DQM Common Units
Research Techniques flashcards
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What are the four types of research, and what tells them apart?
Descriptive, correlational, quasi-experimental and experimental. Descriptive and correlational research only observe; quasi-experimental and experimental research manipulate a variable. Only experimental research uses random assignment to groups, which is what lets it establish cause and effect.
What is the purpose of a literature review in a research proposal?
It surveys what is already known about the research question, from published studies, industry standards and prior internal reports. The research then builds on existing knowledge rather than repeating it, and the gap the new research should fill can be clearly identified.
How do qualitative and quantitative research methods differ?
Qualitative: explores meaning, experience and context through interviews, focus groups or observation, producing descriptive findings. Quantitative: collects numeric data and analyses it statistically to test a hypothesis or measure a relationship.
Name the four research designs and what each one does.
Cross-sectional: data collected at a single point in time across a population. Longitudinal: data collected repeatedly over time from the same subjects. Case study: one instance (a process, a department) examined in depth. Survey: structured data collected from a sample to describe a wider population.
What is Yamane's formula for sample size, and what sample does it give for 2,000 staff at a 0.05 margin of error?
n = N / (1 + N e^2), where N is the population and e the margin of error. n = 2,000 / (1 + 2,000 x 0.05^2) = 2,000 / (1 + 5) = 2,000 / 6 = 333.3, rounded up to 334 respondents.
Why is a research instrument pilot tested before full-scale data collection?
To catch problems such as ambiguous questions, confusing wording or missing response options while they are cheap to fix. Found at full scale, the same problems produce unusable answers and are far more costly.
What are the stages of thematic analysis of qualitative data?
1. Transcribe or organise the raw responses. 2. Code recurring words or ideas. 3. Group the codes into broader themes. 4. Check that each theme is supported by multiple respondents, not one strongly worded comment.
What are the standard sections of a research project report, in order?
Title page; abstract or executive summary; introduction and background; literature review; methodology; findings and analysis; conclusions and recommendations; references and appendices.
How is a survey's response rate worked out, and why is it reported?
Response rate = (number returned / number distributed) x 100%. For 190 returned out of 250: (190 / 250) x 100% = 76%. It lets a reader judge how much of the intended sample the conclusions rest on; a much lower rate is a limitation the report should acknowledge.
What four qualities should a well-formulated research objective have?
Stated clearly enough to guide what data will be collected. Specific and measurable, not a vague intention. Realistic given the time and resources available. Directly linked to the problem the research is meant to address.
What is descriptive research?
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What is correlational research, and what can it not show?
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How does quasi-experimental research differ from experimental research?
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A technician randomly assigns half the production lines to a new inspection method and half to the old one. Which type of research is this?
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Give four questions research might investigate in quality management.
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What does the scope of a research concept define, and why do exclusions matter?
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Why is 'defects seem to be a problem on the packaging line' not yet a research objective?
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What sources does a literature review draw on?
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What does a mixed (derived) methods approach combine, and when is it chosen?
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What are the strength and the limitation of qualitative methods?
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What are the strength and the limitation of quantitative methods?
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What are the strength and the limitation of mixed (derived) methods?
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How does the research objective decide between qualitative and quantitative methods?
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What must a complete research proposal do?
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What are the three common weaknesses in a research proposal?
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Why is a proposal reviewed and approved before the instruments are built?
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A researcher checks one department's defect rate every quarter for twelve months. Which design is this, and why?
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How are research design and sampling technique chosen together?
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When is probability sampling used, and when is non-probability sampling acceptable?
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Name the four types of research instrument and what each is for.
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Which instrument suits each scenario: a large, spread-out sample; one respondent's experience; direct behaviour; historical performance?
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What are validity, reliability and clarity in a research instrument?
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How does a research design differ from a research type?
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In what order are the design, sampling technique and instrument prepared?
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What criteria justify a sampling choice?
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What data collection techniques are used once a research project is under way?
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How is collected research data analysed?
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Which presentation suits categorical findings, continuous or trend data, and qualitative findings?
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What are the three common data collection challenges?
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What ethical obligations apply during data collection, and when does each apply?
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How does a mixed-methods project usually present its findings?
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What must happen if data collection deviates from the approved proposal?
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How do a report's conclusions differ from its recommendations?
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Why is a report with no methodology section defective?
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What three standards should a finished research report meet?
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How does the oral presentation of a research project differ from the written report?
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Why are the written report and its presentation treated as two separate outcomes?
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How to revise with these cards
- Answer out loud or on paper before you turn the card: recalling is what fixes it.
- Go through the deck in short sessions of ten to fifteen minutes, every day.
- Shuffle once you know the order, so you are not answering from memory of the sequence.
- When a card catches you out, read the chapter it links to, then try the topic in a past paper.