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| In survey research, when assessing levels of participant knowledge, this is an alternative that means "don't know" |
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| measure of the size of a correlation between two variables; ranges from a perfect positive correlation of +1.00 to a perfect negative correlation of -1.00; if r=0, then no relationship exists between the variables |
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| data initially collected for some purpose not related to a current research study, and then used later for a specific purpose in that current research |
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| research with the goal of trying to solve some immediate real-life problem |
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| lists of behaviors with predefined operational definitions that researchers are trained to use in an observational study |
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| a sample that is not representative of the population |
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| any statistical analysis investigating the relationship between two variables |
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| a type of question found on surveys that can be answered with a "yes" or a "no" or by marking a point on some scale |
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| a probability sample that randomly selects clusters of people having some feature in common (e.g. students taking a history course) and tests all people within the selected cluster (e.g., all students in three of the nine history courses available) |
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| coefficient of determination (r^2) |
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Definition
| for two correlated factors, the proportion of variance in one factor that can be attributed to the second factor; found by squaring Pearson's r |
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| in program evaluation research, a meeting open to community members to discuss the need for, or the operation of, some program |
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| a procedure used to systematically categorize the content of the behavior (often verbal behavior) being recorded |
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| a non-probability sample in which the researchers requests volunteers from a group of people who meet the general requirements of the study (e.g., teenagers); used in most psychological research, except when specific estimates of population values need to be made |
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| a table that summarizes a series of correlations among several variables |
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| form of program evaluation that assesses outcomes in terms of the costs involved in developing, running, and completing the program |
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| form of validity in which a psychological measure is able to predict some future behavior or is meaningfully related to some other measure |
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| in a regression analysis, this is the variable that is being predicted from the predictor variable (e.g., college grades are predicted from SAT scores) |
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| cross-lagged panel correlation |
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Definition
| refers to a type of correlational research designed to deal with the directionality problem; if variables X and Y are measured at two different times and if X precedes Y, then X might cause Y but Y cannot cause X |
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| any data that can serve to classify or identify individuals (e.g., gender, age, income) |
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| in correlational research, this refers to the fact that for a correlation between variables X and Y, it is possible that X is causing Y, but it is also possible that Y is causing X; the correlation alone provides no basis for deciding between the two alternatives |
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| in a survey, a question or statement that asks or states two different things in a single item |
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| any survey research that is conducted over the Internet; can be a survey sent via email or a survey posted on a website |
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| a procedure in observational research in which only certain types of behaviors occurring under precisely defined conditions are sampled |
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| a multivariate analysis in which a large number of variables are inter-correlated; variables that correlate highly with each other form "factors" |
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| a small and relatively homogeneous group brought together for the purpose of participating in a group interview on some topic or, in program evaluation research, to discuss the need for or the operation of a program |
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| form of program evaluation that monitors the functioning of a program while it is operating to determine if it is functioning as planned |
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| inter-observer reliability |
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Definition
| the degree of agreement between two or more observers of the same event |
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| interrupted time series design |
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Definition
| quasi-experimental design in which a program or treatment is evaluated by measuring performance several times prior to the institution of the program and several times after the program has been put into effect |
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| interrupted time series with switching replications |
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Definition
| a time series design in which the program is replicated at a different location and at a different time |
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| a survey method in which the researcher interviews the participant face to face; allows for more in-depth surveying (e.g., follow-up questions and clarification) |
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| a form of correlation used when pairs of scores do not come from the same individual, as when correlations are calculated for pairs of twins |
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| in program evaluation research, a community member with special knowledge about the needs of a community |
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| in a survey, a question that is asked in such a way that the answer desired by the questioner is clear |
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| a multivariate analysis that includes a criterion variable and two or more predictor variables; the predictors will have different weights |
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| any statistical analysis investigating the relationship between more than two variables |
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| descriptive research method in which the behavior of people or animals is studied as it occurs in its everyday natural environment |
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| form of program evaluation that occurs before a program begins and determines whether the program is needed |
