Chap 3 and 4

Question 1

Define constant

Answer 1

(Not a variable)

A constant is something that could potentially vary but only has one level

Stays the same

Question 2

What are the two types of variables?

Answer 2

Manipulated and measured

Question 3

Define manipulated variable

Answer 3

Controlled levels by assigning participants to the different levels of that variable.

Question 4

Define measured variable

Answer 4

They observe and record the levels of the variable

Can’t change it

Question 5

Conceptual definition

Answer 5

When researchers are discussing their theories and when journalists write about research

Question 6

Operational definitions

Answer 6

When they are testing heir hypothesis with empirical research

Question 7

Define operationalization (of variables)

Answer 7

The process of turning a concept of interest into a measured or manipulated variable

Question 8

What’s a claim

Answer 8

An argument someone is trying to make

Question 9

What are the different kinds of claims?

Answer 9

Frequency- describe a particular rate or level of something (how frequent or common something is) they focus on one variable, always measured.

Anecdotal- they don’t report the results of a social science study; instead, they just tell us an illustrative story.

Association- Argues that one level of a variable is likely to be associated with a particular level of another variable. (Must involve two variables, variables are measured not manipulate and must correlate w each other

Causal- argues that one variable is responsible for changing the other. (cause, enhance, curb) one variable acts on the other, stronger statements. One variable manipulated other measured

Question 10

What are the different types of association claims?

Answer 10

Positive association- high goes with high, low goes with low

Negative association- high goes with low, low goes with high

Zero association- no association between the variables

Curvilinear association- the level of one variable changes its patter as the other variable increases

Question 11

How do you interrogate a frequency claim

Answer 11

Ask two of the big validities: construct validity and external validity

Question 12

Define variable

Answer 12

Something that varies, must have at least two levels or values

Question 13

What’s a construct validity? How do you interrogate it?

Answer 13

Construct validity concerns how accurately a researcher has operationalized each variable

Ask how well a study measured or manipulated variable

Are the operational variables used in the study a good approximation of the construct of interest

Question 14

Define external validity

Answer 14

How well the results of the study generalize to, or represent people in context beside those in the study itself

The degree to which the results of the study generalize to some larger population as well as other situations

Question 15

Find statistical validity

Answer 15

The extent to which those statistical conclusions are accurate and reasonable

How well a study minimizes the probability of two errors including that there is an effect when in fact there is none or concluding that there is no effect when in fact there is one

Question 16

Define internal validity

Answer 16

In a relationship between one variable (A) and another (B), the degree to which we can say that A, rather than some other variable (such as C) is responsible for the effect on B

Should be able to re out alternative explanations for the association

Question 17

When interrogating a claim what are the three rules for causation? (Between variable A and B)

Answer 17

Covariance- As A changes, B changes; for example, as A increases, B increases, and as A decreases, B decreases

Temporal precedence- A comes first in time, before B

internal validity- there are no possible alternative explanations for the change in B; A is the only thing that changed

Question 18

What were the three kinds of ethical violations in the Tuskegee syphilis study?

Answer 18

• Harmed. They were not told about the treatment for the disease that could be cured
• Not treated respectfully. Subjected to painful and dangerous tests.
• Targeted a disadvantaged social group. Syphilis affected all ethnicities but only African Americans were chosen for the study.

Question 19

What were the ethical questions in the milgram experiment?

Answer 19

• was it ethical of milgram to put unsuspecting volunteers through such a stressful experience?
• concerns the last effects of the study

Question 20

What the the Belmont report?

Answer 20

In 1976 a commission of physicians, ethicists, philosophers, scientists, and other citizens gathered

-for an intensive discussion of basic ethical principles that researchers should follow as they conduct research with human participants

Guiding principles: respects for persons, beneficence, and justice

Consider ethical guidelines, local institutional policies, and federal laws

Question 21

What is respect for persons?

Answer 21

Two provisions:

1) participants in research should be treated as autonomous agents: they should be free to make up their own minds about whether they wish to participate in the study. (Informed consent)
2) some people are entitled to special protection

Question 22

Define and explain the principle of beneficence?

