PSY 326 Week 4 – Quiz

Question 1

0.5 / 0.5 pts
A graduate student at Large State University has begun data collection for a thesis project in which he is asking students about their use of social networking websites.  His primary interest is in determining how often students use these sites, in what ways and if there are differences across majors.  What type of research design is this student using?

correlational

Correct!

descriptive

experimental

physiological

Question 2

0.5 / 0.5 pts
An investigator is testing a new assessment of anxiety, and to examine the efficacy of this new measure he gives the assessment twice to a group of participants at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters.  He is testing for _____ reliability.

concurrent

inter-item

inter-rater

Correct!

test-retest

Question 3

0.5 / 0.5 pts
The _____ is the statistic representing the probability that our results are due to random chance.

alpha level

Correct!

p-value

Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference

Student’s t-test

Question 4

0.5 / 0.5 pts
IQ score is an example of a(n) _____ scale variable.

nominal

ordinal

Correct!

interval

ratio

Question 5

0.5 / 0.5 pts
Brand of smartphone is a(n) _____ scale variable.
Correct!

nominal

ordinal

interval

ratio

Question 6

0.5 / 0.5 pts
Jane is finalizing the design of her thesis project on the effects of exercise on depression in older adults.  She has decided to use the score on the 10 item depression scale to specify whether her participants are depressed and the score from a 30 item fitness scale to assess fitness levels.  Which stage of the research process has she just completed?

explanation

literature review

measurement

Correct!

operationalization

Question 7

0.5 / 0.5 pts
A political party variable would be measured on a(n) _____ scale.
Correct!

nominal

ordinal

interval

ratio

Question 8

0.5 / 0.5 pts
Dr. Jones is trying to determine how taking an exam causes an increase in subsequent memory for material covered on the exam.  What research design should she use?

correlational

descriptive

Correct!

experimental

physiological

Question 9

0.5 / 0.5 pts
Letter grades would be on a(n) _____ scale.

nominal

Correct!

ordinal

interval

ratio

Question 10

0.5 / 0.5 pts
Grip strength is a common physical fitness assessment tool which is highly reliable, however research has demonstrated that it has little relationship with actual fitness levels.  Which of the following best describes the use of grip strength as a measure of physical fitness?

It has high criterion validity.

It has a low Cronbach’s alpha.

Correct!

It has low construct validity.

It has low face validity.

Quiz Score: 5 out of 5

PSY 326 Week 4 – Discussion

Your initial discussion thread is due on Day 3 (Thursday) and you have until Day 7 (Monday) to respond to your classmates. Your grade will reflect both the quality of your initial post and the depth of your responses. Refer to the Discussion Forum Grading Rubric under the Settings icon above for guidance on how your discussion will be evaluated.

 Experimental versus Non-experimental Quantitative Research [WLOs: 1, 2, 3] [CLOs: 3, 4, 5]

To prepare for this discussion, read the instructor guidance, and Sections 2.22.32.43.3, “Steps” in Section 3.43.54.3, and Chapter 5 of the Newman (2016) textbook.

In contrast to qualitative designs, which are all basically non-experimental and descriptive, quantitative research designs may be either experimental or non-experimental. Within the non-experimental category, descriptive and correlational research are sub-categories.

Using the University of Arizona Global Campus Library databases, look for a scholarly/peer-reviewed quantitative research study on the topic you selected in Week 1. In your initial post,

  • Appraise the differences between experimental and non-experimental research.
  • Differentiate between a correlational study and an experimental study.
  • State the hypothesis being tested in the selected quantitative research study.
  • Identify the major variables and categorize them as independent or dependent.
  • Describe the methods and results of the study.
  • Determine whether the study is descriptive, correlational, or experimental, and explain why it fits this classification.

Document your sources in APA style (Links to an external site.), with in-text citations and references listed at the end of the post. For additional guidance see the Citing Within Your Paper (Links to an external site.) and Formatting Your References List (Links to an external site.) resources from the Writing Center.

Guided Response: Read several classmates’ posts and respond to at least two of them. Do you agree with your colleague’s assessment of the design classification of the study he or she selected? Why or why not? Check your own thread for replies and answer any questions from others about the research study you presented.

PSY 326 Week 3 – Assignment

Qualitative Research Critique

[WLO: 3] [CLOs: 2, 5, 6]

Prior to beginning work on this assignment, review the assigned readings and the instructor guidance for the week, read the Writing Center resource Writing an Article Critique (Links to an external site.), and view the University of Arizona Global Campus Library tutorial How to Read a Scholarly Article (Links to an external site.). Your instructor will post an announcement with the reference for the qualitative research study to be critiqued in this assignment. After reading the posted study, use the   Download Qualitative Research Critique Templateto compose and organize your assignment.

