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Psychology > 2: The Methods of Psychology > Flashcards

2: The Methods of Psychology Flashcards

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1
Q

Empiricism

A

Originally a Greek school of medicine that stressed the importance of observation, and now generally used to describe any attempt to acquire knowledge by observing objects or events

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2
Q

Scientific Method

A

A set of rules and techniques that allow researchers to avoid the illusions, mistakes and erroneous conclusions that simple observation can produce

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3
Q

Theory

A

A hypothetical account of how and why a phenomenon occurs, usually in the form of a statement about the causal relationship between two or more properties

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4
Q

Hypothesis

A

A specific and testable prediction that is usually derived from a theory

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5
Q

Verifiable

A

Something that can be checked by objective measures

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6
Q

Deduction

A

Drawing inferences where the conclusion must be true if the premises are true

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7
Q

Induction

A

The process of establishing general truths based on a limited set of observations

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8
Q

Empirical Method

A

A set of rules and techniques for observations

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9
Q

Operational Definition

A

A description of an abstract property in terms of a concrete condition that can be measured

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10
Q

Measure

A

A device that can detect the measurable events to which an operational definition refers

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11
Q

Electromyograph (EMG)

A

A device that measures muscle contractions under the surface of a person’s skin

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12
Q

Validity

A

The characteristic of an observation that allows one to draw accurate inferences from it

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13
Q

Construct Validity

A

The tendency for an operational definition and a property to have a clear conceptual relation

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14
Q

Predictive Validity

A

The tendency for an operational definition to be related to other operational definitions of the same property

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15
Q

Reliability

A

The tendency for a measure to produce the same result whenever it is used to measure the same thing

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16
Q

Power

A

The tendency for a measure to produce different results when it is used to measure different things

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17
Q

Case Method

A

A method of gathering scientific knowledge by studying a single individual

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18
Q

Population

A

The complete collection of people, objects or events that can possibly be measured

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19
Q

Sample

A

The partial collection of people, objects or events that are measured in a study

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20
Q

Law of Large Numbers

A

A statistical law stating that as a sample size increase, the attributes of a a sample will be closely reflect the attributes of the population from which the sample was drawn

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21
Q

Frequency Distribution

A

A graphic representation of the measurements of a sample that are arranged by the number of times each measurement was observed

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22
Q

Normal Distribution

A

A frequency distribution in which most measurements are concentrated around the mean and fall of towards the tails, and the two sides of the distribution are symmetrical

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23
Q

Mode

A

The value of the most frequently observed observation

24
Q

Mean

A

The average value of the observation, calculated as the sum of all the observations divided by the number of observations

25
Q

Median

A

The value that is greater than or equal to the values of half the observations and less than or equal to half the values of the observations

26
Q

Range

A

The numerical difference between the smallest and largest measurements in a frequency difference

27
Q

Standard Deviation

A

An estimate of the average difference between each observation and the mean in the population distribution

28
Q

Variance

A

The average deviation of each observation from the mean

29
Q

Statistically Significant

A

The observed effect is not due to chance

30
Q

Effect Size

A

An objective and standardised measure of the magnitude of an observed effect

31
Q

Demand Characteristics

A

Those aspects of an observational setting that cause people to behave as they think an observer wants or expects them to behave

32
Q

Naturalistic Observation

A

A method of gathering scientific knowledge by unobtrusively observing people in their natural environments

33
Q

Double-Blind Observation

A

An observation whose true purpose is hidden from the researcher and the participant

34
Q

Variable

A

A property whose value can vary or change

35
Q

Correlation

A

The ‘co-relationship’ or pattern of covariation between two variables occurs when variations in the value of one value are synchronised with variations in the value of the other

36
Q

Correlation Coefficient

A

A statistical measure of the direction and strength of a correlation, symbolised by the letter r

37
Q

Covariance

A

A measure of how much two variable change together

38
Q

Third-Variable Correlation

A

Two variables are correlated only because each is causally related to a third variable

39
Q

Natural Correlation

A

A correlation observed between naturally occurring variables

40
Q

Matched Samples

A

An observational technique that involves matching the average of the participants in the experimental and control groups in order to eliminate the possibility that a third variable (and not the independent variable) caused changes in the dependent variable

41
Q

Matched Pairs

A

An observational technique that involves matching each participant in the experimental group with a specific participant in the control group in order to eliminate the possibility that a third variable (and not the independent variable) caused changes in the dependent variable

42
Q

Third-Variable Problem

A

A causal relationship between two variables cannot be inferred from the correlation between them because of the ever-present possibility of third-variable correlation

43
Q

Experiment

A

A technique for establishing the causal relationship between variables

44
Q

Manipulation

A

A characteristic of experimentation in which the researcher artificially creates a pattern of variation in an independent variable in order determine its causal powers. Manipulation usually results in the creation of an experimental group and a control group.

45
Q

Independent Variable

A

The variable that is manipulated in an experiment

46
Q

Experimental Group

A

The group of people who are exposed to an experiment condition under investigation

47
Q

Control Group

A

The group of people matched to an experimental group but not exposed to the condition under investigation

48
Q

Dependent Variable

A

The variable that is measured in a study

49
Q

Randomization

A

A procedure using random assignment to ensure that a participant’s inclusion in the experimental or control group is not determined by a third variable

50
Q

Self-Selection

A

The problem that occurs when a participant’s inclusion in the experimental or control group is determined by the participant

51
Q

Internal Validity

A

The characteristic of an experiment that allows one to draw accurate inferences about the causal relationship between an independent and dependent variable

52
Q

External Validity

A

A characteristic of an experiment in which the independent and dependent variables are operationally defined in a normal, typical or realistic way

53
Q

Random Sampling

A

A technique for choosing participants that ensures that every member of a population has an equal change of being included in the sample

54
Q

Quantitative Research

A

Uses systematic, scientific investigation in order to measure and quantify phenomena

55
Q

Qualitative Research

A

Interested in gaining an in-depth understanding of the human experience and behaviour

56
Q

Informed Consent

A

An agreement to participate in a study made by an audibly who has been informed of all the risks that participation may entail

57
Q

Debriefing

A

A verbal description of the true nature and purpose of a study that psychologists provide to people after they have participated in the study

Psychology (8 decks)

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