Chapter 2 - Research Methods Flashcards
Why we need good research methods?
-protect against bias to ensure results are accurate and conclusions are true
-avoid errors
Prefrontal Lobotomy
-surgical procedure that severs fibres connecting the frontal lobe of the brain with the thalamus
-used to treat schizophrenia
-results based only on subjective clinical results
-didn’t conduct systematic research and assumed their observations were enough to verify their results
System 1 Thinking
-intuitive
-fast
-relies on feelings and gut reactions
-may be an assumption
-relies on heuristics
-prone to error
Heuristic
-mental shortcut or rule of thumb that helps us to streamline our thinking and make sense of our world
-based on past history
System 2 Thinking
-analytical
-slow
-relies on careful evaluation of evidence
-reflective
Scientific Method
-not a singular way of doing things
-it is a toolbox of skills that can be applied in specific ways
-permit us to test hypotheses
Surveys
-used to measure peoples opinions and attitudes
-a self-report measure
Questionnaire
-a self-report measure
-assess personality traits, mental illnesses, interests
Self-Report Measure Advantages
-easy to administer and gather large amount of data
-cost effective
-allows assessment of internal processes, thoughts, feelings that outside observers are not typically aware
Self-Report Measure Disadvantages
-the wording of the question can lead to different results
-assumes respondents have enough knowledge to report accurately
-assumes participants are honest
Response Sets
-tendency of research participants to distort their responses to questionnaire items
Malingering
-tendency to make ourselves appear psychologically disturbed
-aim of achieving a clear-cut personal goal
-may be trying to obtain financial compensation or escape military duty
Rating Data
-a self-report measure
-someone else is asked to comment on a person’s behaviour
-it is assumed they know the person well
Rating Data Advantages
-gets around malingering and response set bias
Rating Data Disadvantages
-halo effect
-horns effect
-susceptible to stereotypes
Halo Effect
the tendency for a high rating in one positive characteristic to spill over and enhance the ratings of other characteristics
Horns Effect
the tendency for a high rating in one negative characteristic to spill over and lower ratings of other characteristics
Random Selection
-procedure that ensures that every person in a population has an equal chance of being chosen to participate
-allows us to generalize our results
-studying fewer people broadly is better than studying more people narrowly
Generalizability
-a measure of how useful the results of a study are for a broader group of people or situations
-ie. if the study results are applicable to many people or situations = good generalizability
Reliability
-an evaluating measure
-the consistency of a measurement
-the study will measure the same way over and over again
Test-Retest Reliability
-reliable questionnaire yields same scores over time
-consistent results
-ie. stepping on a scale and measuring the same weight multiple times
Interrater Reliability
-the extent to which different people who conduct an interview or make observations agree on the characteristics they are measuring
Validity
-the extent to which a measure assesses what it purports to measure
-ie. lie detector polygraph is not valid
Reliability + Validity
-reliability is necessary for validity
-validity is not necessary for reliability
Replicability Crisis
-open and transparent science is needed to ensure findings are replicable and reproducible
-sparked the open science movement
Post Data Publicly
-a response to the replicability crisis
-data needs to be public to be replicated and peer reviewed
Conduct Replications
-a response to the replicability crisis
-replications of own and others work needs to be available
Preregister Research
-a response to the replicability crisis
-prevents forged numbers
-when you provide a blueprint it is unchangeable
Publish ALL Sound Science
-a response to the replicability crisis
-journals only publish fancy findings to gain interest
-publish all works including replications
-scientists want to be published and wont replicate if they know they won’t be selected
Less Emphasis on Single Study Findings
-a response to the replicability crisis
-more emphasis on replicated studies
3 Types of Research Methods
-descriptive
-correlational
-experimental
Naturalistic Observation
-descriptive research method
-observe behaviour naturally without trying to manipulate it
-ie. observing in the wild
Natural Observation Advantages
-high in external validity
-captures natural behaviour
Naturalistic Observation Disadvantages
-low internal validity
-doesn’t allow us to infer causation
-possible reactivity (people know they are being studied)
-possible observer bias
-no control over other variables
External Validity
-extent to which we can generalize findings to real-world settings
Internal Validity
-extent to which we can draw cause-and-effect inferences from a study
Case Studies
-descriptive research method
-an in depth analysis on an individual, group, or event over an extended time period