asymmetrical relationship: unidirectional relationships, or relationships that cannot be reversed without changing their meaning, such as hierarchical relationships.
causation: the influence/instigation of one event by the effects of a prior event, as distinct from correlation (the co-occurrence of events not necessarily linked by causation).
control group: group of subjects in a study where the variable being tested is not manipulated by the researchers or experimental design
cross-sectional study: the measurement and analysis of a number of variables in a defined population at a given point in time
5.experiment: a practical method of determining the validity of a hypothesis, and/or to determine causation in observed occurrences.
6.exploratory study: research undertaken without any prior theory, framework, or extensive knowledge of the phenomenon being studied.
7.longitudinal study: the repeated measurement of certain variable(s) over an extended period of time for analysis of change and trends.
8.qualitative techniques: unstructured and observational (non-measurement) techniques of collecting and analyzing/reporting data
9.reciprocal relationships: a relationship wherein causality exists in both directions between two events
10. research design: a plan for how to gather specified data, and to analyze and report this data
11. statistical study: a comparison of statistical correlation between events in an attempt to establish causality based on the probabilities of that correlation
Question 8, pp. 158
a. The business cycle (the independent variable), which directly reflects consumer confidence, causes adjustment in the Index of Consumer Confidence (the dependent variable), an indirect measure. Other factors, such as the availability of capital, can influence the business cycle as moderating variables.
b. The level of worker output (dependent variable) is determined by the closeness of worker supervision (independent variable). Other production issues, as well as a variety of personal issues for each individual worker, can also greatly influence worker output.
c. The presence of video surveillance cameras (independent variable) is likely to dissuade incidents of employee theft (dependent variable). Employee satisfaction levels and product desirability would also be large factors.
Questions pp. 209
1. Surveys have the advantage of providing explanations of non-observable reasoning and motives, as well as responses to open-ended questions that could suggest un-thought of possibilities, yet they can be subjective, with responses consciously manipulated. Observation can be more empirically objective, but limits the degree of motive and explanation available. In areas where behavior would not be noticed by the subject, or would be likely misreported, observation would be indicated (the number of people who say they would stop to help someone on the side of the road vs. The number who actually do, for example.
8. a. age, gender, pace, stopping and/or glancing at storefront, number who enter store, cell phone usage, etc.
b. relevance to the particular research question would determine what information was collected.
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