Week Three Homework Exercise
Answer the following questions covering material from Ch. 6 & 7 of Methods in Behavioral Research:
- What is reactivity? Explain how reactivity impacts measurement.
- What are the key features of an experimental design, or ‘true experiment’? How does this compare to case studies?
- What is survey research and when is it most useful?
- What issues should be considered when constructing surveys? What are the implications of double-barreled, loaded, and negative questions?
- What are some survey administration methods? When are each of these methods most appropriate?
- Define interview bias and provide an example.
- What is the difference between probability and non-probability sampling techniques?
- A researcher attends an art reception in a major metropolitan city. She decides to approach people over the age of 50 and ask them to fill out a brief survey about purchasing artwork. Is this a probability or a non-probability sampling technique? What type of sampling procedure is this—simple random, stratified random, cluster, haphazard, purposive, or quota?
- What is the relationship between sample size and survey results? What are some techniques to evaluate potential sampling bias?
