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Research Design and Methods: A Process Approach, Fifth Edition Book Cover

Research Design and Methods: A Process Approach, 5/e

Kenneth S. Bordens, Indiana University/Purdue University - Fort Wayne
Bruce Barrington Abbott, Indiana University/Purdue University

Making Systematic Observations

Chapter Outline

Deciding What to Observe
Choosing Specific Variables for Your Study
       Research Tradition
       Theory
       Availability of New Techniques
       Availability of Equipment
Choosing Your Measures
       Reliability of a Measure
               Reliability of a Physical Measure
               Reliability of Population Estimates
               Reliability of Judgments or Ratings by Multiple Observers
               Reliability of Psychological Tests or Measures
       Accuracy of a Measure
       Validity of a Measure
               Acceptance as an Established Measure
       Scale of Measurement of a Measure
               Nominal Scales
               Ordinal Scales
               Interval and Ratio Scales
       Variables and Scales of Measurement
       Choosing a Scale of Measurement
               Information Yielded
               Statistical Tests
               Ecological Validity
       Adequacy of a Dependent Measure
               Sensitivity of the Dependent Measure
               Range Effects
       Tailoring Your Measures to Your Research Participants
       Types of Dependent Variables and How to Use Them
               Behavioral Measures
               Physiological Measures
               Self-Report Measures
Choosing When to Observe
The Reactive Nature of Psychological Measurement
       Reactivity in Research with Human Participants
               Demand Characteristics
               Other Influences
               The Role of the Experimenter
       Reactivity in Research with Animal Subjects
Automating Your Experiments
Detecting and Correcting Problems
       Conducting a Pilot Study
       Adding Manipulation Checks
Summary
Key Terms

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