Exam 15: The Role of Research Methods in Making Sense of Numbers

In some cases, the magnitude of a statistical significance test cannot tell the researcher whether the effect is meaningful in the real world.

If a table template already exists for presentation of results, how should the researcher design the study? Choose the best answer.

Which of the following lists the dimensions of "importance" of a research result?

A researcher is conducting a study on the inventory needed by rental car agencies to meet daily demand for car types. In her study design, she decides on a sample of three car rental agencies for inclusion in the study. Which W or honorary W does this sampling task represent?

The results of a research study showed the regression coefficient of the variable GENDER to have a p value of .76 at the 95% confidence level. Hence, GENDER could be concluded to be statistically significant.

What is the relationship between sample size and width of confidence intervals?

Provide an example of a dose-response relationship, in the context of assessing internal validity of research results.

What type of study design should be implemented in order to assess external validity of a study? Explain your answer.

Under which type of studies is the chance of confounding reduced or less likely?

Explain in your own words, why statistical significance does not necessarily lead to practical importance of a research result.

Statistical significance should be complemented by practical importance in determining the true importance of an estimate.

An empirical association is shown to be stronger due to which of the following factor(s)?

A study on median house prices in Middlesex county used a random sample of 200 houses from three zip codes of the county. Which dimension of 'importance' of study results would this sampling affect? Choose the best answer.

What factor(s) does the criteria "empirical association" depend on in a research study?

What type of study design is conducive to assessing the mechanism linking two variables in a study? Give an example.

Discuss the sampling methods required in ensuring external validity of a study. Give an example of one such method.

In some cases, it may be possible to test an association between two variables by conducting a "true experiment".

What does the criteria "Nonspuriousness" refer to, in checking for internal validity of a research result?

In a research study, a random sample was taken of a binary dependent variable and three independent variables hypothesized to be associated with the dependent variable. A statistical model was developed on the sample data, and the model was then applied to a validation sample. The results of the model were checked to see if the variable distributions were similar to the population from which the samples were taken. This check is related to which dimension of determining importance of results?

Refer to the research article you chose in answering the essay questions for Chapter 13. Comment on how the authors incorporated practical importance, in addition to statistical significance, in interpreting their research results.