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| a relationship between variables X and Y such that a high score for X is associated with a low score for Y and a low score for X is associated with a high score for Y |
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| occurs in survey research when those who return surveys differ in some systematic fashion (e.g., political attitudes) from those who don't respond |
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| nonequivalent control group design |
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Definition
| a between-subjects design with at least two groups of participants that uses a subject variable or that creates groups that are nonequivalent |
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Definition
| can occur when preconceived ideas held by the researcher affect the nature of the observations made |
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| a type of question found on surveys that requires a narrative response, rather than a "yes" or "no" answer |
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| a multivariate statistical procedure for evaluating the effects of third variables; if the correlation between X and Y remains high, even after some third factor Z has been "partialed out," then Z can be eliminated as a third variable |
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| descriptive research method in which the behavior of people is studied as it occurs in its everyday natural environment and the researcher becomes a part of the group being observed |
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| a survey method in which the researcher asks questions over the phone |
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Definition
| a relationship between variables X and Y such that a high score for X is associated with a high score for Y and a low score for X is associated with a low score for Y |
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| in a regression analysis, the variable used to predict the criterion variable (e.g., SAT scores are used to predict college grades) |
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| method of selecting research participants according to some systematic sampling procedure |
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| an examination of whether a program is being implemented as planned; a type of formative evaluation |
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| a form of applied research that includes a number of research activities designed to evaluate programs from planning to completion |
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| occurs whenever causal conclusions about the effect of an independent variable cannot be drawn because there is incomplete control over the variables in the study; random assignment not possible in these studies |
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| a non-probability sample in which the proportions of some subgroups in the sample are the same as those subgroup proportions in the population |
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| occurs when participants' behavior is influenced by the knowledge that they are being observed and their behavior is being recorded in some fashion |
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| in correlational research, knowing the size of a correlation and a value for variable X, it is possible to predict a value for variable Y; this process occurs through a regression analysis |
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| the tendency for regression to the mean to occur |
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| summarizes the points of a scatterplot and provides the means for making predictions |
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| a sample with characteristics that match those same attributes as they exist in the population |
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| a response set in which a participant has a tendency to respond positively to survey questions, all else being equal |
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| occurs in a correlational study when only a limited range of scores for one or both of the variables is used; range restrictions tend to lower correlations |
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| some portion or subset of the population |
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| list of individuals from whom the sample will be drawn; with cluster sampling, a list of groups from which a sample of groups will be selected |
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| a graph depicting the relationship shown by a correlation |
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| in surveys, when the sample is composed of only those who voluntarily choose to respond, the result can be a biased sample |
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| a probability sample in which each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected as a member of the sample |
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| a type of response bias in survey research; occurs when people respond to a question by trying to put themselves in a favorable light |
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| a form of reliability in which one-half of the items (e.g., the even-numbered items) on a test are correlated with the remaining items |
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| in program evaluation research, persons connected with a program who have a vested interest in it; includes clients, staff, and program directors |
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| a probability sample that is random, with the restriction that important subgroups are proportionately represented in the sample |
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| a marketing strategy in which an attempt to sell a prduct is made by disguising the sales pitch with what appears to be a legitimate survey; the term is short for Selling Under the Guise of a survey |
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Definition
| form of program evaluation completed at the close of a program that attempts to determine its effectiveness in solving the problem for which it was planned |
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| a descriptive method in which participants are asked a series of questions or respond to a series of statements about some topic |
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| a form of reliability in which a test is administered on two separate occasions and the correlation between them is calculated |
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| refers to the problem of drawing causal conclusions in correlational research; third variables are any uncontrolled factors that could underline a correlation between variables X and Y |
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| a procedure in observational research in which behavior is sampled only during predefined times (e.g., every 10 minutes) |
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| predictable patterns of events that occur over a period of time; evaluated in time series studies |
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| any measure of behavior that can be recorded without participants knowing that their behavior has been observed |
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| a survey method in which the researcher creates a written questionnaire that is filled out by participants |
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