12. Research Design and Statistics: A Foundation for Clinical Science Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in 12. Research Design and Statistics: A Foundation for Clinical Science Deck (13)
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1
Q

Empiricism and Determinism

A

Science is based on certain philosophical assumptions including empiricism (knowledge based on sensory experience or objective observations) and determinism (events have causes, nothing happens without a cause)

2
Q

Inductive vs Deductive Method

A

Inductive: experiment-first-and-explain-later approach

Deductive: explain-first-and-verify-later approach; deductive reasoning first proposes a theory and then verifies it

3
Q

Null vs Alternative Hypothesis

A

Null: two variables are not related

Alternative: variables are related; cause-and-effect

4
Q

Reliability and Validity: Definition and Types

A

*Important for good scientific measurement

See Chapter 11’s Flashcards

5
Q

Experimental Research: Independent vs Dependent Variables

A

Independent: directly manipulated
Dependent: affected by independent variable

Independent/Dependent Examples:

  • Stressful situation/amount of stuttering
  • Amount of b/g noise/amount of diff. hearing speech
6
Q

Types of Single Subject Design (2)

A

*AB design is similar to a case study; baselines are established (A) and treatment is offered (B), and the progress is summarized in a case study
*Two types: ABA and ABAB
A=baselines, B=treatment, A=treatment withdrawl, B=reinstatement of treatment

  • Multiple-Baseline design: effects of treatment are demonstrated by showing that untreated skills did not change and only the treated skills did
  • 3 types: across subjects, settings, and behaviors
7
Q

Experimental vs Descriptive Research

A

Experimental: permits us to actively manipulate conditions; cause-and-effect

Descriptive: helps us understand what already exists

8
Q

Descriptive Research: Classification vs Criterion Variables

A

These variables in some kinds of descriptive research

  • Classification variable: analogous to the independent variable in experimental research
  • Criterion variable: analogous to the dependent variable in experimental research
Classification/Criterion Example:
Group status (dementia vs not)/Performance measures
9
Q

Descriptive Research: Types (6)

A
  • Ex post facto research AKA causal-comparative studies (retrospective or case studies)
  • Survey research (questionnaires, interviews)
  • Comparative research AKA standard-group comparisons
  • Developmental research AKA normative research (independent variable: maturation; 3 methods: longitudinal, cross-sectional, and semilongitudinal)
  • Correlational research (correlation does not imply causation; direction: pos/neg and strength: high/low of relationship; Pearson r)
  • Ethnographic research (observation and description of naturally occurring phenomena)
10
Q

Evaluation of Research: Internal vs External Validity

A

Internal: Degree to which data in study reflect a true cause-effect relationship; no confounding variables

External: Generalizability; “To which people and situations can these results be generalized?”; degree to which internally valid results can be generalized

11
Q

Threats to Internal Validity (8)

A
  • Instrumentation (mechanical/electrical probs, inappropriate testing materials, judges may reduce validity and make observation/scoring mistakes)
  • History (life events; e.g., recent surgery)
  • Statistical regression (a behavior that goes from an extreme high/low point to an average level; e.g., hoarse voice may change due to statistical regression vs tx)
  • Maturation
  • Attrition (losing participants as experiment progresses)
  • Testing (change in dependent variable because it has been measured more than once, e.g., administration of pre- and posttests)
  • Subject selection biases
  • Interaction of factors
12
Q

Threats to External Validity (3)

A
  • Hawthorne effect (extent to which results are affected by participants’ knowledge that they are taking part in an experiment or that they are being treated differently than usual)
  • Multiple-treatment interference (incl. “order effect”)
  • Reactive or interactive effects of pretesting (e.g., may increase awareness prior to tx)
13
Q

Statistical Techniques for Organizing/Summarizing Data (3)

A
  • Measures of central tendency: mean, median, mode
  • Measures of variability: refers to dispersion in data set; e.g., range, interquartile range, standard deviation
  • Measures of association/correlation