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Psychology > Chapter 2- Research Methods > Flashcards

Chapter 2- Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

In Latane and Darley’s experiment, how often did subjects actually help the woman?

A

Around 40% of the time

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2
Q

What is overconfidence?

A

Can be thought of as intellectual arrogance where we think we know more than we really do

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3
Q

What is Conformation Bias?

A

confirmation bias is people’s tendency to place great importance on evidence that supports their pre-existing belief, while downplaying evidence that does not

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4
Q

Factors that increase conformation bias?

A

Firstly, by seeking out only evidence that confirms our beliefs while avoiding evidence that contradicts them; secondly, by only hearing one view we become more convinced that we are correct and downplay evidence contradicting this belief

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5
Q

What is Critical Thinking?

A

Critical thinking is the ability to systematically and objectively evaluate information using well supported evidence

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6
Q

3 traits of the scientific attitude?

A

To be curious, skeptical, and to have humility-to be humble by admitting when we’re wrong

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7
Q

What is the scientific method?

A

The scientific method is an orderly systematic process for investigating phenomena and acquiring new knowledge

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8
Q

What is a theory?

A

A theory is a proposed explanation of some phenomena or a proposed explanation of why some phenomenon is occurring

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9
Q

What is a hypothesis?

A

A hypothesis is a specific testable prediction based on a more general theory

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10
Q

What is the theory-data cycle?

A

Starts by developing a theory, which leads to the developing of a specific hypothesis, then gather the relevant data, cycle repeats

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11
Q

What are operational definitions?

A

Are precise non-ambiguous descriptions of the variables in our study, and precise explanations of how we measured them

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12
Q

Why is it important to “operationalize” our variables?

A

It helps ensure that we are clear and consistent in our collection of data throughout our study; is also vital in helping other researchers replicate our study

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13
Q

What is a manipulated variable?

A

A manipulated variabale is on where a researcher controls the variable by assigning subjects to different levels of that variable

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14
Q

What is a measured variable?

A

With a measured variable, you are measuring to see if there was an effect of manipulating our manipulated variable

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15
Q

What is peer review?

A

Peer review is a quality control process used by publications to help ensure that only high quality, methodologically sound information is presented in the publication

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16
Q

What do peer reviewers look for?

A

Originality, importance of the work to the readers, and scientific reliability

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17
Q

Why is it desirable to have our studies replicated?

A

If another researcher can still find the same or similar results that we did, then this makes us more confident that our original study was a good one

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18
Q

What is a population of interest?

A

An entire large group that we are interested in finding something out about

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19
Q

What is a sample?

A

A much smaller sub-group of the population that we actually collect data from

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20
Q

What is a representative sample?

A

A sample that is statistically similar to the population of interest

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21
Q

What is random sampling?

A

Random sampling is where everyone in the population of interest has an equal chance of being included in the study

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22
Q

What is stratified sampling?

A

Stratified sampling is where we select our sample so that particular sub-groups in the population are represented proportionately

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23
Q

What is volunteer bias?

A

This is where the researcher ends up with a biased non-representative sample because people with certain qualities were much more likely to volunteer for the study than the general population was

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24
Q

What is a case study?

A

A case study is a research method where the psychologist studies a single individual’s history and behavior in great depth

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25
Q

Advantages of case studies?

A

We can get a lot more detailed information than we can get from any other research method; the information gathered from a case study can often suggest future more general studies looking at larger groups of subjects

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26
Q

Disadvantages/Limitations of case studies?

A

Since your only looking at one individual, there’s no guarantee that the data you collect will relate at all to the general population; the memories of subjects and their friends and families may be faulty; can’t tell us why anything is occurring

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27
Q

Advantages of surveys?

A

Unlike a case study, since your collecting information from a large number of people, you are very likely to get information that does reflect the attitudes, behaviors, and opinions of the large population of interest

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27
Q

Advantages of surveys?

A

Unlike a case study, since your collecting information from a large number of people, you are very likely to get information that does reflect the attitudes, behaviors, and opinions of the large population of interest

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28
Q

What is the limitation to surveys?

A

Socially desirable responding, aka faking good; this occurs because people will sometimes be hesitant to reveal honest personal information that might make them look bad or might answer questions in ways that make them look better than they actually are

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29
Q

What is naturalistic observation?

A

This is where we observe and record the behavior of organisms in their natural environment

30
Q

Advantages of naturalistic observation

A

The behaviors being observed are guaranteed to be authentic, the data collected through naturalistic observation is also a source of ideas for new theories, it is the only way that certain behaviors can be studied ethically

31
Q

Disadvantages/limitations of naturalistic observation

A

Since the subjects can’t know they’re being observed, the researcher has no control over the setting, can only look at observable behavior

32
Q

What do researchers look for in correlational studies?

A

They look for relationships between variables.

33
Q

What is a correlation?

A

A correlation refers to the extent to which two factors vary together

34
Q

When are two variables correlated?

A

Two variables are correlated when they vary together in some kind of systematic ways

35
Q

Is there a relationship between the variables of a child’s age and height?