In your paper,

  • Summarize the research question, methods, and findings of the assigned qualitative study.
  • Evaluate the appropriateness of the research methods and analytical approaches used in the study. Support the position with evidence cited from the textbook and at least one other scholarly source about the research design or method.
  • Analyze ethical issues pertaining to how the study was carried out.
  • Critique the strengths, weaknesses, and limitations of the study.
  • Recommend a research question and methods for a follow-up study on the topic.
  • Utilize the provided template with section headings.

The Qualitative Research Critique paper

  • Must be four to five double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references pages) using the template provided and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Writing Center (Links to an external site.)’s APA Style (Links to an external site.) The template is a Word document that is pre-formatted in APA style. If unable to use the pre-formatted template, see the following instructions for formatting.
  • Must include a separate title page with the following:
    • Title of paper
    • Student’s name
    • Course name and number
    • Instructor’s name
    • Date submitted

For further assistance with the formatting and the title page, refer to APA Formatting for Microsoft Word (Links to an external site.).

Carefully review the Grading Rubric (Links to an external site.) for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

PSY 326 Week 3 – Quiz

Question 1

0.5 / 0.5 pts
A research approach that describes and explores the meaning of a phenomenon based on the lived experience of several individuals is called _____.

ethnography

narrative research

Correct!

phenomenology

grounded theory

Question 2

0.5 / 0.5 pts
_____ is a method of recruiting participants by getting referrals from those who have already participated.

member check

purposive sampling

Correct!

snowball sampling

trustworthiness

Question 3

0.5 / 0.5 pts
A research approach that collects, organizes, and shares the story of an individual’s experience with a phenomenon is called _____.

ethnography

Correct!

narrative research

phenomenology

grounded theory

Question 4

0.5 / 0.5 pts
A person’s worldview, including philosophical beliefs about the nature of reality and knowledge, is called _____.

coding

Correct!

paradigm

reflexivity

trustworthiness

Question 5

0.5 / 0.5 pts
The qualitative counterpart of validity and reliability in quantitative research, which includes credibility, transferability, and dependability, is known as _____.

member check

paradigm

reflexivity

Correct!

trustworthiness

Question 6

0.5 / 0.5 pts
A research approach that aims to develop or discover a theory to explain social phenomena, processes, or behaviors is called _____.

ethnography

narrative research

phenomenology

Correct!

grounded theory

Question 7

0.5 / 0.5 pts
Choosing participants for a study based on their experience with the phenomenon being studied, and their willingness and ability to expound on their experience at length and in their own words, is called _____.

member check

participant observation

Correct!

purposive sampling

snowball sampling

Question 8

0.5 / 0.5 pts
A researcher wants to learn about the lived experiences of college students who try to balance full-time work, family responsibilities, and their studies. Which is the most appropriate research design?

ethnography

grounded theory

narrative research

Correct!

phenomenology

Question 9

0.5 / 0.5 pts
When the researcher becomes actively involved in the normal activities of the group being studied, it is called _____.

member check

Correct!

participant observation

purposive sampling

reflexivity

Question 10

0.5 / 0.5 pts
Which of the following is NOT a qualitative research approach?

ethnography

narrative research

Correct!

correlation

grounded theory

Quiz Score: 5 out of 5

PSY 326 Week 3 – Discussion

Your initial discussion thread is due on Day 3 (Thursday) and you have until Day 7 (Monday) to respond to your classmates. Your grade will reflect both the quality of your initial post and the depth of your responses. Refer to the Discussion Forum Grading Rubric under the Settings icon above for guidance on how your discussion will be evaluated.

Pros and Cons of Qualitative Research [WLOs: 1, 2] [CLOs: 4, 5]

To prepare for this discussion, read the instructor guidance, Chapter 12 by Levitt (2016), and Sections 3.13.2, “Pros and Cons of Observational Research” and “Types of Observational Research” in Section 3.4 of the Newman (2016) textbook. View the following videos: Different Qualitative Approaches (Links to an external site.) and When to Use a Qualitative Research Design? Four Things to Consider (Links to an external site.).

Then, determine from the list below your assigned qualitative research design based on the first letter of your last name:

  • A-F: Ethnography
  • G-L: Grounded theory
  • M-R: Narrative research
  • S-Z: Phenomenology

Using the Research Methods research guide’s list of suggested articles, look for information about your assigned qualitative research design. You may also search the Library databases for articles about the research design. In your initial post:

  • Evaluate the features of the design and what kinds of research topics it is suitable for.
  • Explain the data collection and data analysis methods used in the design.
  • Cite at least one scholarly/peer-reviewed article about the design and one published research study that used the design, for a total of at least two scholarly/peer-reviewed journal articles.

