Study Suggestions for Midterm Exam

PADM 5502

Dr. Neubauer

I prepared this list of study suggestions a couple of years ago. It is not intended to be a comprehensive list of the things in the first seven chapters and what we have covered in class sessions. I offer it now because students frequently request a list of study suggestions. Please do not limit your preparation to this list. -- bjn

The purpose of IRB review of proposed research and the kinds of things they are likely to be concerned about.

The meaning of peer review regarding academic journals.

The cumulative nature of science as related to the purpose of a literature review in a research report.

Survey research and other kinds of social science research.

Realize that survey research is not always the best way to gather objective facts. In some cases, observation or direct measurement of something may be more appropriate.

Independent variables and dependent variables.

Research model, as taught in this class.

A "compound dependent concept" as taught in this class.

Hypotheses and rationales, as taught in this class.

What it means to operationalize a variable.

The five common demographic variables.

The three major levels of measurement -- nominal, ordinal, and interval.

Given a question, be able to identify the level of measurement.

Is ordinal or interval measurement better (from a statistics standpoint)?

Can interval be converted to ordinal? Can ordinal be "upgraded" to interval?

Population, sampling frame, sample

Simple random sample -- want does it mean, statistically?

population and sample; parameter and statistic

comparison of groups

inferential statistics

sample of convenience

snowball sample

why a simple random sample is best when preparing to do inferential statistics

why actual samples are never really simple random samples

informed consent

survey instrument

objective questions; open-ended questions

sampling bias

anonymous, confidential

Likert "questions"

Tautology

validity, reliability

Question with face validity

Reverse the polarity of this Likert "question"

31. I frequently experience a fear of falling.

[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

strongly disagree undecided agree strongly

disagree agree

On the test, among other things, I will ask you to . . .

identify the common motivations to do social science research

briefly discuss the appropriate mindset of a scientist regarding research

identify independent and dependent variables in a context

write questions to operationalize given variables

draw a research model as taught in this course

write an "informed consent" statement

identify issues that an IRB is likely to be concerned about

write questions that have face validity

write several questions that together are intended to measure one variable

identify problems in a proposed sampling technique

identify questions that are vague, double-barreled or are not correctly formed to be used with a Likert response pattern

write hypotheses and rationales as taught in this course

given a hypothesis, identify the independent variable and the dependent variable

given a research question, indicate whether or not survey research is an appropriate way to attempt to answer the research question

briefly explain the purpose of a literature review and why a review of the literature should be completed prior to the initiation of the research project

identify the problem when trying to get a simple random sample of an entire population when intending to compare two groups within the population when one of the groups is a small percentage of the population