Chapter 2 Methodology

Question 1

Hindsight bias

Answer 1

The tendency for people to exaggerate how much they could have predicted the outcomes after knowing that it occurred

Question 2

Theory

Answer 2

An organized set of principles that can be used to explain observed phenomena

Question 3

Hypothesis

Answer 3

A testable statement of idea about the relationship between two or more variables

Question 4

Operational Definition

Answer 4

The precise specification of how variables are measured or manipulated.

Question 5

Observational Method

Answer 5

The technique whereby a researcher observes people and systemically records measurement of their behaviour.

Question 6

Ethnography

Answer 6

The method by which researcher attempt to understand a group or culture by observing it from the inside without imposing any preconceived notions they might have.

Question 7

Archival analysis

Answer 7

The use of documents, archives, of a culture, newspapers, diaries etc

Question 8

Correlation also method

Answer 8

The technique whereby researchers systematically measure two or more variables and assess the relation between them CC

Question 9

Correlation coefficient

Answer 9

A statistic that assesses how well you can predict one variable based on another

Question 10

Surveys

Answer 10

Research in which a representative sample of people are asked questions about their attitudes or behaviours

Question 11

Random selection

Answer 11

A way of ensuring that a sample of people is representative of a population by giving everyone in the population an equal chance of being selected for the sample

Question 12

Experimental method

Answer 12

The method in which the researcher randomly assigns participants to different conditions and ensures that these conditions are identical except for the independent variable

Question 13

Independent variable

Answer 13

The variable a researcher changes or variables to see if it has an effect on some other variable

Question 14

Dependent variable

Answer 14

The variable a researcher measures to see no if it is influenced by the independent variable

Question 15

Random assignment to conditions

Answer 15

Through random assignment, researchers can be relatively certain that differences in the participants personalities or backgrounds are distributed evenly across conditions

Question 16

Probability level (p-value)

Answer 16

A number that tells researchers the results appeared by chance and not because of the independent variable, less than 5 percent chance of happening by accident.

Question 17

Internal validity

Answer 17

Ensuring nothing other than the independent variable is affecting the dependent variable.

Question 18

External validity

Answer 18

The extent to which the results of a study can be generalized to other situations and other people.

Question 19

Psychological realism

Answer 19

The extent to which the psychological processes triggered in an experimental are similar to psychological processes that be occur in everyday life

Question 20

Cover story

Answer 20

A description given to participants that is different from its true purpose.

Question 21

Field experiment

Answer 21

Experiments conducted in natural settings, rather than in the laboratory.

Question 22

Basic dilema of the social psychologist

Answer 22

The trade-off between internal and external validity in conducting research

Question 23

Replication

Answer 23

Repeating a study, generally with different subjects populations, in different settings, or by using different methods.

Question 24

Meta-Analysis

Answer 24

A statistical technique that averages the result of two or more studies to see if the effect of an independent variable is reliable.

Question 25

Basic research

Answer 25

Studies that are designed to find the best answer as to why people behave the way they do and that are conducted purely for reasons of intellectual curiosity.

Question 26

Applied research

Answer 26

Studies designed specifically to solve a particular social problem; building a theory of behaviour is usually secondary to solving the specific problem

Question 27

Cross-cultural research

Answer 27

Research conducted with members of different cultures to see whether the psychological processes of interest are present across cultures or wether they are specific to singular culture

Question 28

Informed consent

Answer 28

Agreement to participate in an experiment, granted in full awareness of the nature of the experiment, which has been explained in advanced

Question 29

Deception

Answer 29

The procedure whereby participants are misled about the true purpose of a study or the events that will eventually transpire

Question 30

Debriefing

Answer 30

Explaining the participants, at the end of the experiment, the true purpose of the study and exactly what transpired

Question 31

Social neuroscience

Answer 31

Increased interest in connection between biological processes and social behaviour. This includes the study of hormones, immune system, and neurological processes.