6 Quantitative Research Methods Free Online FlashCards

What is quantitative research?

It uses systematically collected numerical data to describe patterns, compare groups, test relationships, or estimate intervention effects.

What is operationalization?

Operationalization specifies exactly how an abstract concept will be measured or manipulated.

What makes a measure valid?

A valid measure assesses the concept it is intended to measure.

What is a nominal variable?

A nominal variable consists of categories without an inherent order, such as major.

What qualities make survey questions good?

They should be clear, specific, and neutral. Avoid asking two things at once or suggesting a preferred answer.

How can survey sampling bias estimates?

An unrepresentative sample or substantial nonresponse can bias estimates, regardless of how many people were surveyed.

Why use random assignment in an experiment?

Random assignment helps balance other influences between groups, supporting a causal interpretation of outcome differences.

What distinguishes observational research, and what can it establish?

Researchers measure variables as they naturally occur rather than assigning a treatment or exposure. An observed association alone does not establish causation.

What do descriptive statistics do?

They summarize collected data: counts and percentages describe categories, while the mean and median describe typical values.

What does a confidence interval communicate?

It gives a range of estimates reflecting sampling uncertainty. Its width depends in part on sample size and variability.

What does a p-value mean?

Assuming the null hypothesis and model assumptions, it is the probability of obtaining a result at least as extreme as the observed one. It is not the probability that the hypothesis is true.

What makes a measure reliable?

A reliable measure produces consistent results under comparable conditions.