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MCAT psych/soc > chapter 1 > Flashcards

chapter 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

experimental study

A

the researcher manipulates the independent variable and then observes how the dependent variable changes in response to those manipulations

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2
Q

independent variable

A

It is a variable that stands alone and isn’t changed by the other variables you are trying to measure.

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3
Q

dependent variable

A

The dependent variable is the variable that is being measured or tested in an experiment and depends on the independent variable

cannot happen earlier in time than the dependent variable

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4
Q

the dependent variable is on which axis

A

y-axis

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5
Q

the independent variable is on which axis

A

on the x-axis

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6
Q

confounding variable

A

the variable that affects both the independent and the dependent variable and it potentially obscures the true relationship between the independent and dependent variables

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7
Q

mediating variable

A

provides a mechanistic link between an observed relationship between 2 variables

in between both variables

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8
Q

moderating variable

A

modulates the intensity of a certain relationship

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9
Q

quantitative

A

numerical values are used

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10
Q

qualitative

A

if verbal or open-ended measures are used

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11
Q

mixed-methods

A

if both qualitative and quantitative methods are used

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12
Q

negative controls

A

in experimental studies, negative controls do not receive the treatnebt or intervention of interest (could be placebo)

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13
Q

positive controls

A

in experimental studies, positive controls receive a treatment that is known to induce the outcome of interest

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14
Q

randomization

A

In a lab based experimental study, it’s expected thar samples will be randomly allocated to control or treatment groups

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15
Q

single-blinding

A

In a single-blind study, patients do not know which study group they are in (for example whether they are taking the experimental drug or a placebo) while the researchers do or the researchers do not know but the participants do. (only one group knows)

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16
Q

double-blinding

A

In a double-blind study, neither the patients nor the researchers/doctors know which study group the patients are in.

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17
Q

non-blinded

A

if everyone involved knows whch participants are in which group

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18
Q

Randomized control trial

A

an experimental study in which participants are randomized to either a control or treatment group

19
Q

observational studies

A

used when experimental designs are not feasible

20
Q

observational designs

A

analyze pre-existing variation in the population

21
Q

cross-sectional study

A

when researchers take a set of people representative of a population, measure various things about them, and look for correlations among those measurements

snapshot of a certain population at a certain time (surveys)

22
Q

correlation studies

A

focus on how certain variables are correlated with each other

(whether a high level of one variable predicts a high or low level of another variable, vice versa)

cannot provide information about causality

23
Q

longitudinal design

A

multiple measures are made over time

can be observational or experimental

24
Q

risk factors

A

independent variables associated with a higher risk of a negative outcome

25
Q

protective factors

A

independent variables associated with a lower risk of a negative outcome

26
Q

prospective cohort studies

A

subset of longitudinal cross-sectional studies where a group of subjects is assembled according to some organizing principle and followed over time

27
Q

retrospective cohort studies

A

take a group of people and look back over time to find an exposure

28
Q

case-control studies

A

involve gathering people with the disease “case” and those without the disease “control) and compare them with the goal of identifying differences between tje 2 groups

29
Q

case-study

A

researchers can report their expereinces with a certain condition or treatment

single case = case study

multiple cases = case series

30
Q

systemic reviews

A

studies in which a researcher combs through the literature on a topic and critically assesses the outcomes of various studies

31
Q

meta-analyses

A

multiple studies are combined and re-analyzed

yields strongest available evidence on a given topic

32
Q

7 principles identified by the NIH for research ethics

A
  • social and clinical value (study must be attempting to answer an important question)
  • scientific validity
  • fair subject selection (indicates that participants in a study should be chosen based on the relevance for the study’s scientific goals)
  • favourable risk-benefit ratio (mandates that the risks of study particpants is minimized and the benefits outweigh the risks
  • independent review (an independent board of reviewers should assess the research proposal for any study before it starts)
  • informed consent (participants must agree after knowing all the facts)
  • respect for potential and enrolled participants (privacy, confidentiality, monitoring particpants)
33
Q

validity

A

refers to the extent to which a study’s results are both genuine and generalizable

34
Q

internal validity

A

describes the extent to which we can draw causal conclusions from the study data (did we conduct the study in such a way that we know that manipulating variable x caused some change in variable y)

35
Q

external validity

A

the extent to which we can generalize our results onto different experimental situations or real life

36
Q

content validity

A

how well the test covers the full scope of content the researchers intend to measure

37
Q

criterion validity

A

describes how well our test correlates with some other well-respected criterion like an established test of the same measure

38
Q

predictive validity

A
39
Q

reliability

A

the extent to which study results are consistent

“if we do the study again, will we see similar results”

40
Q

precision

A

describes how close together experiminetal measurements are

41
Q

accuracy

A

refers to the closeness of a measurement to the actual, real value that we are measuring

42
Q

self-reporting bias/response bias

A

occurs when people are allowed to choose their own answers

43
Q

social desirability bias

A

tendency of respondents to answer in a way that they think makes them look more socially successful

44
Q

acqueiescence bias

A

the tendency to answer yes when asked a question

MCAT psych/soc (12 decks)

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