2.1 psychological research methods

Question 1

before scientific method any statement came from_________

Answer 1

any observation

Question 2

scientific method helps:

Answer 2

• find flaws in peoples theories

- pple have biases but sm tries to minimize their influence when seeking the truth

Question 3

we cant accurately derive our understanding of nature from…

Answer 3

narrow , limited personal experience

Question 4

Ppl experience the world differently b/c of ______

Answer 4

biases they have

Question 5

all sciences are to help over come ______

Answer 5

weaknesses

Question 6

what helped develop scientific method?

Answer 6

psychology

Question 7

father of experimental science

Answer 7

sir francis bacon

Question 8

quality science research must have key variables that ensure …

Answer 8

objectivity, validity and reliability

Question 9

variable

Answer 9

any object, concept, or event that is the focus of a science investigation

Question 10

objectivity (or objective measurement)

Answer 10

-achieved when measurement of a variable is consistent , despite who is doing the measurement, or what tools they are using to measure it with

Question 11

operational definition

Answer 11

the procedures used to measure a variable

Question 12

validity

Answer 12

the degree to which a measurement procedure actually measures the variable it was developed to measure

Question 13

reliability

Answer 13

the degree that a measure produces the same measurement for a variable across measurement events

Question 14

test- retest reliability

Answer 14

the extent of similarity in scores generated by the same measure for the same person across two testing sessions

Question 15

alternate forms reliability

Answer 15

the extent to which different forms of the same test generate similar scores for the same person across two testing sessions

-often used to overcome practice effects from having already completed the same test before

Question 16

reliability in observational studies

Answer 16

two observers recording the same actions

Question 17

inter-rater reliability

Answer 17

the degree of similarity in observations recored by two observers (or raters )

Question 18

generalizability

Answer 18

the degree that the findings of a research study apply to people and situations other than those that are specific to the study

Question 19

Population vs. sample

Answer 19

everyone vs. a small portion of everyone

Question 20

convenience samples

Answer 20

require more caution when generalizing results, but are often the only practical research option for psychologists

Question 21

random samples are ideal, when possible, because

Answer 21

they justify generalizability when using them to make statements about the populations

Question 22

ecological validity

Answer 22

the extent that the results obtained in a research study will apply in the world outside of the laboratory

Question 23

experimenter bias

Answer 23

a researcher’s beliefs and expectations can contaminate their research findings, even without their awareness

Question 24

hawthorne effect

Answer 24

refers to the distorting influence the mere presence of researchers can have on participants in psychological research studies

Question 25

placebo effects

Answer 25

occur when a person’s expectation that some treatment will improve their health actually causes health improvements
these can easily occur for treatments known to be completely ineffective

Question 26

how to reduce the effect of demand characteristics

Answer 26

1. maintain participants’ anonymity (or at least ensure that their responses are confidential)
2. keep the true purpose of the study a secret until after collecting responses from a participant (single blind study)

Question 27

anonymity

Answer 27

there is no connection b/w participants’ responses and their identity

Question 28

confidentiality

Answer 28

only the researcher can link participants’ responses to their identity and they promise to keep the info a secret

Question 29

how to reduce the effect of experiment bias

Answer 29

why not also keep important aspects of the study (such as which condition each participant is in) a secret from the experimenter until the study is over? (double blind study)

Question 30

single blind study

Answer 30

keep true purpose of the study a secret until after collecting responses from a participant

Question 31

double blind study

Answer 31

both the researcher and participant both are unaware the condition the participant is in

Question 32

peer review

Answer 32

to be considered legitimate, research findings must be published in respectable scholarly journals.
research articles only succeed in getting published by respectable journals after receiving a thorough review and criticism from other experts

Question 33

rigorous peer review process ensures ..

Answer 33

quality control in scientific reports

Question 34

replication

Answer 34

repeating a study and obtaining essentially the same results

Question 35

features of poor research studies

Answer 35

1. the research hypothesis is not falsifiable
2. the research relies on anecdotal evidence
3. the research suffers from data selection bias
4. the research relies on appeals to authority
5. the research relies on appeals to common sense

Question 36

explanations that make reference to luck are ______

Answer 36

unfalsifiable

there is no way to confirm or falsify a role for luck ahead of time

Question 37

anecdotal

Answer 37

not necessarily true or reliable because it based on personal accounts rather than facts or research

Question 38

our imagination often gets things _____

Answer 38

wrong