Chapter 2: Methods of Social Psychology Flashcards
DEF What is observational research?
- observing participants and some phenomenon at close range
- almost participating in it
- observatoins can be misleading
DEF What is archival research?
using existing collections(archives) of data and information to draw conclusions
- census reports, police reports, sports statistics, newspaper publications, etc
DEF What are surveys?
- simply asking people questions
- representative sampling, random smapling, convenience sampling
DEF What is representative sampling?
accurately portray population demographics
DEF What is random sampling?
selected at random, each participant has an equal opportunity to be selected
DEF What is convenience sampling?
may be biased because a participant has some disposition that put them in that place at that time
ex. contacting people walking into a library
DEF What is correlational research?
measure two or more variables and examine whether a relationship exists between them
What does correlation NOT establish?
correlation does NOT establish causation
correlation requires further exploration
DEF What is a longitudinal study?
a study conducted over a long period of time with the same participants
DEF What is experimental research?
making inferences about why/how a relationship exists between two variables
What are the components of an experiment?
independent and dependent variables, control condition
DEF What is a natural experiment?
a naturally occuring event that naturally has different conditions
ex. studying levels of happiness in marriages (cannot force people to get married for an experiment)
Is all research created equal?
No, not all research is created equal. Must consider validity, reliability, and statisitical significance.
DEF What is the external validity of an experiment?
If the results are applicable outside of the lab
DEF What is a field experiment?
An experiment conducted in the real world where participants are unaware they are in a study
DEF What is the internal validity of an experiment?
confidence that only the manipulated variable could have produced the results
What are potential affects on internal validity?
selection bias, regression to mean, expectancy (people speculating about what the results mean or what an experimenter wants), and differential attrition (people dropping out leaving only people with a higher tolerance to participate)
What is the reliability of a test and measure?
the degree to which a research method and a given varaible are likely to yeild consistent results
ex. getting a dif score the second time you take an IQ test
What is the validity of a test and measure
a correlation between a measure and something a measure is supposed to predict
- will this method produce relevent results?
DEF What is statisitical significance?
a measure of probability that a given result could have occured by chance?
- are you results because of your manipulated variable or simply just a coincidence?
DEF What is informed consent?
agreeing to participate after learning relevant into
- can be deceptive about what the study is actually measuring to avoid bias, but still have to inform participants of the actions in the study