Answer 22

Researchers taking precaution to protect research participants from harm and ensure their well being

Question 23

Define and explain the principle of justice

Answer 23

Calls for a fair balance between the people who participate in research and the people who benefit from it

Researchers might first ensure that the participants involved in a study are representatives of the type of people who would also benefit from its results

Question 24

Why was the The APA ethical principle made?

Answer 24

Written by the American psychological association (APA)

The apa chose to develop its own ethical principles and standards so psychologists would have guidelines for their three separate roles: scientist, professor/educator, therapist (practitioner)

Question 25

What are the guidelines for the Apa ethical principles?

Answer 25

1) beneficence- treat people in a way that benefits them. Do not cause suffering. Conduct research that will benefit society.
2) justice- strive to treat all groups of people fairly. Be aware of bias.
3) respect for persons- recognize that people are autonomous agents. Protects people’s rights, including right to privacy, right to consent to research, and have participation treated confidentially
4) integrity- strive to be accurate, truthful, and honest in ones role as researcher, teacher, or practitioner
5) fidelity- establish relationships of trust. Professional behavior

Question 26

What’s the Institutional review board (IRB)

Answer 26

An IRB committee responsible for ensuring that research on humans is conducted ethically.
(Apa requires that psychologists comply with their local IRB)

IRBs are mandated by federal laws
Must include five people: at least one scientist, one with academic interests outside of the sciences, and a community member who has no ties to the institution

Question 27

What’s informed consent?

Answer 27

As defined by the Apa is the researchers obligation to explain the study to potential participants in everyday language and to give them a chance to decide whether to participate

Informed consent is usually provided with a written document that outlines the procedures, risks, and benefits of the research- including a statement about any treatments that are experimental

Participants two copies one for them to take home and one for the researcher

Question 28

When do you typically not need a consent form?

Answer 28

When the study is not likely to cause harm and if it takes place in an educational setting

When participants are answering an anonymous questionnaire

When the study involved naturalistic observations of participants in a low risk setting

(Institutions regulation determine the need for a consent form)

(Studies still have to be approved by the IRB)

Must still inform participants of their rights and of their participation in research study

Question 29

What are some examples of unsuspecting things that could take away a person’s confidentiality

Answer 29

Handwriting

Birthday

Photographs

Question 30

Define deception

Answer 30

Researchers withheld some details of the study from participants and in some cases actively lied to them

Question 31

Define debriefing

Answer 31

When researchers have used deception they must spend time after the study is over debriefing each participant in a structured conversation

They explain the importance of their research and attempt to restore an honest relationship between the researcher and participants

Question 32

In the Apa ethical list points what are legal protection for laboratory animals?

Answer 32

Must care for them humanely

Use as few animals as possible

Be sure their research is valuable enough to justify the use of animals

Must follow federal and local laws for animal care and protection

Question 33

What’s he animal welfare Act

Answer 33

Outlines standards and guidelines for the treatment of animals

(AWA) mandates that each institution at which animal research takes place must have a local board called the institutional animal care and use committee and must approve animal research before it begins and comply federal guidelines

Committee must contain a vegetarian, a practicing scientist who is granular with the goals and procedures of animal research, and a member of the community at large who is unconnected with the institution

Must comply with federal guidelines and submit protocols precautions and justify research.

Monitor the care and treatment of animals

Question 34

What are the animal care guidelines three R’s?

Answer 34

Replacement- researchers should find alternatives to animals in research when necessary

Refinement- researchers must modify experimental procedures and other aspects of animal care to minimize or eliminate animal distress

Reduction- researchers should adopt experimental designs and procedures that require the fewest animal subjects possible

Question 35

What are the arguments for animal research?

Answer 35

• it has made both fundamental contributions to both basic and applied science, for both humans and animals
• animal research argues that researchers are sensitive to animal welfare
• researchers has successfully developed new procedures that do not require animal testing

Question 36

What are the two forms of research misconduct?

Answer 36

1) data fabrication- occurs when instead of recording what really happened in a study researchers invent data that fits their hypothesis
2) data falsification- occurs when researchers influence the study’s results

Question 37

Define plagiarism

Answer 37

Another form of research misconduct that is usually defined as representing the ideas or words of others as ones own