chap 2 and 3 Flashcards
What is the first step in the research process?
To find an idea for a research study.
What two parts does the first step in the research process consist of?
- Identify a general topic area
- Explore previous research in that topic area.
Define applied research.
Research intended to answer practical questions or solve practical problems.
Define basic research.
Research intended to answer theoretical questions or gather knowledge for its own sake.
What are primary sources?
Original materials or data created during the time under study.
What are secondary sources?
Documents or recordings that relate or discuss information originally presented elsewhere.
What is the role of primary and secondary sources in a literature search?
Primary sources provide original data, while secondary sources provide context and analysis.
What is a full-text database?
A database that provides complete texts of articles.
What is a non-full text database?
A database that provides only citations or abstracts of articles.
What are the advantages of a full-text database?
- Access to entire articles
- Easier to conduct thorough research.
What are the disadvantages of a non-full text database?
- Limited access to information
- May require additional steps to obtain full articles.
What is a good hypothesis characterized by?
It is specific, testable, and based on existing knowledge.
True or False: Alcohol consumption has no effect on the ratings for same-sex faces.
True.
What can casual observation lead to in research?
It can generate excellent research topics.
What is an example of practical problems that can lead to research topics?
Developing more efficient study habits.
What is a common source for finding research topics?
- Personal interests
- Casual observation
- Reports of others’ observations.
Fill in the blank: Research that is directed toward solving practical problems is often classified as _______.
[applied research].
Fill in the blank: Studies that are intended to solve theoretical issues are classified as _______.
[basic research].
How can existing research publications help in generating new research ideas?
They provide background information and highlight unanswered questions.
What is an example of a behavior that could be a research topic?
- Bullying
- Meditation
- Math anxiety.
What are some characteristics of a good research topic?
- Interesting to the researcher
- Relevant to current issues
- Feasible to study.
What are the different types of observations that can lead to research ideas?
Theory, casual observation, systematic observation, secondhand information
How would research studies intended to answer practical problems be classified?
Applied research
What type of research is conducted to verify an explanation found in a journal article?
Basic research
What are primary sources in research literature?
Firsthand reports describing original research and observations
Examples include empirical journal articles, theses, and conference presentations.
What are secondary sources in research literature?
Secondhand reports summarizing someone else’s observations
Examples include textbooks, review articles, and newspaper articles.
What are the two basic goals of conducting a literature search?
- Gain general familiarity with current research
- Find a small set of studies for your own research idea
What is the definition of a literature review’s purpose?
To provide elements needed for an introduction to your own research study
What is a meta-analysis?
A review and statistical analysis of past research in a specific area
What is the first step in the research process after identifying a topic?
Review published research reports to gather background information
Why is it important to keep an open mind during the research process?
To allow background reading to lead to a more specific research idea
What should you focus on when developing a research idea?
Developing one specific research question
What is the analogy used to describe finding a research idea from existing literature?
Entering a conversation that has already started
What does it mean to take one step at a time in the research process?
To not feel overwhelmed and to approach research methodically
What is a common mistake when starting research?
Beginning with a specific, preconceived research idea
What should you do if you find multiple legitimate research ideas?
Discard most ideas and focus on one question at a time
What does the literature in research refer to?
The vast amount of published information in psychology and behavioral sciences
What is an effective strategy for narrowing down a research topic?
Start with a general area and follow leads to a specific idea
What is the importance of cross-referencing in literature searches?
It helps to trace connections between different publications
Fill in the blank: A ________ is a firsthand report of observations or research results.
primary source
Fill in the blank: A ________ is a description or summary of another person’s work.
secondary source
What is the primary purpose of a literature review in research?
To provide elements needed for an introduction to your own research study.
What distinguishes a primary source from a secondary source?
Firsthand versus secondhand reporting of research results.
What role do secondary sources play in the literature search process?
Provide concise summaries of past research.
What are some examples of secondary sources?
- Textbooks
- Meta-analyses
Why is it essential to consult primary sources for research?
For complete and accurate information.
What metaphor is used to represent the existing knowledge base in research?
A tree-like structure.
What are the two main goals when conducting a literature search?
- Find recent research studies
- Identify historically significant foundations
True or False: Secondary sources can sometimes distort the truth.
True
What is a full-text database?
A database containing complete, word-for-word copies of original publications.
What is the advantage of using a database like PsycINFO?
Contains reputable scientific publications that have been edited and reviewed.
Fill in the blank: The _______ is a brief summary of a publication, usually about 100 words.
abstract
What should you do if you have trouble finding relevant publications?
Change to a different database in a related area.
What is the relationship between PsycARTICLES and PsycINFO?
PsycARTICLES is a full-text database with fewer items compared to PsycINFO, which contains over 4 million items.
What are some key characteristics of PsycINFO?
- Largest resource for peer-reviewed literature in behavioral science
- Contains over 4 million citations
- Indexed with controlled vocabulary
What is the significance of using subject words in a literature search?
They help identify and describe the variables in the study.
What is the primary focus of your literature search when starting with a general idea?
To narrow down to a specific research question.
Who are often the leading researchers in a specific area of study?
A small group of individual researchers.
True or False: All databases provide full-text access to publications.
False
What is one notable exception to the general unreliability of Internet searches?
Google Scholar
Fill in the blank: Each research study builds on _______ knowledge.
previous
What is a common method to begin a literature search?
Start with a recently published secondary source.
What is the total number of journals indexed in MEDLINE?
More than 1,470
This includes journals with full-text access.
How many journals are not found with full text in any version of Academic Search, Health Source, or Biomedical Reference Collection?
