The nature of quantitative research
One of the preoccupations of quantitative researchers is with generalization, which is a sign of:
External validity
Internal reliability
External reliability
Internal validity
External validity
The issue here is with the application of the research findings to people who were not part of the research focus. If we select our sample of respondents randomly from the population as a whole, we can be quite sure that the findings can be applied to the whole population. But if we interviewed people casually, we could not generalize our findings beyond the actual people interviewed. This is the essence of external validation of research: how universally can the research findings be applied? It must be said that even with random sampling, we have no right to apply our findings to other populations, no matter how strong the temptation.
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 163, 164
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 163, 164
External validity The issue here is with the application of the research findings to people who were not part of the research focus. If we select our sample of respondents randomly from the population as a whole, we can be quite sure that the findings can be applied to the whole population. But if we interviewed people casually, we could not generalize our findings beyond the actual people interviewed. This is the essence of external validation of research: how universally can the research findings be applied? It must be said that even with random sampling, we have no right to apply our findings to other populations, no matter how strong the temptation.
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 163, 164
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 163, 164
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The term ‘reverse operationism’ means that:A. The theories we devise will often hinder our attempts to measure concepts
B. The measurements we devise can sometimes help to develop a theory
C. Techniques such as factor analysis have no place in social research
D. Driving instructors always make you practice the most difficult manoeuvre
The importance of measurement in quantitative research is that:
A. It allows us to delineate fine differences between people or cases
B. It provides a consistent device or yardstick
C. It allows for precise estimates of the degree of relationship between concepts
D. All of the above
Written accounts of quantitative research rarely include the results of reliability and validity tests because:
A. Researchers are more interested in reporting their operational definitions
B. Researchers don’t really think that these tests are important
C. Journal editors have banned these kinds of articles
D. Researchers are more interested in reporting their substantive findings
The difference between measures and indicators is that:
A. Measures are unambiguous quantities, whereas indicators are devised from common sense understandings
B. Indicators have a more direct relationship to the underlying concept than measures
C. Measures are intuitively devised and then applied as if they were direct indicators of a concept
D. Indicators are unambiguous quantities, whereas measures are subjective and value-laden
Which of the following is not a form of measurement validity?
A. Concurrent validity
B. Face validity
C. Conductive validity
D. Convergent validity
An operational definition is:
A. One that bears no relation to the underlying concept
B. An abstract, theoretical definition of a concept
C. A definition of a concept in terms of specific, empirical measures
D. One that refers to opera singers and their work
Quantitative research has been criticised because:
A. The measurement process suggests a spurious and artificial sense of accuracy
B. The reliance on instruments and procedures makes it high in ecological validity
C. It underestimates the similarities between objects in the natural and social worlds
D. All of the above
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