ESP 178 Applied Research Methods: Preparing for the Final Exam - Prof. Susan L. Handy, Exams of Environmental Science

Download ESP 178 Applied Research Methods: Preparing for the Final Exam - Prof. Susan L. Handy and more Exams Environmental Science in PDF only on Docsity! ESP 178 Applied Research Methods Studying for the Final For the final, read the two assigned articles (handed out in class and available on the course website) by Olli, et al. and by Dill, et al. On the final, you will be asked questions about the design of these studies, from the conceptual model through their data collection approach and the interpretation of their results. Some questions will ask you to explain what the researchers did. Other questions will ask you to critique what they did. You will also be asked to think about other ways the research could have been done. Concepts you should review and understand before the final: Pre-Midterm Concepts Independent variable Dependent variable Conceptual model Measurement reliability Measurement validity “Gold standard” External validity Population Sampling frame Stratified sampling Cluster sampling Probability sampling Nonprobability sampling Causal validity Association Time-order criterion Spurious relationship Causal mechanism Intervening or mediating variable Unit of observation Unit of analysis Ecological fallacy Cross-sectional design Longitudinal design Experimental design Quasi-experimental design Treatment Treatment or experimental group Control or comparison group Pre-test/post-test or before/after Randomization Threats to internal validity Post-Midterm Concepts Errors of observation Errors of non-observation Response rates Nonresponse bias Rules for survey question writing Rules for designing questionnaires Survey administration Mail surveys – how, pros & cons Phone surveys – how, pros &cons In-person interviews – how, pros & cons Electronic surveys – how, pros & cons Dillman method Scales/indexes – purpose, techniques Likert scale Descriptive analysis Bi-variate analysis Multi-variate analysis Regression coefficient p-value R-square & adjusted R-square Dicennial Census Sampling frame for Census Short form versus long form of Census Census undercount Qualitative research Observation Focus groups Interviews Transcripts Coding Research ethics Informed consent