Research Methods Study Guide For All Exams

Chapter 1

  1. Identify and then describe each of the four categories of research (hint: the first is “descriptive”). Also, be able to give specific examples of each.
  2. Be able to define and give examples of measurement validity.
  3. Be able to define and give examples of generalizability.
  4. Be able to define and give examples of causal validity.

Chapter 2 & 3

  1. Know the difference between Qualitative (inductive), Quantitative (deductive) and Descriptive research. Be able to provide specific examples of how to study something from each type.
  2. Know with what type of research (qualitative or quantitative) you would normally use HyperResearch.
  3. Know with what type of research (qualitative or quantitative) you would normally use SPSS.
  4. Know what cross-sectional designs are.
  5. Know what longitudinal designs are and how they are different from cross-sectional designs (hint: one is when data is collected at one point in time, the other is when data is collected two or more points in time).
  6. Be able to identify and then define the three types of longitudinal designs (hint: one is “panel designs”).
  7. Know what an Institutional Review Board (IRB) is and how it serves to uphold ethics in research.

Chapter 4

  1. Be able to define and then know the difference between conceptualization and operationalization. Also be able to give specific examples of each in relation to some social phenomenon like illegal drug use, drunken driving, etc.
  2. Identify and describe the four ways to collect data to operationalize variables (hint: the first is to use available data).
  3. Be able to define and then know the difference between validity and reliability.
  4. Identify and define the four types of validity (hint: the first is “face” validity). Also be able to give specific examples of each in relation to some social phenomenon like illegal drug use, drunken driving, etc.
  5. Identify and define the four types of reliability (hint: the first is “test-retest” reliability). Also be able to give specific examples of each in relation to some social phenomenon like illegal drug use, drunken driving, etc.
  6. Identify and define the four levels of measurement (hint: the first is “nominal”). Also, be able to identify and then explain at what level of measurement the independent and dependent variable would be in any hypothesis I provide for you. For example, “Gay men are much more likely than straight men to commit murder”, or “As a person gets older, s/he is more likely to get in an automobile accident.”
  7. Which three of the four levels of measurement are measured at the quantitative level? Which one is measured at the qualitative level?
  8. What are some ways to improve reliability and validity?

Chapter 5

  1. Know the difference between a population and a sample.
  2. Identify and then describe the three things a person should consider or do before conducting a sample as discussed in lecture (hint: the first is to consider a census).
  3. Know the difference between a non-probability and probability sample.
  4. Why would a person wish to do a non-probability sample?
  5. Identify and describe four types of non-probability samples (hint: the first is an “availability” sample). Also be able to give specific examples of each in relation to some type of research project. In other words, you should be able to tell me how you would draw out each type of non-probability sample for a given scenario I might give you.
  6. Identify and describe four types of probability samples (hint: the first is an “simple random” sample). Also be able to give specific examples of each in relation to some type of research project. In other words, you should be able to tell me how you would draw out each type of probability sample for a given scenario I might give you.
  7. What two problems should you watch out for when selecting a random sample as mentioned in lecture? Be able to tell me what each of these problems are.
  8. What is “sampling error” and what two things effect sampling error due to chance (also known as random sampling error)? (Hint: one is the size of the sample).
  9. What is the difference between systematic and random sampling error?
  10. What size of sample would we need if we: 1) were looking for a simple description for the U.S. population; 2) were looking for a detailed description for the U.S. population; 3) want to know something locally or regionally.

Chapter 6

  1. What three criteria must be met to infer causation? (Hint: the first is Association).
  2. What two further criteria are often added to #1 above according to your text? (Hint: the first is Mechanism)
  3. What three features make up a true experiment?
  4. What is the difference between a true experiment and a quasi-experiment?
  5. Why are experiments well suited to produce valid conclusions about validity but less well suited to achieve generalizability?
  6. Name and describe five threats to causal (internal) validity as mentioned in lecture and in your text (hint: the first is noncomparable groups).
  7. Identify and describe the three issues of generalizability as mentioned in lecture and your text (hint: the first is sample generalizability and the last one is interaction of testing and treatment).

Chapter 7

  1. What are omnibus surveys? Is the GSS an omnibus survey?
  2. Provide three reasons why surveys are attractive (hint: the first is versatility).
  3. What three things do you need to pay particular attention to ensure a valid survey? (hint: the first is sampling).
  4. Provide examples and be able to identify each of the examples on writing survey questions mentioned in your text and in lecture (e.g. avoid confusing phrasing, minimize bias, allow for disagreement, etc.).

Chapter 8

  1. Identify and explain the difference between inferential and descriptive statistics.
  2. What are the ways to display variation? (hint: the first is a bar chart).
  3. Be able to read a cross tab table.
  4. What three features of the shape of variation are important and why? Also, be able to explain what each is (hint: the first is central tendency).
  5. Be able to look at a frequency distribution and tell me if it is positively or negatively skewed and what this means.
  6. Be able to calculate the following: mean, median, mode, and range).
  7. What are the four measures of variation and why are they important? (hint: the first is range).
  8. What four aspects of an association (correlation) does a crosstabulation table reveal? (hint: the first is existence: is there a correlation).
  9. Contrast the definition of an intervening variable with an extraneous variable.

Chapter 9 & 10

  1. How are qualitative methods different than quantitative methods?
  2. Identify and describe the different qualitative methods (hint: one is participant observation).
  3. Identify and describe the three types of participant observation (hint: one is complete observer).
  4. Describe when qualitative research is useful as discussed in lecture.
  5. Focus on the materials in the lecture notes for the rest of this chapter…