Survey Techniques & Case Studies (College Board AP® Psychology): Flashcards
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Define survey.
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Cards in this collection (41)
Define survey.
A survey is a self-report, non-experimental method in which participants answer a set of questions designed to collect their thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and opinions.
Define closed question.
A closed question offers participants a limited set of response options and generates quantitative data that can be easily analyzed and compared.
Define open question.
An open question allows participants to respond freely in their own words and generates qualitative data that captures the complexity of individual experience.
What is the main strength of closed questions in a survey?
Closed questions produce standardized, numerical data that is straightforward to analyze, compare across participants, and represent graphically.
What is the main strength of open questions in a survey?
Open questions produce rich, detailed, explanatory data that gives insight into the reasons behind participants' attitudes and behavior.
Define Likert scale.
A Likert scale is a closed-question format in which participants indicate the degree to which they agree with a statement, typically from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree.
A rating scale asks participants to select a ________________ value to indicate the strength of their response.
A rating scale asks participants to select a numerical value to indicate the strength of their response.
Define self-report bias.
Self-report bias occurs when the wording of a survey question, such as leading or ambiguous phrasing, influences participants to give inaccurate answers.
Define social desirability bias.
Social desirability bias occurs when participants respond in ways they believe are socially acceptable or favorable rather than truthfully, especially on sensitive topics.
True or False?
Surveys can establish cause and effect between variables.
False.
Surveys are a non-experimental methodology, so they cannot establish cause and effect because no IV is manipulated.
A ____________ question is one whose wording steers participants toward a particular answer.
A leading question is one whose wording steers participants toward a particular answer.
Define structured interview.
A structured interview is a self-report method using a predetermined set of questions asked in the same order to every participant, with no deviation from the script.
Is a structured interview an experimental or non-experimental methodology?
A structured interview is a non-experimental methodology because there is no manipulation of an IV.
What main type of data does a structured interview produce?
Structured interviews primarily produce quantitative data, such as counts of yes/no responses or ratings on a scale, which can be statistically analyzed.
Define self-report bias.
Self-report bias occurs because participants provide their own account of their thoughts and behavior, so there is no way to verify whether their responses accurately reflect reality.
Define experimenter bias.
Experimenter bias occurs when the researcher's tone of voice, body language, or manner of delivery subtly influences how participants interpret and respond to questions.
True or False?
A structured interview can be replicated by different researchers because every participant receives the same questions in the same order.
True.
Standardized questions mean the interview can be replicated by different researchers, which also allows reliability to be checked over time.
Why does the predetermined format of a structured interview limit the depth of data collected?
If a participant raises something unexpected or particularly significant, the structured format does not allow the researcher to explore it further, which limits the depth and usefulness of the data.
Standardization in structured interviews allows reliability to be checked over time using the ___________________ method.
Standardization in structured interviews allows reliability to be checked over time using the test-retest method.
Face-to-face delivery of a structured interview increases the risk of __________ desirability bias compared with an anonymous survey.
Face-to-face delivery of a structured interview increases the risk of social desirability bias compared with an anonymous survey.
True or False?
Using standardized questions completely eliminates experimenter bias in a structured interview.
False.
Standardization reduces experimenter bias but cannot eliminate it, because the researcher's tone of voice, body language, or manner of delivery can still influence responses.
Define unstructured interview.
An unstructured interview is a self-report method with no predetermined set of questions, treated as a conversation that gives the participant as much freedom as possible in their responses.
What type of data does an unstructured interview produce?
An unstructured interview produces qualitative data only: rich, detailed, descriptive responses that reflect the participant's individual experience.
Define semi-structured interview.
A semi-structured interview combines prepared questions with the flexibility to deviate from them when the participant says something unexpected or needs a different approach.
What types of data can a semi-structured interview produce?
A semi-structured interview can produce both qualitative and quantitative data, depending on whether open or closed questions are used.
True or False?
The flexible format of a semi-structured interview increases the risk of leading questions during unscripted sections.
True.
Unscripted sections can introduce leading questions, which cause self-report bias and reduce the validity of participants' responses.
Unstructured interviews are high in __________________ validity because participants have complete freedom to respond.
Unstructured interviews are high in ecological validity because participants have complete freedom to respond.
Why does the free-flowing nature of unstructured interviews reduce reliability?
Participants may go into depth on irrelevant topics, change direction, or become confused, which makes it difficult to draw consistent conclusions across participants.
True or False?
As interview structure increases, reliability tends to increase and validity tends to decrease.
True.
More structure increases reliability through standardization, but reduces validity by limiting how freely participants can respond.
Why might a researcher lose objectivity during an extended unstructured interview?
The intimate nature of long unstructured interviews can lead the researcher to identify with the participant and present responses in an overly favorable light, introducing bias.
Qualitative data from unstructured interviews is inherently difficult to analyze ____________________.
Qualitative data from unstructured interviews is inherently difficult to analyze objectively.
Define case study.
A case study is a detailed, in-depth investigation of an individual or small group, often focused on someone with a rare or unique experience or condition.
Why is a case study classified as a non-experimental methodology?
A case study is non-experimental because there is no manipulation of an IV; the researcher observes and records the participant's experience rather than controlling variables.
What two types of data can a case study generate?
A case study can generate both qualitative data (from interviews, observations, open questions) and quantitative data (from memory tests, IQ tests, neuroimaging, closed questions).
Define triangulation in a case study.
Triangulation is the use of more than one method, data type, or researcher within the same study, which strengthens validity by cross-referencing conclusions.
Define longitudinal design.
Longitudinal design tracks and measures a participant's experience, behavior, or condition over an extended period of time, often months or years.
True or False?
Findings from a case study can be confidently generalized to wider populations.
False.
The sample in a case study is small and often atypical, which limits external validity and prevents generalization to wider populations.
What did the case study of H.M. reveal about the brain?
The case study of H.M. revealed that the hippocampus plays an essential role in the formation of new long-term memories, since its removal left him unable to form them.
True or False?
Triangulation of method means using more than one researcher to collect data in the same study.
False.
Triangulation of method means using more than one data collection method; using more than one researcher is triangulation of research.
In a longitudinal case study, the researcher may lose ____________________ due to the close, extended relationship with the participant.
In a longitudinal case study, the researcher may lose objectivity due to the close, extended relationship with the participant.
What is the central evaluative tension in case study research?
The tension is between the depth and richness of the data on one hand, and the inability to generalize findings to wider populations on the other.
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