A

Yes, there is a relationship between a child’s age and their height

36
Q

If so, what is the nature of that relationship? (child’s age and height)

A

Lower values of age are associated with lower levels of height, and higher values of age are associated with higher levels of height

37
Q

What is a positive correlation?

A

A positive correlation exists when one variable decreases as the other variable decreases, or one variable increases while the other increases

38
Q

What is a negative correlation?

A

A negative correlation is a relationship between two variables such that as the value of one variable increases, the other decreases

39
Q

What is correlation strength?

A

The degree to which variables can predict each other

40
Q

Do correlations tell us about cause and effect?

A

Correlations don’t tell us about cause and effect relationships

41
Q

Does this mean that battering causes children to respond aggressively to others’ distress? (correlation and causation)

A

No, there might be other explanations

42
Q

Does this mean that eating ice cream causes shark attacks? (correlation and causation)

A

No, the other factor is time of year

43
Q

What is the directionality problem?

A

If two variables are varying together, we can’t say with certainty whether the first variable is causing the change in the second variable, or the second variable is causing change to the first

44
Q

What is the third variable problem?

A

The idea is that when we find that two variables are correlated, it’s possible that neither variable is actually causing a change in the other

45
Q

What is an experimental group?

A

The group with the manipulation; the group that will use mental imagery

46
Q

What is a control group?

A

baseline group we will compare data with; our comparison group, no manipulation applied

47
Q

What is random assignment?

A

A subjects assignment to a particular group is random

48
Q

What is an independent variable?

A

An independent variable is the variable that the researcher manipulates (memory technique)

49
Q

What is a dependent variable?

A

A dependent variable is the variable that is measured (words recalled)

49
Q

What is a dependent variable?

A

A dependent variable is the variable that is measured (words recalled)

50
Q

What are confounds?

A

Confounds are the variables other than the independent variable that can unintentionally account for our results

51
Q

What is the placebo effect?

A

The placebo effect is where people’s symptoms improve because of the belief the treatment will help

52
Q

What is a placebo?

A

A placebo is a bogus or fake treatment that has the appearance of being genuine and that the patient believes will help them

53
Q

What is a blind study?

A

A blind study is where the subject doesn’t know what, if any, treatment their receiving

54
Q

What is a double-blind study?

A

A double-blind study is where neither the subject nor the researcher knows whether the subject is in the experimental or control group

55
Q

What is validity?

A

Validity refers to the degree to which we’re measuring what we’re intending to measure

56
Q

What is construct validity?

A

Construct validity refers to whether or not our operational definitions really reflect the variable we’re trying to measure

57
Q

So does this operational definition have construct validity? (do movie start always die in three)

A

this would lack construct validity because their are other criteria we use to determine who is a movie star

58
Q

What is external validity?

A

External validity refers to the degree to which we can legitimately generalize the findings of our study to the general population of interest

59
Q

Would our subjects be representative of our population of interest? (survey about workout habits we only give to our friends)

A

Almost certainly not

60
Q

Would this study have external validity? (survey about workout habits we only give to our friends)

A

Would lack external validity

61
Q

Will someones ability to drive this simulator really reflect how well they drive an actual real-world car?

A

Probably not

62
Q

Would this study have external validity? (about driving vehicle simulators)

A

No, lacks external validity

63
Q

What is internal validity?

A

Refers to the degree to which any effects we found in an experiment are really due to our independent variable and not to confounds

64
Q

Would this study have internal validity? (visual imagery technique vs not visual imagery technique group, compare groups from people in the morning vs people in the afternoon)

A

Our study lacks validity as there is a confound

65
Q

What is the Institutional Review Board (IRB)?

A

An ethics review committee that looks over research designs to be sure there is nothing harmful being done to our subjects and that any potential harm is outweighed by the potential benefits of the research; if not research method is adjusted

66
Q

What is informed consent?

A

Informed consent is where the experimenter provides a full description of the research including the purpose of the study and the nature of the methods involved and the subject is given the choice to participate or not

67
Q

What kinds of things are subjects informed of?

A

Alcohol, sugar, penicillin, and so on, the subjects are informed and various questions are asked regarding their susceptibility to harm with the substances or methods involved; also they can end their participation whenever

68
Q

What does being debriefed mean?

A

Where the purpose of the study is explained, any manipulations of the study are explained

68
Q

What does being debriefed mean?

A

Where the purpose of the study is explained, any manipulations of the study are explained

69
Q

Animals can only be harmed if?

A

1: the benefit of the research justifies the harm; and 2: no other alternative method of conducting the research

70
Q

Three guiding principles for the use of animals in research?

A

Replacement, refinement, and reduction. In replacement researchers should find alternatives to using animals in their research whenever possible; refinement is where the researchers should modify experimental procedures to minimize or eliminate animal distress; and reduction is where the researcher should use research designs that require the fewest animals possible

71
Q

What is and what do the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) do?

A

They require researchers to write proposals for their study that justify the use of animals and explain how they will be treated; also inspect research labs involving animals every six months to ensure the ethical treatment and care of the animals

Psychology (7 decks)

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