling technique to obtain a sample of BGSU undergraduate students.
Be sure to explicitly state which technique you are describing.
Probability: Simple Random Sampling, Cluster Sampling, Systematic Sampling, Stratified Sampling
Non-Probability: Convenience Sampling, Snowball Sampling, Quota Sampling, Purposive Sampling
Give two examples of how researchers might conceptualize and operationalize crime?
Conceptualize:
1. Crime is defined as the act of breaking the law.
2. Crime is defined as being arrested.
Operationalize:
1. Have you ever drank underage?
2. Have you ever been charged with a criminal offense?
Describe how you would conduct an ethical experiment studying the effects of "tough-love" compared to positive affirmations when coaching a little league baseball team.
How might you conduct an ethical experiment?
What is the controlled component?
How would you ensure all other aspects of the experiment were equal, besides the controlled component?
Who do you need to obtain consent from?
Describe two (of each) do's and dont's for wording survey questions.
Don't: Leading questions, double-barreled, double negative, loaded language, ambiguous wording, threatening questions
Do: Provide trigger warnings, use contingency/screening questions, provide exhaustive options, ensure your options are mutually exclusive (or allow respondents to select multiple choices), use language appropriate for the respondents