Chapter 2: Psychological research

Question 1

Archival research

Answer 1

using existing records to answer various research questions
o Looking at past records or data sets to look for interesting patterns or relationships

Question 2

Clinical and case studies

Answer 2

In observational research, scientists are conducting a clinical or case study when they focus on one person or just a few individuals

Question 3

Correlational research

Answer 3

• Positive correlation: the variables move in the same direction (if one increases, so does the other)
• Negative correlation: the variables move in opposite directions (a decrease in one means the increase in another)
• Confounding variable: some other factor that causes the systematic movement in the variables of interest
  o The closer to 1 (- or +), the more strongly related the variables are

Question 4

Designing an experiment

Answer 4

• Experimental group
• Control group
• Operational definition
• Experimenter bias
• Single-blind study (only participants are blind)
• Double-blind study
• Independent variable (manipulated or controlled)
• Dependent variable

Question 5

Ethics and research

Answer 5

IRB
informed consent
* Institutional Animal Case and Use Committee (IACUC)

Question 6

Illusory correlations

Answer 6

• Illusory correlations: false correlations that occur when people believe that relationships exist between two things when there isn’t one
• Confirmation bias: having a hunch and ignoring evidence that would tell us the hunch is false

Question 7

Longitudinal and cross-sectional research

Answer 7

• Longitudinal research: research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time
• Cross sectional research: a researcher compares multiple segments of the population at the same time

Question 8

Naturalistic observation

Answer 8

observing behavior in its natural setting

Question 9

Theory v. hypothesis

Answer 9

o Theory: a well-developed set of ideas that propose an explanation for observed phenomena
o Hypothesis: a testable prediction about how the world will behave if our idea is correct

Question 10

types of reasoning

Answer 10

• Deductive reasoning: ideas tested in the real world
• (general idea to specific conclusion)
• Inductive reasoning: real-world observations lead to new ideas
• (specific conclusion to general idea)