Research Methods: Qualitative Research Questions With Complete
Solutions
scientific method - correct answerA data-gathering method that involves testing a hypothesis by means
of careful measurement and controlled observation.
hypothesis - correct answerA testable prediction of the relationship between two variables.
variable - correct answerAny event, condition or characteristic that changes (varies) or can be made to
change.
participants - correct answerThe people or animals whose behaviour, characteristics or responses are
investigated and measured as part of an experiment.
data - correct answerThe observed facts that constitute the results of an experiment.
raw data - correct answerThe actual data collected from a study, before it is sorted or analysed.
conclusion - correct answerA decision or judgement about the meaningfulness of the results of the
study.
inferential statistics - correct answerStatistics that allow an experimenter to make inferences and
conclusions about data; they are often used to interpret results of a study.
experimental method - correct answerA scientific research method that uses participants in a formal
trial to confirm or disconfirm a hypothesis.
experiment - correct answerA research method that involves gathering data under controlled conditions
to test a hypothesis by exposing participants to a treatment and observing and measuring its effect.
experimental group - correct answerIn a controlled experiment, the group of participants exposed to the
independent variable.
, Research Methods: Qualitative Research Questions With Complete
Solutions
independent variable (IV) - correct answerThe condition that an experimenter systematically
manipulates (changes or varies) in order to gauge its effect on another variable (the dependent
variable).
dependent variable (DV) - correct answerThe condition in an experiment or aspect of the participant's
behaviour that is affected by changes in the independent variable (IV); it is used as a measure of the IV's
effect.
control group - correct answerIn a controlled experiment, the group of participants exposed to all
conditions or variables except the independent variable.
experimental hypothesis - correct answerA broad or general prediction about the direction of a
relationship between variables in an experiment - i.e. whether the variables increase or decrease in
relation to one another.
research hypothesis - correct answerA hypothesis that operationalises the variables by precisely defining
and describing how each variable is measured, and predicts the exact effect the IV is expected to have
on the behaviour of the population from which the sample has been selected.
population - correct answerThe larger group of research interest from which a sample in a research
study has been drawn.
sample - correct answerThe group of participants in a research study selected from, and representative
of, a population of research interest.
operational variable - correct answerA variable defined or described in terms of the procedures used to
observe and measure it.
extraneous variable - correct answerIn an experiment, a variable other than the IV that might cause
unwanted changes in the DV.
controlled variable - correct answerAn extraneous variable whose influence has been eliminated from
an experiment so that it cannot affect results; it has been controlled.
Solutions
scientific method - correct answerA data-gathering method that involves testing a hypothesis by means
of careful measurement and controlled observation.
hypothesis - correct answerA testable prediction of the relationship between two variables.
variable - correct answerAny event, condition or characteristic that changes (varies) or can be made to
change.
participants - correct answerThe people or animals whose behaviour, characteristics or responses are
investigated and measured as part of an experiment.
data - correct answerThe observed facts that constitute the results of an experiment.
raw data - correct answerThe actual data collected from a study, before it is sorted or analysed.
conclusion - correct answerA decision or judgement about the meaningfulness of the results of the
study.
inferential statistics - correct answerStatistics that allow an experimenter to make inferences and
conclusions about data; they are often used to interpret results of a study.
experimental method - correct answerA scientific research method that uses participants in a formal
trial to confirm or disconfirm a hypothesis.
experiment - correct answerA research method that involves gathering data under controlled conditions
to test a hypothesis by exposing participants to a treatment and observing and measuring its effect.
experimental group - correct answerIn a controlled experiment, the group of participants exposed to the
independent variable.
, Research Methods: Qualitative Research Questions With Complete
Solutions
independent variable (IV) - correct answerThe condition that an experimenter systematically
manipulates (changes or varies) in order to gauge its effect on another variable (the dependent
variable).
dependent variable (DV) - correct answerThe condition in an experiment or aspect of the participant's
behaviour that is affected by changes in the independent variable (IV); it is used as a measure of the IV's
effect.
control group - correct answerIn a controlled experiment, the group of participants exposed to all
conditions or variables except the independent variable.
experimental hypothesis - correct answerA broad or general prediction about the direction of a
relationship between variables in an experiment - i.e. whether the variables increase or decrease in
relation to one another.
research hypothesis - correct answerA hypothesis that operationalises the variables by precisely defining
and describing how each variable is measured, and predicts the exact effect the IV is expected to have
on the behaviour of the population from which the sample has been selected.
population - correct answerThe larger group of research interest from which a sample in a research
study has been drawn.
sample - correct answerThe group of participants in a research study selected from, and representative
of, a population of research interest.
operational variable - correct answerA variable defined or described in terms of the procedures used to
observe and measure it.
extraneous variable - correct answerIn an experiment, a variable other than the IV that might cause
unwanted changes in the DV.
controlled variable - correct answerAn extraneous variable whose influence has been eliminated from
an experiment so that it cannot affect results; it has been controlled.
