Chapter 1 : Research methods in Psychology Flashcards
Define Psychology.
Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes in humans.
What is the difference between overt and covert behavior?
Overt behavior is clearly visible and directly observable and is more likely to be measured accurately. For example, walking.
Covert behavior is internal and hidden from view, and therefore cannot be directly observed, and is not easily measured. For example, feeling sad.
Define mental processes.
Mental processes generally refers to a person’s thoughts and feelings, which are personal and subjective and cannot be directly observed. For example, your perceptions and sensations, your emotions, your moods, etc.
Define behavior
Behavior refers to any externally expressed action made by a living person that can be directly observed. For example, walking, talking, singing, etc.
What is the general relationship between mental processes and behavior? Provide an example.
Mental processes and behavior are interrelated and often interact with each other. For example, you may feel mad at a person as you think that they have lied to you, as a result, you may behave very rudely towards this person.
Name the difference between a psychologists and a psychiatrist.
A psychiatrist needs to study up to 13+ years, while a psychologists needs to study for 6+years.
A psychiatrists can also prescribe medication and has the legal authority to hospitalize involuntarily individuals, while a psychologists cannot.
Name the areas of specialization in Psychology.
Clinical psychologists, clinical neurologists, organizational psychologists, sports psychologists, health psychologists, education and learning psychologists, community psychologists, forensic psychologists and counselling psychologists.
Define scientific (psychological) research.
Scientific research involves using an appropriate research method to collect data/information about a problem or topic of interest, and then organizing the data and drawing valid conclusions from it.
What happens when a scientific method is not used?
It will be difficult to reach a valid conclusion about a phenomenon, and observations or data are likely to be incorrectly interpreted.
Name the seven steps in psychological research.
- Identifying the research problem.
- Constructing a research hypothesis.
- Designing the method.
- Collecting the data.
- Analyzing the data.
- Interpreting the data.
- Reporting the research findings.
Define research hypothesis.
A research hypothesis is a testable prediction of the relationship between two or more events or characteristics. It is essentially an educated guess on what the results of the research study will be.
Define objectivity.
Objectivity involves taking steps to prevent any personal factors from influencing any aspect of the research or its reporting. It requires that data to be recorded free of bias, prejudice and other personal factors that may distort the data.
What is raw data?
Raw data is data that has not been coded or summarized in a meaningful way.
Define conclusion.
A conclusion is a judgement being made on what the results of the investigation mean.
Why is it important to report any research findings?
It is the way the other researchers find out about research that has been conducted and the way scientific progress is achieved. It also enables the general public to benefit from the research findings and enables replication by other researchers interested in what was studied.
Define research method.
A research method is a particular way of conducting a research study to collect accurate and reliable information about behavior and mental processes.
Provide examples of research methods.
An experiment, a survey, a case study, etc.
Define an experiment.
An experiment is used test a cause-effect relationship between variables under controlled conditions.
Name the four different variables.
Independent variables, dependent variables, extraneous variables and confounding variables.
What is a variable?
A variable is any factor that can change or vary in amount or type over time. For example, sexual desire, alcoholic content, happiness, stress, etc.
Define independent variable.
An independent variable is the variable that is systematically manipulated, changed or varied in some way by the researcher to access its effect on the participant’s responses.
Define dependent variable.
The dependent variable is the variable that shows any effect of the independent variable.
What is the difference between the experimental and control condition in an experiment?
The experimental condition is where the independent variable is present, where in the control condition, the independent variable is absent.
What is the purpose of a control condition in an experiment?
The control condition provides a standard of comparison for the experimental condition in which the IV is present.
Why is a research hypothesis considered an educated guess?
Because it is based on existing knowledge and previous research findings.
Define an operational hypothesis.
An operational hypothesis is a research hypothesis that states how the variables being studied will be observed, measured and manipulated. This means that the IV and DV are stated in operationalized terms. It also states the population from which the sample was drawn.
Name the characteristics of an operational hypothesis.
- The IV and DV are stated in operationalized terms.
