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Polit10e_PPT_Ch3.ppt

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Chapter 3

Key Concepts and Steps in Qualitative and Quantitative Research

Question

Tell whether the following statement is true or false:

A variable is a characteristic or quality that takes on different values.

Answer

True

A variable is a characteristic or quality that takes on different values.

Question

Tell whether the following statement is true or false:

The dependent variable is the presumed cause of the problem.

Answer

False

The independent variable is the presumed cause (of a dependent variable). The dependent variable is the presumed effect (of an independent variable).

Variable

A characteristic or quality that takes on different values, that is, something that varies from one person to the next

Examples:

Blood type
Weight
Length of stay in hospital

Types of Variables

Continuous (e.g., height)
Discrete (e.g., number of children)
Categorical (e.g., marital status)
Dichotomous (e.g., gender)
Attribute variable versus active variable

Types of Variables (cont.)

Independent variable—the presumed cause (of a dependent variable)

Dependent variable—the presumed effect (of an independent variable)

Example: Smoking (IV)  Lung cancer (DV)

Question

Tell whether the following statement is true or false:

Conceptual definition is the operations a researcher must perform to collect the desired information.

Answer

False

Conceptual definition: the abstract or theoretical meaning of a concept being studied

Operational definition: the operations (measurements) a researcher must perform to collect the desired information

Definitions of Concepts and Variables

Conceptual definition: the abstract or theoretical meaning of a concept being studied
Operational definition: the operations (measurements) a researcher must perform to collect the desired information

Relationships

Relationship: a bond or connection between variables

Cause-and-effect (causal) relationship (e.g., cigarette smoking and lung cancer)
Functional (associative) relationship (e.g., gender and life expectancy)

Major Classes of Quantitative Research

Experimental research

Researchers actively introduce an intervention or treatment.

Nonexperimental research

Researchers collect data without intervening or introducing treatments.

Major Research Traditions in Qualitative Research

Grounded theory research
Phenomenological research
Ethnographic research

Question

What is the first phase in a quantitative study?

A. Conceptual phase

B. Design and planning phase

C. Empirical phase

D. Analytic phase

Answer

The phases in a quantitative study are:

Phase 1: Conceptual phase
Phase 2: Design and planning phase
Phase 3: Empirical phase
Phase 4: Analytic phase
Phase 5: Dissemination phase

Phases in a Quantitative Study

Phase 1: Conceptual phase
Phase 2: Design and planning phase
Phase 3: Empirical phase
Phase 4: Analytic phase
Phase 5: Dissemination phase

Major Steps in a Quantitative Study

Phase 1: Conceptual phase

Formulating the problem

Reviewing related literature

Undertaking clinical fieldwork

Defining the framework and developing
conceptual definitions

Formulating hypotheses