Midterm 1 - Appendix

Question 1

Hypothesis

Answer 1

formal statement of the expected relationship between two variables

Question 2

Variables

Answer 2

Measures that can take on two or more values

Question 3

Independent variable

Answer 3

predicts or is the cause of variation in a dependant variable

Question 4

dependant variable

Answer 4

expected to vary as a result of changes to the independent variable

Question 5

moderating variable

Answer 5

affects nature of relationship between ind. and dep. variables such that the relationship depends on the level of the moderating variable

Question 6

mediating variable

Answer 6

intervenes or explains relationship between ind. and dep. variable

Question 7

reliability

Answer 7

index of the consistency of a research subjects responses

Question 8

validity

Answer 8

index of extent to which a measure truly reflects what it is supposed to measure

Question 9

convergent validity

Answer 9

strong relationship between different measures of the same variable

Question 10

discriminant validity

Answer 10

when theres a weak relationship between different measures of diff variables

Question 11

observational research

Answer 11

examines natural activities of ppl in an organizational setting by watching and listening

Question 12

participant observation

Answer 12

researcher becomes functional member of the organizations unit being studied

Question 13

direct observation

Answer 13

observes without taking part

Question 14

correlation techniques

Answer 14

attempts to measure variables precisely and examine relationships among these variables without introducing change into the research setting.
ex.
* Surveys
* Existing data (sales data, performance scores)

Question 15

cross sectional design

Answer 15

the independent and dependent variables are measured at the same time

Question 16

longitudinal design

Answer 16

the independent variable will be measured at one point in time and the dependent variable will be measured some time later

Question 17

experimental research

Answer 17

involves manipulating nature

Question 18

laboratory experiment

Answer 18

uses artificial things

Question 19

field experiment

Answer 19

takes place in a natural setting such as an organization.

Question 20

control group

Answer 20

group of research participants who have not been exposed to the experimental treatment

Question 21

internal validity

Answer 21

extent to which a researcher has confidence that changes in a dep. variable are due to the ind. variable

Question 22

quasi-experimental design

Answer 22

participants are not randomly assigned to the experimental and control conditions

Question 23

external validity

Answer 23

extent to which results of a study generalize to other samples and settings

Question 24

hawthorne effect

Answer 24

Research subjects tend to change their behaviour because they’re being studied

Question 25

random assignment

Answer 25

research participants (e.g., employees) have been randomly chosen to be a part of a treatment or a control condition

Question 26

threats to internal validity

Answer 26

Factors that are alternative explanations for the results of an experiment

Question 27

what are the threats to internal validity

Answer 27

selection of participants testing instrumentation statistical regression history maturation mortality

Question 28

selection of participants

Answer 28

Participants selected for the experimental group differ from those in the control group in some way that influences the results of an experiment.

Question 29

testing

Answer 29

The process of completing a survey and answering questions at the start of an experiment might sensitize participants to the study and influence how they respond to the same questions after the experiment.

Question 30

instrumentation

Answer 30

If different measures are used at different times during the course of an experiment, then any changes in participants’ scores might be due to differences in the measures used.

Question 31

statistical regression

Answer 31

The tendency of scores on a measure to shift over time toward the mean score. Participants who perform poorly on a test before an experiment might have higher scores after an experiment simply due to regression toward the mean.

Question 32

history

Answer 32

Events or factors that occur during the course of an experiment and can explain changes in the dependent variable.

Question 33

maturation

Answer 33

Natural changes in participants that are due to the passage of time (e.g., job experience) that can result in changes in the dependent variable.

Question 34

mortality

Answer 34

Participants drop out of an experiment before it has ended, and those who remain and complete the dependent measures differ in some way from those who dropped out.