- The population from which the sample will be drawn is stated.
- It is testable.
- It is an educated guess.
- It is a precisely worded written statement.
- It is expressed clearly.
- It is written in a single statement.
- It is written in third person.
Define extraneous variables.
Extraneous variables are variables other than the IV that may cause a change in the DV, and therefore affecting the results in an unwanted way.
Why is the extraneous variable unwanted?
It is unwanted because it can make it difficult for the researcher to conclude that any change in the DV was due solely to the presence of the IV, and not some other variable.
How do researchers attempt to control extraneous variables?
Researchers try to identify any relevant extraneous variables before the experiment and attempt to control, eliminate or minimize then.
Define confounding variable.
A confounding variable is any variable other than the IV that has had an effect on the DV, making it difficult to determine which of the variables produced the change in the DV.
Name the similarity and the difference between an extraneous variable and a confounding variable.
Similarity
- Both variables cause unwanted problems for the researcher conducting the research study.
Differences
- A confounding variable produces measurable change in the DV, while the extraneous variable may or may not affect the DV.
Name the types of extraneous variable and potential confounding variables.
- Individual participant differences (participant variables)
- Placebo effects
- Order effects
- Experimenter effects
- Use of non-standardized instructions and procedures
Define individual participant differences.
Provide some examples.
The differences in personal characteristics and experiences of the individual participants in an experiment. For example, age, biological sex, personality, intelligence, mood, emotions, religion, cultural background, etc.
What is a placebo?
A placebo is a substitution for the real substance or treatment.
Define the placebo effect
The placebo effect occurs when there is a change in the responses of the participants due to their belief that they are receiving some kind of experimental treatment and they respond in accordance to that belief, rather than to the effects of the IV.
Which is the only group that experiences the placebo effect?
The experimental group.
Define the experimenter effect.
The experimenter effect occurs when there is a change in the responses of the participants due to the researchers/experimenter expectation, biases, or actions, rather than to the effect of the IV.
What is experimenter expectancy?
Experimenter expectancy involves cues or hints that the researcher provides about the responses participants should give in an experiment.
What is a self-fulfilling prophecy?
A self-fulfilling prophecy occurs when the researcher obtains results that they expect to obtain due to the cues that they provide, rather than to the effect of the IV.
Give a few examples of how an experimenter’s action can produce an experimenter effect.
The experimenter’s mannerism, facial expression, tone of voice, etc.
What is experimenter bias?
Experimenter bias are unintentional biases in the collection or treatment of data. For example, misreading, misperceiving, misinterpreting data or giving unintentional assistance to participants.
Define an order effect.
An order effect occurs when performance, as measured by the DV, is influenced by the specific order in which the tasks, treatments and conditions are presented, rather than the IV.
Name the two types of order effects.
Practice effects and carry-over effects.
What is the practice effect?
Practice effects are the influences on performance that arises from practicing a task. This can cause boredom or fatigue.
What is the carry-over effect?
Carry-over effects are the influences of a particular treatment or task on performance in a subsequent treatment or task that follows. For example, the effects of consuming alcohol can “carry over” to the next task.
What is one of the most common sources of confounding and extraneous variables?
Individual participant differences (participant variables)
Define participants.
Participants are the people used in the experiment or any other research study.
How do researchers attempt to minimize the influence of confounding and extraneous variables?
Researchers use selection and allocation procedures to ensure that the two groups of participants are as similar as possible in important personality characteristics that are relevant to the experiment.
What is sampling?
Sampling is the process of selecting participants for a research study.
Define a sample.
A sample is a group that is a subset or smaller portion of the larger group selected to be studied for research purposes.
Why is sampling important?
Because it is used to make inferences about the larger group from which the sample was drawn.
Define a population.
In psychological research, the population refers to the larger group from which a sample is drawn. For example, all VCE students, all patients at the hospital diagnosed with depression, all left-handed males.
Why doesn’t the researcher choose to study the population?
Because the population is way too large to be studied.