Chapter 2

Question 1

What are operational definitions?

Answer 1

Statements that specify the procedures that are used to record observations

Question 2

The principle of ________ instructs studies to be designed in a way that evidence can either confirm or disconfirm a phenomenon.

Answer 2

falsifiability

Question 3

What ensures that tests and results are accepted scientific standards?

Answer 3

Peer review and replication

Question 4

What is a representative sample?

Answer 4

A group of individuals that match the population in important characteristics selected for a study

Question 5

Why should you be cautious of “convenience” samples?

Answer 5

Often these samples are conducted on only undergraduate students as they are most convenient for researchers, but their sample may not match the general population

Question 6

Describe the differences between:
Test-retest reliability
Alternate-forms reliability
Inter-rater reliability

Answer 6

TEST-RETEST reliability = administering the same test twice over a period of time to the same individuals
ALTERNATE-FORMS reliability = uses 2 different—but equivalent—tests
INTER-RATER reliability = multiple raters or observers coming to similar conclusions independently of each other

Question 7

What is the difference between laboratory and naturalistic observation?

Answer 7

Naturalistic observation aims to study subjects in their natural environments, whereas in a laboratory they have more control over specific variables

Question 8

What are some downsides to surveys?

Answer 8

Low response rates
Unrepresentative bias
Lies or misinterpretations
Inaccurate perceptions of self

Question 9

This research measures the degree of association between 2 variables within a magnitude between -1.0 to 1.0

Answer 9

Correlational research

Question 10

Which of the following has a stronger correlational relationship?
+0.3 OR -0.7

Answer 10

-0.7
The further away from 0, the stronger the relationship

Question 11

_______ _______ = variables outside of researcher’s control which may affect results

Answer 11

Confounding variables

Question 12

What is the difference between “within-subjects” and “between-subjects” research designs?

Answer 12

Between = large number of subjects are divided and compared

Within = a smaller group of subjects all experience experimental conditions over multiple points in time

Question 13

How do you remember whether data is positively or negatively skewed?

Answer 13

Follow the tail

Question 14

What does standard deviation measure?

Answer 14

The variability around the mean or the average distance from the mean

Question 15

How can researchers tell how likely it is that the results of a study occurred merely by chance?

Answer 15

Significance tests (also hypothesis test)

Question 16

What is a null hypothesis?

Answer 16

Assumes differences between groups are due to chance

Question 17

Researchers aim to find a significant difference between a null hypothesis and an _________ hypothesis that is large enough that the null cannot be true, meaning the alternate must be true

Answer 17

experimental/alternative

Question 18

How would a less than 5% chance the difference between 2 groups was due to chance be described?

Answer 18

A p-value of 0.05

Question 19

What is the effect size?

Answer 19

A calculated degree of difference between groups rather than a yes/no conclusion

Question 20

A longitudinal study is when the same group is tested over different points in time. How does a cross-sectional study differ?

Answer 20

A cross-sectional study compares different groups all at the same time