Chapter 2 Research Methodology Flashcards
Accuracy
The extent to which the experimental measure is free from error
Case Studies
A research method that involves the intensive examination of unusual people or organizations
Central Tendency
A measure that represents the typical response or the behavior of a group as a whole
Confound
Anything that affects a dependent variable and may unintentionally vary between the experimental conditions of a study; A source of error
Control Group
A comparison group; the participants in a study that receive no intervention or receive intervention that is unrelated to the independent variable being investigated
Correlational Studies
A research method that examines how variables are naturally related in the real world, without any attempt by the researcher to alter them or assign causation between them.
Cross-Sectional Studies
A research method that compares participants in different groups at the same time
Culturally Sensitive Research
Studies that take into account the role that culture plays in determining thoughts, feelings and actions.
Data
Objective observations or measurements
Dependent Variable
In an experiment, the variable that is affected by the manipulation of the independent variable
Descriptive Statistics
Statistics that summarize the data collected in a study
Descriptive Studies
A research method that involves observing and noting the behavior of people or other animals to provide a systematic and objective analysis of the behavior
Directionality Problem
A problem encountered in correlational studies; the researchers find a relationship between two variables, but they cannot determine which variable may have caused changes in the other variable
Electroencephalograph (EEG)
A device that measures electrical activity in the brain; wavelength
Experiment
A study that tests causal hypotheses by measuring and manipulating variables
Experimental groups
Treatment groups; the participants in a study that receive the intervention
Experimenter expectancy effect
Actual change in the behavior of the people or nonhuman animals being observed that is due to the expectations of the observer
External Validity
The degree to which the findings of an experiment can be generalized outside the laboratory
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
An imaging technique used to examine changes in the activity of the working human brain
Hypothesis
A specific prediction of what should be observed if a theory is correct
Independent variable
In an experiment, the variable that is manipulated by the experimenter to examine its impact on the dependent variable