Quantitative Research Methods 1

Research Methods/Research Design

Research Methods Overview

Research Process Scientific Method Hypotheses Validity (Internal/External) Threats to Internal Validity Research Design Sampling Scales of Measurement Summation Notation

Quantitative Research Methods 1

Research Methods/Research Design

Ideal Goal: Be able to make causal inferences

Quantitative Research Methods 1

Research Methods/Research Design

Scientific Method
A method of inquiry Formulation of hypotheses based on knowledge/observation Testing hypotheses using measurement/experimentation Making conclusions/revising hypotheses based on results

Quantitative Research Methods 1

Research Methods/Research Design

Homework for Next Class

Look at different definitions of scientific method and synthesize these to create your own definition.

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2. Find a research paper of interest. Cite the paper in APA (American Psychological Association) format. a. What research question is the focus of the study? b. What is the researchers hypothesis? c. What were the researchers conclusions?

Quantitative Research Methods 1

Research Methods/Research Design

Research Process
Identification and description of the research problem Formulate hypotheses (research questions) based on substantive theory, past research, direct observation, or a combination

Quantitative Research Methods 1

Research Methods/Research Design

Hypothesis
a tentative explanation for a phenomenon, used as a basis for further investigation. Research Hypothesis: A statement of what the researcher actually thinks the study will uncover or find

Quantitative Research Methods 1

Research Methods/Research Design

Example:
Does new reading program improve scores? How do you know it wasnt something else that improved scores? Can the results be generalized, or is the reading program success related to something specific to the situation?

Quantitative Research Methods 1

Research Methods/Research Design

Validity
Internal validity External validity

Quantitative Research Methods 1

Research Methods/Research Design

Threats to Internal Validity

History Maturation Testing Instrumentation Regression to the Mean Attrition Diffusion/Imitation of treatment

Quantitative Research Methods 1

Research Methods/Research Design

Guarding Against Threats

Randomization Research Design

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Quantitative Research Methods 1

Research Methods/Research Design

Research Design
Quasi-Experimental Designs Experimental Design

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Quantitative Research Methods 1

Research Methods/Research Design

Sampling Samples Sampling Purpose of Sampling Sampling frame Selection Bias Random vs. Non-random

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Quantitative Research Methods 1

Research Methods/Research Design

Non-random Sampling
* Convenience Sampling * Quota Sampling * Expert Sampling

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Quantitative Research Methods 1

Research Methods/Research Design

Sampling Methods
* Simple Random Sampling (SRS) * Systematic Sampling * Stratified Sampling * Multistage Sampling

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Quantitative Research Methods 1

Research Methods/Research Design

Levels or Scales of Measurement

* Appropriate method of analysis depends on the level of measurement of the data

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Quantitative Research Methods 1

Research Methods/Research Design

Levels of Measurement
Nominal (Categorical) Ordinal (Categorical) Interval (Quantitative) Ratio (Quantitative)

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Quantitative Research Methods 1

Research Methods/Research Design

Ecological Fallacy

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Quantitative Research Methods 1

Research Methods/Research Design

Likert Data & Mathematical Operations

Mathematical Tools
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Quantitative Research Methods 1

Research Methods/Research Design

& Definitions
* * * * Constant vs. variable Population vs. sample (n, N) Statistics vs. parameters Summation operator denoted by

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