558
What should you do if you suspect your research topic is outside the field of psychology?
Check with a librarian to determine whether a database other than PsycINFO would be better for your search.
What is one of the main concerns during a literature search?
Weeding out irrelevant material.
What are the first steps to take after finding an article during a literature search?
Skim the introductory paragraphs and the discussion section.
What should you do if an article still looks relevant after skimming?
Read the article carefully and/or make a copy for personal use.
How can you expand your literature search?
Use the references from the articles you have already found.
What is the theoretical goal of a literature search?
To continue until no new items are found.
What is the practical consideration when deciding to end a literature search?
Deciding when to call off the search based on not uncovering new leads.
What is the purpose of a literature search?
To gain general familiarity with current research in a specific area.
What is a key criterion for a study to serve as a foundation for new research?
It provides some justification for new research.
Which section of a research article typically includes suggestions for future research?
Discussion section.
What can be a source of new research ideas from existing studies?
Combining or contrasting existing results.
What is usually the initial factor for determining whether a specific article is relevant?
The title of the article.
What should you use as your second screening device after the title?
The abstract of the article.
What are the major sections of an APA-style research article?
- Introduction
- Method
- Results
- Discussion
- References
What is one of the critical evaluation questions regarding the hypothesis in a research article?
Is the hypothesis clearly stated?
What is a critical evaluation question regarding the results section of a research article?
Were the appropriate statistics used?
What should you consider about the participants in a study?
Are the participants representative of the population being considered?
Why is it important to critically evaluate the discussion section of a research article?
To determine if the conclusions are justified by the results.
What is the purpose of the references section in a research article?
To provide a list of items cited in the report.
Fill in the blank: The introduction of a research article discusses previous research and presents a clear statement of the _______.
problem being investigated.
True or False: The results section of a research article is typically important for generating new research ideas.
False
What typically begins the discussion section of a research article?
Summarizing the results of the study, stating the conclusions, and noting any potential applications.
What should you include in a complete reference for an article?
Author name(s), year of publication, title, source, journal name, volume number, and page numbers.
What is the purpose of taking notes while reading a research article?
To have a complete reference and to summarize important aspects in your own words.
What is a key characteristic of a good hypothesis?
It should be logical, testable, refutable, and make a positive statement.
Fill in the blank: The use of visual images is related to _______.
[better memory performance]
What does a testable hypothesis require?
It must be possible to observe and measure all variables involved.
True or False: A hypothesis can refer to imaginary events.
False.
What type of hypothesis is considered unsuitable for scientific research?
Hypotheses that cannot be tested or shown to be false.
What is an example of a logical conclusion in a hypothesis?
Higher levels of academic success will be related to higher levels of self-esteem.
What is a refutable hypothesis?
A hypothesis that can be demonstrated to be false.
What should you do if you want to modify an existing study?
Expand your literature search to include new subject terms.
What is the typical structure of a research idea?
A general statement about the relationship between two variables.
What is the goal of a literature search in research?
To find an idea for a research study.
What characterizes a positive statement in a hypothesis?
It affirms the existence of a relationship, difference, or treatment effect.
Fill in the blank: A testable hypothesis must involve _______.
[real situations, real events, and real individuals]
What should you check regarding the literature review when reading an introduction?
Is the literature review up-to-date?
What is the relationship between a hypothesis and a research question?
The hypothesis is a tentative answer to the research question.
What might indicate a good research idea?
Recognizing the direction in which an area of research is moving.
What is often a critical component of the research process?
A refutable hypothesis.
What is the primary assumption when testing a hypothesis?
A relationship does not exist until evidence demonstrates that it does exist.
How is the jury trial process similar to hypothesis testing?
The jury assumes innocence and the prosecution must provide evidence to prove guilt.
What happens if convincing evidence is not obtained in a research study?
We cannot conclude that the relationship does not exist; we simply conclude that we failed to find convincing evidence.
Why is a hypothesis that denies the existence of a relationship not testable?
It cannot be tested because it does not provide a foundation for gathering evidence in research.
What are the next steps after forming a general hypothesis in research?
Define and measure variables, identify participants, and ensure ethical treatment.
Fill in the blank: A hypothesis that proposes a relationship may be transformed into a _______.
[specific research study].
What might a specific research predication based on the hypothesis that mental imagery improves memory look like?
College students instructed to form mental images will recall more words than those who do not.
What is one method for generating new research studies from existing hypotheses?
Change the group of participants or modify the method for measuring the outcome.
What is the recommended database for finding psychology research articles?
PsycINFO.
What should be done after selecting articles from a literature search?
Discard articles that are not directly relevant and read selected articles to find new research ideas.
Define a testable hypothesis.
A hypothesis that can be supported or refuted through observation or experimentation.
Define a refutable hypothesis.
A hypothesis that can be proven false by evidence.
What is the difference between basic and applied research?
Basic research seeks to increase understanding, while applied research aims to solve practical problems.
Which of the following is not a good example of a research hypothesis? a. There is no relationship between fatigue and reaction time.
a. There is no relationship between fatigue and reaction time.
What are the five sections typically found in a research article?
- Introduction
- Method
- Results
- Discussion
- References
Explain the purpose of operational definitions in research.
They specify how variables will be measured and defined in a study.
What are the four scales of measurement?
- Nominal
- Ordinal
- Interval
- Ratio
What are the three modalities of measurement in research?
- Self-report
- Behavioral observation
- Physiological measurement
True or False: A hypothesis must be both testable and refutable to be useful in research.
True.
