Chapter 2 - research methods

Question 1

data

Answer 1

statistics used to analyze data

Question 2

5 steps of scientific method

Answer 2

1. state the problem, 2. develop hypothesis, 3. design a study, 4. collect and analyze data, 5. draw conclusions and report results

Question 3

experimentation

Answer 3

manipulation of one variable under controlled conditions so that resulting changes in another variable can observed

Question 4

what is a variable?

Answer 4

anything that can change

Question 5

IV vs DV

Answer 5

iv is variable that gets manipulated -> experimenter can control or change ivs.
dv is the variable affected by manipulation

Question 6

Experimental group VS control group

Answer 6

in experimental group, participants receive special treatment in regards to IV.
in control group, they are similar participants but do not receive the special treatment.
(two groups alike in all respects. Manipulate independent variable for one group only - experimental. Resulting differences in 2 groups must be result of iv

Question 7

What are extraneous variables?

Answer 7

(third variables) something you were not expecting

Question 8

Confounding variables

Answer 8

occurs when two variables are linked together in a way that makes it difficult to sort out their specific effects

Question 9

How data may be gathered?

Answer 9

Survey, interview, naturalistic observation, lab observation, archival research, case study, program evaluation

Question 10

variables

Answer 10

‘things’ that change

Question 11

causation

Answer 11

cause and effect

Question 12

correlation

Answer 12

variables are related to one another

Question 13

Naturalistic observation

Answer 13

observing ppl in natural setting w/out any manipulations

Question 14

correlational study is used to determine

Answer 14

the relationship between two variables

Question 15

Descriptive statistics

Answer 15

a collection of procedures to summarize, organize and describe sets of data

Question 16

Mean vs mode vs median

Answer 16

mean = average set of scores
median = point of which half of the scores fall above and below (middle) 
mode = most frequent score in set of scores

Question 17

Inferential statistics

Answer 17

Interpreting data and drawing conclusions

Question 18

Socially desirable responding

Answer 18

when ppl are interviewed an answer in ways which make them sound really great

Question 19

placebo

Answer 19

these occur when participants expectations lead them to experience some change even tho they receive empty, fake or ineffectual treatment

Question 20

hypothesis

Answer 20

tentative statement about the relationship between two more variables

Question 21

positives and negatives or experiments

Answer 21

\+ = permits conclusions between cause-effect relationships between variables. Neutralizes effects of extraneous variables. 
- = artificial

Question 22

Positives and negatives of naturalistic observation?

Answer 22

\+ = less artificial conditions. can be used to study animal behaviour 
- = subjects behaviour is altered by the observance. researchers have difficulty observing unobtrusively

Question 23

Case studies

Answer 23

in-depth investigation of individual subject - good for psychological disorders

Question 24

Surveys

Answer 24

researchers use questionnaires or interviews to gather info about specific aspects of participants’ behaviour

Question 25

Sample vs population

Answer 25

sample is the collection of subjects selected for observation in an empirical study - population is the larger collection of ppl

Question 26

sampling bias

Answer 26

when sample is no representative of the population from which it was drawn

Question 27

Participants/subjects

Answer 27

organisms whose behaviour is systematically observed in a study

Question 28

experimenter bias

Answer 28

when a researchers expectations or preferences about the outcome of a study influence the results obtained