Week 4 Quantitative Research

Question 1

What is a research design?

Answer 1

To structure the research, show all of the major parts of research project, samples, measures, treatments/interventions to address research question

Question 2

Key Research Design features

Answer 2

1. Intervention
2. Comparison
3. Control over confounding variables
4. Time frames
5. Relative timing
6. Location

Question 3

What are the key dimensions of design?

Answer 3

1. Experimental vs non experimental (Control)
2. Cross sectional vs longitudinal (How often)
3. Retrospective vs Prospective (When)

Question 4

What are the types of experimental design?

Answer 4

RCT & Quasi to identify causal relationship

Question 5

What are the types of non experimental design?

Answer 5

Descriptive, correlational & comparative

Question 6

What are the characteristics of true experiments?

Answer 6

1. Intervention
2. Control
3. Randomisation

Question 7

What is a true experimental design?

Answer 7

RCT: the gold standard for testing causal relationship: pre-test post-test with randomisation

Question 8

What is a quasi experimental design?

Answer 8

Non-equivalent pre-test post test design

Question 9

What is randomisation in RCT?

Answer 9

Allocation of subjects to control/exp groups is done by chance, without the ability to predict who is in the group

Every subject has equal chance

Minimise selection bias

Question 10

What are the different steps of randomisation?

Answer 10

1. Participant recruitment
2. Participant allocation
3. Intervention administration
4. Outcome assessment

Question 11

What are the key characteristics of Quasi?

Answer 11

1. Intervention
2. Absence of randomisation
3. Control (yes/no)

Question 12

What are the strengths & weaknesses of Quasi?

Answer 12

Practical - not all participants would want to be randomised in clinical trials

Cause & effect rs is weakened
Absence of randomisation & control group

Question 13

When is non experimental research used?

Answer 13

When RQ cannot be addressed by experimental/quasi with no control over IV

Question 14

What are the key characteristics of non experimental?

Answer 14

1. IV inherently cannot be manipulated
2. Unethical to manipulate IV
3. Research aims to investigate a natural phenomenon

Question 15

What are the types of non experimental designs?

Answer 15

1. Descriptive
2. Descriptive correlational
3. Comparative descriptive

Question 16

Descriptive study in non experimental

Answer 16

To observe, describe & document a situation

Question 17

Descriptive correlational in non experimental

Answer 17

Examine relationship between variables
To describe & investigate without attempting to infer causal rs

Question 18

Comparative descriptive

Answer 18

Compare variables between 2 or more samples on 1 or more variables often at a single point of time

Question 19

What is a sample?

Answer 19

Representative of a subset of population

Question 20

What are the key considerations for study sample?

Answer 20

1. Representativeness - extent that sample is similar to accessible population
2. Sampling bias - systematic over or under representation of population

Question 21

Why probability sampling?

Answer 21

To reduce risk of bias & enhance internal & external validity

Question 22

What are the types of sampling bias?

Answer 22

1. Non response bias
2. Systematic bias
3. Attrition bias

Question 23

What are the types of probability sampling designs?

Answer 23

1. Simple random
2. Stratified
3. Systematic

Question 24

What is stratified sampling?

Answer 24

Process of selecting sample to identify subgroups in a population that are represented in the sample

Question 25

Adv + Disadv of stratified

Answer 25

Prevents possibility that some subgroups are under represented Require more labour Impossible if information is unavailable

Question 26

What is systematic sampling?

Answer 26

Process of selecting every nth case from pre existing list

Question 27

What are the types of non probability sampling?

Answer 27

1. Convenience 2. Consecutive 3. Snowball

Question 28

What is consecutive sampling?

Answer 28

Recruit entire accessible population within defined period of time (set time frame, e.g 3 months then stop)