Research Basics
This term refers to the person, group, organization, or other entity about which conclusions are drawn.
unit of analysis
This Belmont principle emphasizes autonomy, informed consent, and the right to withdraw.
Respect for Persons
Researchers analyze information that was previously collected by another organization.
secondary data
Blood type (A, B, AB, O) represents this level of measurement.
nominal
“Have you visited a doctor in the past year? Yes/No.”
Name the measurement scale.
binary
In a study examining whether weekly exercise predicts stress, weekly exercise is this type of variable.
independent variable
Researchers recruit a vulnerable population simply because they are easy to access. This Belmont principle is the greatest concern.
Justice
Researchers observe people's naturally occurring health behaviors without manipulating anything.
observational study
Responses of poor, fair, good, very good, excellent represent this level of measurement.
ordinal
“I feel supported by my friends: Strongly disagree → Strongly agree.”
Name the measurement scale.
Likert scale
Researchers find that exercise improves sleep, which then reduces stress. Sleep is this type of variable.
mediating variable
A questionnaire intended to measure anxiety actually appears to measure general negative mood. This type of validity is threatened.
construct validity
Researchers introduce an intervention but participants are not randomly assigned to conditions.
quasi-experimental design
Temperature measured in Fahrenheit represents this level of measurement.
interval
A researcher wants to measure loneliness. One survey item asks, “How often do you feel that you lack companionship?” In relation to the construct of loneliness, this survey item is called this.
indicator
Researchers find that the relationship between exercise and stress is stronger for younger adults than older adults. Age is this type of variable.
moderating variable
Participants in the intervention group differ substantially from the comparison group before an intervention begins. This type of validity is threatened.
internal validity
Participants are randomly placed into either a new treatment group or a control group. What design is this?
randomized controlled trial/true experiment
Number of minutes spent exercising per week represents this level of measurement.
ratio
Researchers want to understand an emerging health behavior about which very little is currently known. They conduct interviews to identify common experiences and generate ideas for future research. This is this purpose of research.
exploratory research
Researchers begin with an existing theory predicting that social connection improves well-being and collect data to test that prediction. This represents this type of reasoning.
deductive reasoning
A study uses an extremely small sample and concludes that two variables are unrelated after obtaining a nonsignificant result. This type of validity should concern you most.
statistical conclusion validity
A university randomly chooses 600 students from its complete enrollment list to invite into a study. Name the procedure.
random selection
A researcher defines well-being as consisting of physical, emotional, and social well-being. This makes well-being this type of construct.
multidimensional construct
Researchers develop a questionnaire to measure “healthy eating,” but all of the questions ask only how many vegetables a person eats. The problem is that their measure may not adequately represent the construct they claim to measure. Name the validity concern.
construct validity