Chapter 1 (Reaserch in psychology) Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

Define psychology

A

Psychology is the scientific study of mental processes and behavior and how these are affected by internal processes and the environment.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Pop psych

A

term used for a wide range of popularized psychological theories and concepts that may or may not have a basis in psychology

oversimplified accounts of psychological issues based on anecdotal evidence and popular beliefs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

neuroeconomics

A

combines neuroscience, economics, and psychology to investigate how people make choices in economics.

Looking at the brain when people evaluate decisions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

biological level

A

focuses on psychology and genetics

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

cognitive level

A

focuses on mental processes like memory, thinking, perception, and attention

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

sociocultural level

A

focuses on how environmental and culture affect behavior or thinking

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

social cognition

A

refers to how we process, store, and use information about other people.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

epistemology

A

ways of knowing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

target population

A

the group whose behavior the researcher wishes to investigate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

sample

A

the nature of the group of participants

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

representative sample

A

when researchers try to obtain a sample that represents a population

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

self-selected samples

A

sampling method which is made up of volunteers.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

snowball sampling

A

when participants recruit other participants from among their friends and acquaintances

(sample grows like a snowball rolling downhill)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

participant variability

A

the extent to which the participants may share common set of traits that can bias the outcome of the study

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

random sampling

A

one in which every member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

stratified sample

A

attempts to overcome a problem by drawing random samples from each subpopulation within the target population.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

informed consent

A

participants must be informed about the nature of study and agree to participate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

deception

A

sometimes the researchers does not want the participants to know the exact aim of a study because it could affect the results. Deception should generally not be used; however, slight deception - which does not cause any stress to the participant - may be used in some cases. At the end of the study, any deception must be explained to the participants

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

debriefing

A

At the end of all studies; the true aims and purpose of the research must be revealed to the participants. Any deception must be revealed and justified. All participants should leave the study without undue stress.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Withdrawal from a study

A

at the beginning of a study, participants should be told that they have the right to leave the study at any time, and that they can withdraw their data at the end of the study if they wish..

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Confidentiality

A

all the information that is obtained in a study must be confidential

22
Q

protection from physical or mental harm

A

It’s important to make sure that no harm is done to participants. It is not permitted to humiliate a participant or force them to reveal private information

23
Q

Application

A

how a theory or empirical study is used

24
Q

ecological validity

A

study represents what happens in real life

25
Q

cross-cultural validity

A

research is relevant to other cultures

26
Q

ethnocentric

A

based on values and beliefs of one culture

27
Q

reliable

A

results can be replicated

28
Q

independent variable

A

researcher deliberately manipulates, while trying to keep all other variables constant.

29
Q

dependent variable

A

the variable that is measured after the manipulation of the independent variable

30
Q

operationalized

A

variables need to be written in such a way that it is clear WHAT is being measured

31
Q

experimental hypothesis

A

predicts the relationship between the IV and the DV - that is, what we expect will come out of the manipulation of the independent variable.

32
Q

field experiment

A

the experiment takes place in a natural environment, but the researchers still manipulate variables

33
Q

natural experiment

A

experiment where the researchers have no control over the variables (naturally occurring)

34
Q

Confounding variables

A

undesirable variables that influence the relationship between the independent and dependent variables

35
Q

demand characteristics

A

This is when participants act differently simply because they know that they are in an experiment. They may try to guess the aims of the study and act accordingly. Hawthorne effect.

36
Q

single blind control

A

participants do not know what the study is about

37
Q

researcher bias

A

when experimenter sees what he or she is looking for

38
Q

participant variabilitiy

A

characteristics of the sample affect the dependent variable.

39
Q

artificiality

A

situation is created so unlikely to occur that one has to wonder if there is any validity in the findings.

40
Q

positive correlation

A

both variables are affected in the same way

41
Q

negative correlation

A

one variable increases, the other decreases

42
Q

triangulation

A

when researchers combine different research methods in a study in order to collect richer data

43
Q

deductive approach

A

when we consider experiments, a hypothesis is a claim that is tested against empirical evidence so that it can be either accepted or rejected

44
Q

structured inteview

A

the interview schedule may state exactly what questions should be asked, as well as the order of the questions

45
Q

unstructured interview

A

the interview schedule only specifies the topic and the available time

46
Q

semi-structured interviews

A

looks like an informal conversation, but the interview does follow a schedule

47
Q

naturalistic observations

A

observations in a natural setting

48
Q

researcher bias

A

the observation should not be affected by what the researcher expects to find

49
Q

inter-observer reliability

A

to make sure that what they observed actually happened

50
Q

reactivity

A

when humans and animals change their behavior when they are observed

51
Q

covert observation

A

they don’t know they are observed

52
Q

over observation

A

the participants know that the observer is a researcher