Chapter 2– Research Methods

Question 1

Critical thinking

Answer 1

• involves asking tough questions about whether evidence has been interpreted in an unbiased way, and about whether the evidence tells not just the truth, but the whole truth
• its hard for some people because we see what we want and expect
• we consider what we see and ignore what we don’t

Question 2

Dependent variable

Answer 2

A variable that is measured in a study

Question 3

Independent variable

Answer 3

Variable that is manipulated in an experiement

Question 4

Spurious correlations

Answer 4

• just happens
• does NOT mean anything
• accidental correlation

Question 5

Cofounding variable

Answer 5

• unanticipated outside factor that affects both variables of interest
• gives false impressions

Question 6

Cause and effect relationship

Answer 6

• Changes in one variable cause the changes in the other variable
• Determined only through an experimental research design

Question 7

Confirmation bias

Answer 7

• tendency to ignore evidence that disproves ideas or beliefs

Question 8

Illusory correlations

Answer 8

Seeing relationships between two things when in reality no such thing exists

Question 9

Correlation

Answer 9

Positive—> both variables increase or decrease together
Negative—> as one variable increases the other decreases

Question 10

Longitudinal

Answer 10

Studies in which the same group of individuals are surveyed or measured repeatedly over an extended period of time

Question 11

Cross sectional research

Answer 11

• compares multiple segments of a population at a single time
• ex., different age groups

Question 12

The Hawthorne effect

Answer 12

People’s tendency to behave differently when they become aware that they are being observed

Question 13

Naturalistic observation

Answer 13

Observation of behaviour in its natural setting
PRO—> most effective and accurate
CONS—> difficult to set up a hypotheses on observation, our behaviour changes when we know we’re being watched (Hawthorne effect)

Question 14

Clinical or case studies

Answer 14

• focus on individual
• studied individual is typically in a extreme or unique psychological circumstance that differentiates them from the general public
• allows for a lot of insight into a case
• difficult to generalize results to the larger population

Question 15

Are Freud’s theories scientifically sound?

Answer 15

No because they can’t be predicted and not falsifiable
But just because it is not scientifically sound does not mean it is useless.

Question 16

Scientific method

Answer 16

• Set of principles about the appropriate relationship between ideas and evidence
  1. Scientists form theories/ hypotheses through deductive reasoning
  2. Hypotheses are then tested through empirical observation to form conclusions through inductive reasoning
  3. These conclusions lead to new theories and hypotheses

Question 17

Inductive reasoning

Answer 17

Process of scientific reasoning
- conclusions are drawn from observation
- trying to prove something
Psychological research depends on it

Question 18

Deductive reasoning

Answer 18

Process of scientific reasoning
- results are predicted based on general premise
- looking for results
Psychological research depends on it

Question 19

Dogmatism

Answer 19

• holding onto beliefs
  Ex., The earth is flat
• not easy to sway perspective
• ego (can’t admit to being wrong)
  -being part of a group (enticing)

Question 20

Why research?

Answer 20

• Crucial in psychology
• mandatory process in validating claims; without it we would only have intuition and assumption
• Psychology is a science— study and testing, further investigate, find evidence, get funding

Question 21

Empirical method

Answer 21

• set of rules and techniques for observation
• methods of observation and methods of explanation must be used
• using observation in a controlled, replicable situation, in order to test or refine a theory

Question 22

The Tuskegee syphilis study

Answer 22

Deception! —> when ethical guidelines did not exist
- experiment studying syphilis in black men
- participants that tested positive were not informed
- ended up unknowingly spreading the disease and many died