Methods Section

Question 1

Main sections of a research article:

Answer 1

1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Methods
4. Results
5. Discussion
6. References

Question 2

Abstract section should contain

Answer 2

1. Overview and purpose of the study
2. General description and methods
3. Highlights of results
4. Statement of significance of results
5. General conclusions

Question 3

Introduction section should include

Answer 3

1. Statement of the Problem
2. Clinical Relevance
3. Review of current literature
4. Rationale and theoretical framework
5. Specific purpose and hypotheses (guiding research question)

Question 4

Introduction section of research article often concludes with

Answer 4

A research question

Question 5

Methods section should contain

Answer 5

1. Study design
2. Criteria for and methods of subject selection
3. Description and number of subjects
4. Measurement methods and data collection techniques
5. Data analysis procedures

Question 6

Results section should contain

Answer 6

1. Narrative description of statistical outcomes
2. Tables and figures that summarize findings
3. Statements of support of the hypotheses or rejection of the hypotheses

Question 7

Discussion section should contain

Answer 7

1. Importance of the results
2. Limitations of the study
3. Suggestions for future research
4. Applicability of the results to clinical practice

Question 8

Just a brief statement of the purpose of the study and it’s findings. It is usually phrased “the results of this study indicate…” or ”this study demonstrates….”

Answer 8

Conclusion

Question 9

Reference section must include

Answer 9

All references used, in APA format

Question 10

• Enough details are included in this section so the study can be replicated
• A clear description of the subjects/participants
• Including exclusion and inclusion criteria
• Subject sample size should be sufficient for the purposes of the study
• Sample size is affected by the study design

Answer 10

Methods section

Question 11

• Each individual in a population of interest has an equal chance of being
selected for the study
• The generalizability of the study is enhanced when the subject sample is large and randomly selected from the population of interest.

Answer 11

Random sampling

Question 12

• Should be adequate to measure the variables being studied
The IV can be described as “what changes the behavior”
The DV can be described as “the behavior that may change”

Answer 12

Materials

Question 13

These are other factors (confounding factors) that may alter the dependent variable (the behavior that may change) making it difficult to know what actually affected the behavior

Answer 13

Extraneous Variables

Question 14

Characteristics of levels of measurement

Answer 14

1. Identity- (nominal)
2. Identity and magnitude – (ordinal level)
3. Identity, magnitude, & equality of an interval- (interval level)
4. Identity, magnitude, equality of an interval and a true zero – (ratio level)

Question 15

refers to how much we can depend on a measure

Answer 15

Reliability

Question 16

Reliability of a measurement can be evaluated in the following ways

Answer 16

• Test-retest method
• Equivalence of measurement
• Internal consistency – split-half method

Question 17

A measurement can be evaluated for its precision and also for its accuracy
• A measurement that is precise remains relatively stable if it is repeated
with the same research subjects under similar conditions
• A measurement that is precise may not always be accurate
• The accuracy of a measurement reflects the level of error that is present

Answer 17

Precision and accuracy

Question 18

Potential sources of error

Answer 18

Systematic and unsystematic errors

Question 19

equipment needing to be calibrated

Answer 19

Systematic errors

Question 20

equipment malfunction

Answer 20

Unsystematic errors

Question 21

indicates the expected variability of the
subject’s scores if the measurement were repeated several times. A small standard of error suggests higher reliability. A large standard of error suggest lower reliability.

Answer 21

Standard error

Question 22

how consistent 2 or more researchers are in making a particular measurement

Answer 22

Interobserver (inter-rater) agreement

Question 23

how consistent one researcher is when making the same measurement more than once

Answer 23

Intraobserver (intra-rater) agreemen

Question 24

Agreement coefficients can be calculated to determine

Answer 24

the level of interobserver or intraobserver agreement

Question 25

Types of validity

Answer 25

Content Criterion Construct

Question 26

How did the researchers address possible threats to internal validity?

Answer 26

• Subject selection • History • Reactive pretest • Statistical regression • Researcher bias • Test environment (noise level) • Hawthorne effect

Question 27

How did the researchers address possible threats to external validity?

Answer 27

• Subjects • Experimental arrangements (setting) • Multiple sequences or numbers of treatment

Question 28

• In quantitative research, data are obtained using numerical measures • Quantitative research can be experimental, descriptive or mixed experimental-descriptive

Answer 28

Research Design

Question 29

Descriptive research

Answer 29

It is not possible for the researcher to manipulate the IV because it is a subject characteristic (type of speech disorder, age or history)

Question 30

This is the type that is most often used in speech-language pathology

Answer 30

Mixed Experimental-descriptive research

Question 31

Example: In a study measuring the DV of oral reading accuracy, the descriptive component may be the comparison of 2 groups based on subject attributes (dyslexic vs nondyslexic) and the experimental component may be the manipulation of an independent variable (rapid vs slow presentation of written words) Is an example of

Answer 31

Mixed Experimental-descriptive research

Question 32

Can involve between-subject or within-subject group comparison, or both

Answer 32

Group Research – Between subject design

Question 33

comparisons of 2 or more groups of subjects

Answer 33

Between-subject design

Question 34

2 ways to match subjects across groups

Answer 34

• Overall matching of averages across the groups (average age) • Pairwise matching of each subject to another subject

Question 35

the behavior of the same subjects is studied under different conditions

Answer 35

Within-subject design

Question 36

In within-subjects experimental research, possible sequence effects must be controlled

Answer 36

Order effect Carryover effect

Question 37

Ways to attempt to control sequence effects in within-subject designs

Answer 37

Randomizing Counterbalancing

Question 38

Focused on the individual and may involve only one subject or may involve a few subjects whose performance is reported individually

Answer 38

Single-subject design

Question 39

In single-subject research you can have:

Answer 39

Withdrawal designs Multi-baseline designs

Question 40

Research that is based on the performance of one subject or a small group

Answer 40

Single-subject research

Question 41

The notation system used for single-subject research designs is as follows

Answer 41

A=Baseline B = Intervention C and Other Letters = Additional interventions

Question 42

An A-B design would consist of the investigator taking measurements at baseline and then providing the intervention and taking measurements following the intervention.

Answer 42

Single-subject

Question 43

Qualitative research involves 4 exploration of factors that may underline behavior

Answer 43

1. Hypotheses emerge from observation and interpretation 2. Researcher’s experiences and biases are expected 3. Data collection in real-world context 4. Multiple and varied methods for data collection

Question 44

occurs when both quantitative and qualitative research methods are used in the same study

Answer 44

Mixed-method research

Question 45

• Methods section of a research study should include a description of the methods to be used • In qualitative research, descriptive ways to focus the data are used • In quantitative research, numerical analyses allow for objective descriptions that can be analyzed statistically

Answer 45

Data analysis

Question 46

Used to characterize the shape, central tendency, and variability

Answer 46

Descriptive statistics

Question 47

Descriptive statistics shows data in forms of

Answer 47

Graphs and distributions