Chapter 2: Methods in Psychology

Question 1

theory

Answer 1

framework for explaining various events or processes

Question 2

hypothesis

Answer 2

a testable prediction derived from theories that is falsifiable

Question 3

population

Answer 3

the entire group we wish to study

Question 4

sample

Answer 4

a subset of the population

Question 5

what are the goals of psychology?

Answer 5

describe, explain, predict, control

Question 6

representative sample

Answer 6

matches the population on a number of important variables

Question 7

random sample

Answer 7

every member of population has an equal chance of being in the sample

Question 8

WEIRD

Answer 8

Western educated industrialized rich democratic

Question 9

experimental methods

Answer 9

observation, correlational research

Question 10

observation

Answer 10

describe what you see

Question 11

what are different way to observe?

Answer 11

naturalistic observation, survey, case study

Question 12

correlational research

Answer 12

asks if there is a correlation between x and y

Question 13

quasi-experimental design

Answer 13

uses pre-existing groups (but cannot make causal statements)

Question 14

independent variable

Answer 14

variable we are changing

Question 15

dependent variable

Answer 15

variable we are measuring

Question 16

random assignment

Answer 16

assigning participates to experimental and control conditions by chance

Question 17

single blind

Answer 17

research design in which participates don’t know which group they are in

Question 18

double blind procedure

Answer 18

research design in which both parties are ignorant in who received the treatment and placebo

Question 19

internal validity

Answer 19

an attribute of an experiment that allows it to establish causal relationships; the extent the results are true of the population; asks if there was bias

Question 20

external validity

Answer 20

an attribute of an experiment in which variables have been defined in a normal, realistic, or typical way; can it be generalized in another situation or environment

Question 21

conformation bias

Answer 21

a tendency to search for information that confirms one’s preconceptions

Question 22

informed consent

Answer 22

a verbal agreement to participate in a study made by an adult who has been informed of all the risks that participation may entail

Question 23

Freedom from coercion

Answer 23

physical and psychological coercion but monetary coercion as well

Question 24

Protection from harm

Answer 24

Psychologists must take every possible precaution to protect their research participants from physical or psychological harm

Question 25

Risk–benefit analysis

Answer 25

Although participants may be asked to accept small risks, such as a minor shock or a small embarrassment, they may not even be asked to accept a large risk, such as severe pain or psychological trauma, that is greater than the risks they would ordinarily take in their everyday lives

Question 26

Deception

Answer 26

Psychologists may use deception only when it is justified by the study’s scientific, educational, or applied value and when alternative procedures are not feasible

Question 27

Debriefing

Answer 27

a verbal description of the true nature and purpose of a study

Question 28

Confidentiality

Answer 28

Psychologists are obligated to keep confidential any private or personal information obtained during a study

Question 29

hindsight bias

Answer 29

a psychological phenomenon that allows people to convince themselves after an event that they accurately predicted it before it happened