Research Methods Flashcards
7 cards from real MFT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Research Methods flashcards as text
A researcher randomly assigns couples to either a 12-week EFT intervention or a waitlist control group. This design is best described as a:
Answer: True experimental design
True experimental designs use random assignment to conditions, which this study does.
Which statistical technique is most appropriate when a researcher wants to examine the relationship between one continuous outcome variable and multiple continuous predictor variables simultaneously?
Answer: Multiple regression
Multiple regression models the relationship between one continuous dependent variable and several continuous predictors.
A therapist-researcher notices that clients who improve most report stronger therapeutic alliance. She concludes that alliance causes improvement. What is the major flaw in this reasoning?
Answer: Correlation does not establish causation
Observing a correlation between alliance and improvement does not rule out reverse causation or confounds.
In a grounded theory study, theoretical sampling means:
Answer: Choosing participants based on emerging theory to fill conceptual gaps
Theoretical sampling in grounded theory involves selecting new participants specifically to develop and refine the emerging theory.
A researcher reports a 95% confidence interval of [2.1, 8.4] for a mean difference. The correct interpretation is:
Answer: If repeated sampling were done, 95% of such intervals would contain the true mean
A confidence interval is a procedure such that 95% of intervals constructed this way capture the true parameter.
Which of the following best defines construct validity in a research instrument?
Answer: The instrument measures the theoretical construct it is intended to measure
Construct validity refers to how well an instrument actually measures the theoretical concept it purports to assess.
An MFT researcher studying trauma uses member checking. This technique involves:
Answer: Sharing findings or interpretations with participants to verify accuracy
Member checking is a trustworthiness strategy where participants review and confirm or dispute the researcher's interpretations.