Review Sheet #1 MMRM

Review Sheet MMRM Exam #1

Spring 2015

Science and Research

Definition of research

Characteristics of scientific method (public, objective, empirical, systematic, cumulative, predictive)

Typical steps of the research process

Validity and Reliability

Importance of replication

Variables (intervening, confounding)

Theory

Hypotheses

Different ways of knowing

Elements of Research

Concept/construct

IV and DV

Four levels of measurement (nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio)

Major scales (Likert, semantic differential, simple)

Major types of validity (face, predictive, concurrent, construct)

Some major threats to validity

Hypotheses vs. Research Questions

Methodologies: Experiments, Surveys, Content Analysis

Sampling

Census vs. Sample

Probability vs. nonprobability

Random, systematic random, convenience samples

Sampling Error (Margin of Error)

How to compute Sampling Error

Confidence Level vs. Confidence Interval

What is the appropriate CL for most social science research (as a %)?

Appropriate z-score value

Ethics

Three major theoretical approaches (Deontological, Teleological, Relativistic)

Four major principles (autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice)

Four special concerns of social science research: voluntary participation, informed consent, concealment, deception

Practice Problems

Here is a practice SE problem (margin of error):

Nielsen is interested in seeing if the Northeast has different viewing patterns than the rest of the country, so they systematically choose a random sample of 900 homes and measure the TV ratings. They note that the rating for Sunday Night Football is 21. What is the SE(p)? What is the confidence interval and what is the appropriate confidence level for social science? 

Here is a sample SD problem:

An executive at SyFy wants to know which new original movie to air this spring. Her choices are between two made-for-tv movies-- "SharkZombie" or "VampNado."

The first show was tested across the country and returned acceptance scores of

50

50

50

40

20

30 

(on a scale of 1-60), and the second show returned scores of 

50

40

40

40

30

40

Which show should she choose and why?

Here is a sample z-Score problem:

Which show had the better year, American Idol or X-Factor? How do you know?

Average rating of American Idol: 6.9

SD: 2.1

This year's rating of American Idol: 7.2

Average rating of The Voice: 7.5

SD: 2.0

This year's rating of The Voice: 7.8