Final Exam—Review Sheet

Regression
Goal (prediction)
Simple linear regression.
Line of best fit
Provides two important pieces of information.
Y-intercept and slope
Determining if slope is significant
Accuracy of prediction (r2)
Multiple linear regression:
More than one independent variable.
Regression line changes to reflect additional slopes for each independent variable.
Accuracy of prediction is now symbolized by R2
Content Analysis
goal
steps involved
advantages and disadvantages
Statistics used with content analysis
chi-square analysis (how it works - conceptually)
goal
one sample vs. multiple sample
theoretical values, degrees of freedom
Logic and purpose of experiments
Hypothesis testing
Logic behind experiments (manipulation and control)
manipulation checks, random assignment, matching
Why experiments can identify causal relationships
Basic steps in experiments
Experimental design
Threats to internal validity (history, maturation, testing, statistical regression, mortality, selection, demand characteristics)
Threats to external validity (non-representative samples, specific conditions are required)
Eliminating these problems
Types of experimental designs (pre-experimental designs -- one-shot case study, one group pretest-posttest design, static group comparison, true experimental designs - pretest-posttest control group design, posttest only control group design)
Factorial designs
Basic terms (factors, number of levels)
Types of effects (main and interaction effects)
Strengths and weaknesses of experimental research
Overview of statistics used with experimental research
Goal
Significant difference
Hypothesis testing (null hypothesis vs. research hypothesis; directional vs. non-directional)
Logic underlying hypothesis testing
Probably theory
Distribution of differences (mean and standard deviation - standard error of the difference)
Significance level
Tests of Significance
z-test (how it works conceptually)
goal, steps involved, critical values
t-test (how it works conceptually)
Steps involved in using t-tests
F-test (how it works conceptually)
steps involved
when each test should be used
Ethical concerns
Ethical issues involving research subjects
Principle of nonmaleficence/harm (physical, psychological, legal)
Principle of beneficence/deception (debriefing)
Principle of autonomy/Informed consent
Principle of justice/creating new inequities
Privacy, anonymity and confidentiality (privacy, anonymity, confidentiality)
Integrity during execution of a study
Do not tamper with the data
Provide compete description of the procedures.
All materials for the study should be available upon request.
Conclusions should fit the data.