16635785
Description
Flashcards by Elizabeth Payne, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by Elizabeth Payne
over 5 years ago
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| Question | Answer |
| Antecedent Variable | 1. In survey research, the variable used to predict another variable 2. In experimental research, the independent variable |
| Artifact | A variable that creates an alternate explanation of results ( a confounding variable) |
| CATI | Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing; video display terminals used by interviewers to present questions/enter responses |
| Census | an analysis in which the sample comprises every element of the population |
| Central Tendency | a single value that is chosen to represent a typical score in a distribution, such as mean, median, or mode |
| Cohort Analysis | a study of a specific population as it changes over time |
| Communication Audit | in public relations, an examination of the internal and external means of communication used by an organization |
| Construct | a combination of concepts that is created to describe a specific situation (example - authoritarianism) |
| Continuous Variable | a variable that can take on any value over a range of values and can be meaningfully broken into sub-parts (example - height) |
| Control Variable | A variable whose influence a researcher wishes to eliminate |
| Control Group | subjects who do not receive experimental treatment and thus serve as a basis for comparison in an experiment |
| Convenience Sample | a nonprobability sample consisting of respondents or subjects who are readily available, such as college students in a classroom |
| Criterion Variable | 1. In survey research, the variable presumed to be the effects variable 2. In experimental research, the dependent variable |
| Cross-Sectional Research | the collection of data from a representational sample at only one point in time |
| Cross Validation | A procedure in which measurement instruments or subjects' responses are compared to verify their validity or truthfulness |
| Dependent Variable | the variable that is observed and whose value is presumed to depend on the independent variable |
| Descriptive Statistics | statistical methods and techniques designed to reduce data sets to allow for easier interpretation |
| Design-Specific Results | research results that are based on, or specific to, the research design used |
| Dispersion | the amount of variability in a set of scores |
| Double-Barrel Question | a single question that requires two separate responses (example - "Do you like the price and the style of this item?") |
| Double Blind Experiment | a research study in which the experimenters and others do not know whether a given subject belongs to the experimental group or to the control group |
| Environmental Monitoring Program | in public relations research, a study of trends in public opinion and events in the social environment that may have a significant impact on an organization |
| Evaluation Apprehension | a fear of being measured or tested, which may result in providing invalid data |
| External Validity | the degree to which the results of a research study are generalizable to other situations |
| Histogram | a bar chart that illustrates frequencies and scores |
| Homogeneity | equality of control and experimental groups prior to an experiment - also called point of prior equivalency |
| Hypothesis | tentative generalization about the relationship between two or more variables that predicts an outcome |
| Independent Variable | the variable that is systematically varied by the researcher |
| Intercoder Reliability | in content analysis, the degree of agreement in results between or among independent coders |
| Interval Level | a measurement system in which the intervals between adjacent points on a scale are equal (example - a thermometer) |
| Leading Question | a question that suggests a certain response or makes an implicit assumption (example - "How long have you been an alcoholic?") |
| Likert Scale | a measurement scale where respondents strongly agree, agree, are neutral, disagree, or strongly disagree |
| Longitudinal Study | the collection of data at different points in time |
| Mean | the arithmetic average of a set of scores |
| Median | the midpoint of a distribution of scores |
| Mode | the score that occurs most often in a frequency distribution |
| Meta Analysis | a quantitative aggregation of many research findings |
| Method-Specific Results | research results based on, or specific to, the research method used |
| Multiple Regressions | an analysis on two or more independent variables and their relationship to a single dependent variable; used to predict the dependent variable |
| Nominal Level | the level of measurement at which arbitrary numerals or other symbols are used to classify people, objects, or characteristics |
| Nonprobability sample | Non-probability sampling is a sampling technique where the samples are gathered in a process that does not give all the individuals in the population equal chances of being selected |
| Normal Curve | a symmetrical, bell-shaped curve that possesses specific mathematical characteristics |
| Null Hypothesis | the denial or negation of a research hypothesis |
| Operational Definition | definition that specifies patterns of behavior and procedures in order to experience or measure a concept |
| Ordinal Level | the level of measurement at which items are ranked along a continuum (Ordinal variables have a meaningful order, but the intervals between the values in the scale may not be equal) |
| Panel Study | a research technique in which the same sample of respondents is measure at different points in time |
| Parsimony Principle (Occam's Razor) | the premise that the simplest method is the most preferable |
| Pilot Study | a trial run of a study conducted on a small scale to determine whether the research design and methodology are relevant and effective |
| Predictor Variable | Antecedent variable |
| Prestige Bias | the tendency of a respondent to give answers that will make him/her seem more educated, successful, financially stable, or otherwise prestigious |
| Public Relations Audit | a comprehensive study of the public relations position of an organization |
| Purposive Sample | a sample deliberately chosen to be representative or a population |
| Quantitative Research Method | research method that uses standardized questioning |
| Quasi-Experiment | a research design that does not involve random assignment of subjects to experimental groups |
| Random Digit Dialing | a method of selecting telephone numbers that ensures that all telephone households have an equal chance of being selected |
| Random Error | error in a research study that cannot be controlled by the researcher |
| Random Sample | a subgroup or subset of a population selected in a way that each unit in a population has an equal chance of being selected |
| Ratio Level | a level of measurement that has all the properties of an interval level scale and also has a true point zero |
| Reactivity | a subject's awareness of being measured or observed and its possible impact on that subject's behavior |
| Replication | an independent verification of a research study |
| Research Question | a tentative generalization about the relationship between two or more variables |
| Response Set | a pattern of answers given by a respondent, such as all "5" ratings on a 1-10 scale These data are usually deleted from the data set |
| Sample Specific Results | research results that are based on, or specific to, the research sample used |
| Secondary Analysis | the use of data collected by a previous researcher or another research organization; also called data re-analysis |
| Semantic Differential | a rating scale consisting of several spaces between two bipolar adjectives (example - good ____ _____ ____ bad) |
| Shopping Center Interview (Intercept) | a nonprobability study in which respondents are recruited and interviewed within a shopping mall |
| Skewness | the degree of departure of a curve from the normal distribution (curves can be positively or negatively skewed) |
| Standard Error | an estimate of the amount of error present in a measurement |
| Structured Interview | an interview in which standardized questions are asked in a predetermined order |
| Theory | a set of related propositions that presents a systematic view of phenomena by specifying relationships among concepts |
| Triangulation | using a combined quantitative and qualitative approach to solve a problem |
| t-test | a statistic used to determine the significance between group means |
| Variable | a phenomena or event that can be measured or manipulated |
| Variance | a mathematical index of the degree to which scores deviate from the mean |
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