Document your sources in APA style (Links to an external site.), with in-text citations and references listed at the end of the post. For additional guidance see the Citing Within Your Paper (Links to an external site.) and Formatting Your References List (Links to an external site.) resources from the Writing Center.

Guided Response: Read several classmates’ posts and respond to one post for each of the other three qualitative designs. Ask any questions you have about how the design works. Compare the design to the one you were assigned. What features are the same or similar? What features are different between the designs? Are you familiar with any studies that used the design? If so, please share the topic of the study. Check your own thread for replies and answer any questions from others about the design you presented.

PSY 326 Week 2 – Assignment

Research Question, Hypothesis, and Approach

[WLOs: 3, 4] [CLOs: 1, 4, 5]

Prior to beginning work on this assignment, review the feedback on your Week 1 paper, sections 1.2, 1.3, and 2.1 in the Newman (2016) textbook, and view the following videos: Picking Your Topic IS Research (Links to an external site.) tutorial from the Ashford University Library, as well as Writing a Research Question (Links to an external site.), and Research Questions, Hypothesis, and Variables (Links to an external site.).

In this assignment, you will follow up on the Week 1 assignment by devising a specific research question and hypothesis statement for your topic. For this assignment, use the Week 2 Assignment Template  Download Week 2 Assignment Templateprovided.

Using the Week 2 Assignment Template  Download Week 2 Assignment Template, complete the following:

  • Devise a specific research question on an aspect of the topic selected in Week 1.
  • Formulate a testable research hypothesis.
  • Identify the research design category you believe is suitable for investigating your research question.
  • Explain why this research design category is an appropriate choice.

Support your choices and explanation with citations from the textbook and at least one scholarly/peer-reviewed source from the University of Arizona Global Campus Library. You can find suitable journal articles about specific research designs and methods in the Research Methods research guide.

The Research Question, Hypothesis, and Approach paper

Carefully review the Grading Rubric (Links to an external site.) for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

PSY 326 Week 2 – Journal

Method Comparison Journal Exercise

[WLO: 3] [CLOs: 5, 6]

In this journal exercise, you will observe and reflect on the similarities and differences in two published research studies (one qualitative, one quantitative) on a similar topic (See Patients’ Perceptions of Barriers to Self-managing Bipolar Disorder: A Qualitative Study and Social Support and Relationship Satisfaction in Bipolar Disorder). A table is provided for entering your observations. Prior to beginning this journal assignment, review the required resources for this week and read the two research studies. You may find it helpful to print out the studies and view them side by side, or if you have a large computer screen have them both open to facilitate comparing their features. Download the Method Comparison Journal Exercise Form  Download Method Comparison Journal Exercise Formand save it to your computer. Fill in your name and the date, then the cells of the table with your thoughts on the characteristics of the articles. Save your entries and upload the completed file to Waypoint.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric (Links to an external site.) for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

Question 1

0.5 / 0.5 pts
A non-experimental research approach that examines relationships between variables is called _____.
Correct!

correlational

descriptive

experimental

quasi-experimental

Question 2

0.5 / 0.5 pts
Qualitative studies tend to have larger sample sizes than quantitative studies.

True

Correct!

False

Question 3

0.5 / 0.5 pts
Descriptive research and correlational research are in the non-experimental category, therefore studies using these designs should not be called experiments.
Correct!

True

False

Question 4

0.5 / 0.5 pts
An educational researcher wants to find out if the amount of homework assigned to middle school students affects the students’ level of academic self-efficacy. Several schools are selected and invited to participate. In each school, participating classes are randomly assigned to receive either three hours of homework on weeknights or less than one hour of homework each night for the duration of the study. Self-efficacy of the students in the two groups of classes is measured and compared. This research is _____.

descriptive, qualitative, non-experimental

Correct!

experimental, quantitative

correlational, non-experimental, quantitative

descriptive, non-experimental, quantitative

Question 5

0.5 / 0.5 pts
Which of the following is NOT a requirement for a study to be a true experiment?

manipulation of an independent variable

random assignment of participants to groups or conditions

control of extraneous variables

Correct!

purposive sampling to recruit participants

Question 6

0.5 / 0.5 pts
A research approach that uses words or images as data instead of numbers is called _____.

descriptive

non-experimental

Correct!

qualitative

quantitative

Question 7

0.5 / 0.5 pts
A hypothesis is a declarative statement which can be tested to determine the probability of it being true or false.
Correct!

