Term
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Definition
Large concepts that we want to study.
(ex. Intelligence) |
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Term
| What are two ways to increase reliability? |
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Definition
| 1. Clear and precise operational definitions must be provided for all behaviors that will be observed and recorded. All observers much use the same criteria in recording and rating participant's behaviors. 2. Raters should practice using the coding system, comparing and discussing their practice ratings before observing the behavior to be analyzed. |
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Term
| What is a conceptual definition vs. a operational definition? |
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Definition
The conceptual definition is a dictionary definition for your construct, where we define what we mean because everyone could define it differently.
The operational definition is a further narrowing down, and it determines how we will measure the construct. (ex. count the number of aggressive acts in 10 minutes). Results in somewhat limited research. |
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Term
| What are two ways of evaluating Reliability? |
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Definition
Test-retest: Test a group of participants and Retest them after a period of time, are the results the same/consistent? Participants should obtain approximately the same score each time they are measured. Scores might not be exactly the same because of measurement error, but they should be close.
Split-half: The items on the scale are divided into two sets. For example the evens were in one half and the odds were in the other half. Scores obtained on the two halves of the measure should correlate. This should be greater than .70, if the split half correlation is small, the two halves of the scale are not measuring the same thing, and there is a lot of measurement error. |
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Term
| What are four different types of Validity? |
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Definition
1. Face Validity
2. Construct Validity
3. Criterion Validity
4. Predictive Validity |
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Term
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Definition
| Extent to which a measure appears to measure what it's supposed to measure. Based on judgment of the researcher or of research participants. A measure has face validity if people think it does. |
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Term
| What is Construct Validity? |
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Definition
Does the construct of interest reflect the conceptual construct. Whether a particular measure relates as it should to other measures in order to determine if the two measures are correlated.
(Ex. IQ tests do not have this because they were designed to identify if people would be successful in school). |
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Term
| What is Criterion Validity? |
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Definition
Refers to the extent to which a measure allows us to distinguish among participants on the basis of a particular behavioral criterion. Distinguishes differences between people.
(Ex. Do scores on the SAT permit us to distinguish students who will do well in college from those who will not?). How to access? Finding that the measure does in fact correlate with behaviors as it theoretically should. |
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Term
| What is Predictive Validity? |
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Definition
Refers to which a measure's ability to distinguish between people on a relevant behavioral criterion at some time in the future. If it's designed to predict intelligence- it should do it!
(Ex. SATs taken in high school, predict later college performance). |
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Term
| What are four different sources of measurement error? |
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Definition
1. Individual differences: Varies in effort from participants, some may be interested and some may not.
2. Non Standard Procedures: In ways that the test is administered, not following the same exact procedures or time.
3. Errors in recording: Typos or calculating mistakes. Maybe writing a "10" instead of an "11".
4. Using unreliable measures: Measures that are not consistent. Maybe administering one test in the morning and another in the afternoon. Not consistent. |
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Term
| What are four methods for collecting data? |
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Definition
1. Report
2. Observation
3. Performance
4. Physiological |
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Term
| What is difference in using Unstructured and Structured Report Measures? |
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Definition
Unstructured: Checklist provides rich data and can be open-ended
(ex. measurement of home environment).
Structured: Interviews, close ended including only specific data.
(ex. AT&T phone interview with numbered 1-5 optional responses). |
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Term
| Compare Disguised vs. Undisguised observations including Advantages/Disadvantages |
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Definition
Disguised - people don't know they're being watched. Unethical unless done in public without any identifying information.
Undisguised- Permission from adults or parents of children. Participants may not respond naturally when they know they are being watched. Referred to as reactivity. |
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Term
| What is a Performance Measure? |
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Definition
Performing a task to show what you know or think.
(ex. Piajet's conservation task- 2 balls same size, which is bigger? 2 balls same size, one is squished, which is bigger?) |
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Term
| What is a Physiological Measure? |
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Definition
Are internal processes that are not observable. Need extra tools or equipment to assess.
(ex. brain activity, heart rate, hormone changes) |
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Term
| What are the advantages and disadvantages with report measures? |
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Definition
Disadvantages
1. Bias
2. Tendency to make us or family look good
3. Lying
4. Fatigue at some point getting tired
5. Answering without thought or hurrying through. |
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Term
| What is a Naturalistic Observation (setting) ? |
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Definition
| Involves the observation of ongoing behavior as it occurs naturally with no intrusion or intervention by the researcher. |
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Term
| What is a Contrived Observation (setting) ? |
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Definition
| Involves the observation of behavior in settings that are arranged specifically for observing and recording behavior. |
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Term
| What are five observation methods? |
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Definition
1. Narrative record
2. Time Sampling
3. Checklists
4. Event Sampling
5. Ratings |
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Term
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Definition
| It is a long written record of everything that occurred during the observation. |
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Term
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Definition
| Observation is divided into intervals of time, and information is recorded accordingly. |
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Term
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Definition
| A list of behaviors that are recorded as being observed or not during observation. |
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Term
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Definition
Used when you have an infrequent event.
(ex. Conflict in the classroom, does not happen frequently so is only recorded when it occurs.) |
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Term
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Definition
Watch and make a rating scale based on the behavior.
(ex. Rate behaviors from 1-5). |
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Term
Compare a participant observer and a objective observer.
What are the advantages & disadvantages? |
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Definition
A participant observer interviews or interacts with the participants.
An Advantages is that there may be some experience or previous knowledge with setting, participants, or information/topic.
A Disadvantage is the potential for bias
A objective observer just watches, hiding in the corner.
An Advantage is the opportunity for objectivity.
A Disadvantage is that there is no interaction, no opportunity to expand on information being collected. |
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Term
| What are self report measures? |
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Definition
| Measures where people give responses to questionnaires and interviews. |
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Term
| What are the self repot biases? |
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Definition
1. The social desirability response bias meaning participants are concerned with how they will be perceived and evaluated, as a result they respond in a socially desirable manner rather than honestly.
2. Acquiescence and Nay-Saying Response meaning some people show a tendency to agree with statements regardless of the content, whereas others tend to express disagreement. |
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Term
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Definition
| Reactivity refers to the way participants react when they know they are being observed. |
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Term
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Definition
| A summary of descriptions of the participant's behaviors with no attempt to record every behavior. |
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Term
| What are some good practices for developing and conducting Interviews? |
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Definition
1. Create a friendly atmosphere
2. Maintain an Attitude of Friendly Interest
3. Conceal Person Reactions to the Respondent's Answers
4. Order questions from basic to more specific and sensitive items.
5. Ask Questions exactly how they are worded.
6. Don't Lead the Respondent. |
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Term
| What are some advantages and disadvantages of Questionnaires? |
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Definition
Advantages of Questionnaires:
1. Questionnaires require less training
2. Can be administered to mass groups of people
3. Anonymity - thus more honesty
Disadvantages of Questionnaires:
1. Inappropriate for illiterate population
2. Self Report Biases |
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Term
| What are some advantages and disadvantages of Interviews? |
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Definition
Advantages of Interviews:
1. Make sure the respondents understand each question before answering
2. Necessary for young children
3. Detailed information can be obtained about complex topics
Disadvantages of Interviews:
1. More training
2. More expensive
3. More time consuming |
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Term
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Definition
| When researchers analyze data pulled from existing records such as census data, court records, letters, newspapers, magazines, etc. |
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Term
| What is content analysis? |
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Definition
| A set of procedures designed to convert textual data information to numerical data that can be analyzed. Central goal is to classify words, phrases, or other units of text into a limited number of meaningful categories that are relevant to the researcher's hypothesis. |
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