3. Method

Question 1

Name some characteristics of scientific research

Answer 1

ACCURACY
SKEPTICISM
OBJECTIVITY
OPEN-MINDEDNESS

Question 2

Describe the design of basic research.

Answer 2

— designed to answer fundamental questions about behavior, without a particular concern for how that knowledge would be used
— e.g. conformity

Question 3

Describe the design of applied research.

Answer 3

Designed to
— investigate issues that have implications for everyday life
— provide solutions to problems

Question 4

Name an example of an applied research question.

Answer 4

Can courtroom juries make good decisions?

Question 5

Name the three types of research design

Answer 5

— observational
— experimental
— correlational

Question 6

Explain what the experimental method is

Answer 6

— searching for cause-effect relationships
— manipulating a variable to determine its effect on another variable
— holding all other variables constant

Question 7

Criteria for a good experiment

Answer 7

— random assignment
— avoid experimenter effects (experimenter unintentionally influences participants)
— consistency of extraneous variables e.g. time of day

Question 8

Name a procedure that provides a solution to the problem posed by experimenter effects

Answer 8

Double-blind procedure

Experimenter unaware of hypothesis

Question 9

What is a confounding variable?

Answer 9

An extra variable that you didn’t account for

— can ruin your experiment

Question 10

The operational definition

Answer 10

The method we use to measure a variable of interest

Question 11

Behavioral measures

Answer 11

— implicit measures
— more accurate than self-report measures
— participants are ideally kept unaware of observation
— examples: speed, frequency, duration

Duration
Intensity
Latency
Frequency
Speed

Question 12

Advantage of experimental research designs

Answer 12

— allows conclusions to be drawn about the CAUSAL RELATIONSHIPS among variables

Question 13

Disadvantages of experimental research designs

Answer 13

— many important variables cannot be extremely manipulated

— Low ecological validity

Question 14

What is the goal of observational research designs?

Answer 14

To create a “snapshot” of the current state of affairs

Question 15

In what context are observational research designs normally applied?

Answer 15

• normal, everyday situations
• BUT scenarios can also be created to observe special situations
  E.g. The Prison Study 1973

Question 16

Advantages of observational research designs?

Answer 16

• unobtrusive
• ecological validity
• provides a complete picture

Question 17

Disadvantages of observational research designs

Answer 17

• limits: infrequent/private behaviors

- only a snapshot

Question 18

What is ecological validity?

Answer 18

• Proximity to natural behavior

Question 19

What is the goal of a correlational research design?

Answer 19

• to assess the relationships among two or more variables

Question 20

Advantages of correlational research design

Answer 20

• often ecologically valid

- predictions

Question 21

Disadvantage of a correlational research design

Answer 21

• correlational does not imply CAUSATION

Question 22

Define correlation

Answer 22

The relationship between two variables

Question 23

Define spurious relation

Answer 23

A relation between two variables that is caused by a third

Question 24

Falsification

Answer 24

• results must be REPRODUCIBLE
• we cannot falsify with certainty
• rebuttal of falsification should involve the generation and testing of new hypotheses

Question 25

Define deception

Answer 25

The intentional and explicit provision of erroneous information
—> NOT the withholding of information

Question 26

Deception can be used under what conditions?

Answer 26

• no alternative
• prospective value
• no harm

Question 27

The costs of deception

Answer 27

• distress
• loss of participant’s trust
• suspicion triggered
• endangerment of experimental control