True

False

Question 8

0.5 / 0.5 pts
A research question is a declarative statement which can be tested to determine the probability of it being true or false.

True

Correct!

False

Question 9

0.5 / 0.5 pts
A research approach that uses measurement, variables, and statistical analysis is called _____.

descriptive

non-experimental

qualitative

Correct!

quantitative

Question 10

0.5 / 0.5 pts
A researcher uses observation of children and their parents in a busy fast food restaurant to prepare a vivid description of the behaviors and interactions among people present. This research is _____.
Correct!

descriptive, qualitative, non-experimental

experimental, quantitative

correlational, non-experimental, quantitative

descriptive, non-experimental, quantitative

Quiz Score: 5 out of 5

PSY 326 Week 2 – Discussion

Your initial discussion thread is due on Day 3 (Thursday) and you have until Day 7 (Monday) to respond to your classmates. Your grade will reflect both the quality of your initial post and the depth of your responses. Refer to the Discussion Forum Grading Rubric under the Settings icon above for guidance on how your discussion will be evaluated.

 Method Comparisons [WLOs: 1, 2, 3] [CLOs: 3, 4, 5]

Prior to beginning work on this discussion, read sections 1.21.32.1, and 5.2 in the Newman (2016) textbook and the instructor guidance for the week. This discussion has two parts.

In Part 1 of your post, base your response on this week’s instructor guidance as well as the required sections of the textbook listed above. Compare and contrast characteristics of qualitative and quantitative research approaches, including such aspects as sample size and type of data. Briefly explain the difference between experimental and non-experimental research.

In Part 2 of your post, use the University of Arizona Global Campus Library to investigate one of the following research design categories based on the first letter of your last name:

  • A-F: qualitative research
  • G-L: quantitative descriptive research
  • M-R: correlational research
  • S-Z: experimental research

Sources for this part of the post can be found in the Research Methods research guide list of suggested articles. You may also search the University of Arizona Global Campus Library databases for articles about your research design category. Become an expert on your assigned category of research so you can explain it to others.

In Part 2 of your post,

  • Explain the characteristics and purposes that define the research category.
  • Briefly describe some of the data collection and data analysis methods that are used in this type of research.
  • Mention one or more of the specific research designs that fall into your category.
  • Suggest a research topic for which this type of research would be suitable.
  • Use at least two scholarly/peer-reviewed sources and document them in APA style, with in-text citations and references listed at the end of the post.
  • Be prepared to answer questions about your category from classmates and the instructor.

Guided Response: Read several classmates’ posts and select one from each of the design categories other than yours (a total of three). Ask any questions you have about the design category. Compare it to the category you were assigned. What features are the same or similar? What features are different between the categories? After reading posts about all four of the research design categories, think about the research topic you chose in Week 1. Which of the four design categories in this discussion would be appropriate for studying your topic? Is it the one you were assigned or a different one? Consider replying to your own post to address your thoughts about your research focus topic’s alignment. Check your own thread for replies and answer any questions from others about the design category you presented.

PSY 326 Week 1 – Assignment

Focus Topic and References

[WLO:3] [CLO: 6]

Prior to beginning work on this assignment, read Section 1.4 of the Newman (2016) textbook, view the instructional tutorials embedded in the How to Locate Scholarly Articles quiz (A Digital Library (Links to an external site.)Keywords Are Critical (Links to an external site.)Database Search Tips (Links to an external site.), and Help! Need an Article! (Links to an external site.)), view the Evaluating Sources (Links to an external site.) tutorial in the University of Arizona Global Campus Library, and read Developing a Topic (Links to an external site.) in the Writing Center (Links to an external site.). Part of the preparation work for applying the scientific method is to define the research topic and learn what is already known about it, based on previous research.

Using the topic you selected for the Week 1 discussion, go to the University of Arizona Global Campus Library and find three scholarly/peer-reviewed journal articles about the topic. Download the full-text PDF of each article and save them on your computer.

In this paper, you will describe your research topic, identify the articles you found, and discuss what you think each article says about your topic. Upload the PDFs of the articles with your assignment in Waypoint.

For this assignment,

  • Describe the chosen research topic.
  • Identify three scholarly/peer-reviewed journal articles from the University of Arizona Global Campus Library that directly relate to the topic. Read each with the intent of understanding what it reflects about your topic.
  • Evaluate how each article relates to your topic.
  • Properly cite all articles within your paper. (For assistance see the Writing Center’s Citing Within Your Paper (Links to an external site.) resource.)
  • Upload the full text PDFs of the articles with your paper.

The Focus Topic and References paper

Carefully review the Grading Rubric (Links to an external site.) for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.