ch 2 Flashcards
hindsight bias
tendency to believe after learning about some outcome that you could have predicted it- when in fact you might not have been able to predict it at all)
Dissonance theory
theory that people like their thoughts to be consistent with one another and with their actions and will do substantial mental work to achieve such cognitive consistency
Archival Research
Researchers look at evidence found in archives of various kinds, including census reports, police records, etc…
Surveys
interviews or written questionnaires
-convenience sampling:contacting people as they enter the library or emailing fraternity and sorority members is not random
Correlational Research
In correlational research, psychologists measure two or more variables and examine whether they are related
correlational research usually can’t provide convincing evidence of a causal relationship because of the possibility of
self-selection; meaning the investigator has no control over any particular participant’s level, or score, on a given variable
Longitudinal study
collecting measures at different point in time from the same participants
Correlation does not establish causation
In correlational research investigators can look at only the degree of relationship between two or more variables
-does not account for third variable
Power of experiments
comes from exposing participants to different levels of the independent variable by random assignment
Natural experiment:
events occur that the investigator believes will have causal implication for some outcome
External validity
indication of how well the results of a study pertain to contexts outside the conditions of the laboratory
Internal validity
refers to the likelihood that only the manipulated variable and no other external influence could have produced the results
-An experiment lacks internal validity when there is a third variable that could plausibly account for any observed difference between the different conditions
Reliability
degree to which a measure gives consistent results on repeated occasions or the degree to which two measuring instruments (such as human observers) yield the same or very similar results
Measurement validity
refers to the correlation between a measure and some outcome the measure is supposed to predict
Statistical significance
a measure of the probability that a given result could have occurred by chance alone
Pre registration
making the details of the study available to the public such as issues of concerns
-the broad approach to ensuring that scientific research is sound and that reported results are likely to replicate
institutional review board (IRB)
a committee that examines research proposals and makes judgements about their ethical appropriateness
deception research
Even is deception research, participants are general told about the goals of the research project afterward during debriefing
The practice of scientific research has two broad types
basic and applied
Basic science
concerned with trying to understand some phenomenon in its own right rather than using a finding to solve a particular real–world problem
Applied science
concerned with solving real world problems of importance
